Why Not Teen Videos on Newscasts?
Every
day, on televisions all over the country, you could sit and watch
news stories that cover every aspect of high school life that are
written, shot and edited by high school students themselves.
The
stories are well-written and edited, and many of them are inventive,
provocative and creative. The stories cover issues like teen pregnancy,
school bullying, relationships with parents, profiles of teachers,
health, love and sex, sports and many other issues that matter to
kids in high school. They're often inspirational and poignant.
But
most of you will never see them because they only air within the schools
or on some community cable-access channels.
That
should change. High school-generated videos should have a place in
many local TV newscasts and on their Websites. And it's a win-win
for everybody.
User-generated
material in general is now accepted in the mainstream news media.
We've crossed that threshold. Anybody with a cellphone and camera
can be an eyewitness. If you watch network news coverage on CNN or
Fox News, you will often see many examples of pictures and video shot
by citizens that add to the coverage.
Broadcasters
are already pursuing the adolescent set. Many broadcast companies
like Fox, Belo and Hearst-Argyle are already showcasing high school-generated
material, although it's focused on high school sports and is mostly
for the Web, not broadcast.
The
Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) has a comprehensive
High School Broadcast Journalism Project that helps students by offering
programs and activities that fund, support and advocate electronic
journalism education in high schools. The project offers grants to
schools; provides teachers with the skills, tools and information
they need to build and sustain broadcast journalism programs; and
produces training workshops and seminars.
There's
a school network, Schooltube.com, sanctioned by the RTNDA, that currently
hosts more than 12,000 videos in a variety of categories including
news and journalism, arts and entertainment, people, music, public
service, careers, film, fashion, sports, science and technology, to
name a few. All Schooltube.com videos have been approved by teachers
for viewing in a safe online environment. Carl Arizpe, Schooltube.com's
founder, says Schooltube currently has thousands of members from schools
in all 50 states, and new videos are added every day.
The
students shoot with high-quality digital cameras that record broadcast-quality
images, and edit their packages on non-linear computer systems at
school, at home or on their laptops, systems that even many local
TV news camera professionals haven't learned how to master. The content
is rich, fresh and varied, told from a perspective not heard on local
TV.
At
dinnertime in my house, when I ask my teenage children, “So how was
school today?” I get one word answers like, “Good…fine…great.” It's
become kind of a family joke as I press them for details. No matter
how close you are to your teenager, how much do you really know about
what they're thinking? High school students have a lot to say, and
express themselves very well through video.
Videos
written and edited by high school students could become a reason for
them to watch the news—and a way for local TV news operations to recruit
younger viewers. Their parents would want to see them. Teachers, principals
and school administrators would want their schools represented. And
the average viewer would marvel at what the oft-maligned teenager
is capable of doing and saying.
Local
TV news operations typically air five, six or seven hours of local
TV news a day. They have the time, and this is local, fresh content.
The perfect place for these videos is on the local morning news. It's
often a resource-strapped newscast at a time where teenagers and adults
can watch together.
It's
eminently sponsorable. Think of who would want to be part of such
an initiative—computer companies, record companies, clothing stores
and movie studios. Free content created daily from a voice not heard
on local TV has great sales potential and will enhance the TV station's
image in the community as being the station that cares about students
and education. All you have to do is open up the pipeline and let
the videos come in.
By
Paul Greeley@www.broadcastingcable.com
HOME
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*Watch
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Chopper
4 crashes during search
Once again a near death incident. Glad everyone's safe...but
here's another reason why I've given up helicopters for good.
Cameraman
Claims He Slept With Princess Diana
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. You go get 'em
cameraman!
Broadcasters'
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The least-watched week in history. Going downnnnn....
Bank
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Fox,
AP Settle Photog Flap
"Miraculous
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Holdin'
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NBCU
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ABC
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at TV cameraman earns suspension
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TV Reporter Cited For Trespassing
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Viacom lays off 11 at KOVR, KMAX
Colo.
station suspends local news
NFL
won't act on Benson altercation with TV crew
Cameras
Captured a Disaster but Now Focus on Suffering
Cameraman Assaulted
