High school students make the news
For years, school students have heard the morning announcements read by monotone faculty members and, occasionally, the president of the Student Council Association.
But things are changing, and more schools have started putting a new twist on the morning announcements by giving students more freedom to deliver the news in a more exciting way: closed circuit television systems.
“We had a closed circuit TV system here at (Richlands High), but no one was using it,” said Amy Vogan, the teacher advisor for “Wild Cuts,” a weekly student newscast. “I’ve always enjoyed video editing, and I trained my students in how to use video editing formats.”
“Wild Cuts” first aired on Sept. 12 and hasn’t missed a week since, which Vogan attributes to a group of hard working students.
“Students have taken ownership of the production and are completely dedicated. We’ve had a lot of success despite the lack of technology,” said Vogan, who explained that the students use both Macintosh and personal computers to produce the program, which currently has 14 students working it.
Richlands High School is among the newest participants of a rapidly growing trend that can trace its roots back to high school radio stations in the 1940s.
Though much has changed since then, one thing has stayed the same: devoted participation from members of the student body. Just ask Estefania Horrillo, co-anchor of Northside’s “Lion’s Den.”
“The most stressful thing about this is when people don’t do what they’re supposed to do. Everyone gets an assignment and when someone doesn’t do theirs, it shows,” said Estefania.
With the team since day one, Estefania has been an avid member of Northside’s news program, which celebrated its first anniversary in January, and has sat in the anchor’s chair for more than a semester.
According to Estefania, anchoring the news goes beyond reading cue cards.
“I have to know how to do everything. It’s not just sitting up there and saying the news. I have to know how to talk and how to make the announcements understandable and exciting,” said Estefania.
Since the “Lion’s Den” premiered, they’ve tackled numerous topics from fire safety to teen pregnancy. “Wild Cuts” has also covered its share of important topics including same sex couples and even a series on Onslow County School’s “Guidelines for Success.” But they don’t shy away from lighter features.
“We do a segment called ‘quick question’ where we ask people stuff like, ‘What’s your favorite animal?’ and ‘Can you make sounds like that animal?’ We have our fun, too,” said Estefania.
So, why do it? Why take the time and effort into putting together a 10-minute production featuring news that can be read in less than five?
“We have the technology to do it,” said Vogan. “The students seem more enthused about this than an actual newspaper. … Students are learning about the real world, and they’re getting real world experience.”
Chris Thomas is a senior at Northside High.
Information about Wild Cuts can be found online at http://richlands.nc.och.schoolinsites.com/
The Lions Den can be found online at http://northsidenews22.blogspot.com.
