The show must go on

Shows MUST go on and ATVN is no exception… even if the set of 11 producers are done with the class.

As I sit back and reflect on what I should write for this blog, I couldn’t help but think back of how much I’ve grown throughout my college career, thanks in whole to ATVN. I began as a mediocre cameraman freshman year. This semester, I was behind the desk as the news anchor, and that has helped me realize the importance of a cameraperson in a show.

My second position was the outdated WSE (writer-shooter-editor); the position got a name change so you might recognize it as an MJ. Regardless of what you call it, I hated it and I think it is safe to say that most students share my feelings. As a producer and the leader of the students helping to produce the show, I absolutely LOVED my MJ’s and appreciated their hard work. Only I (and the other producers) know how invaluable they are to the show. Unfortunately, they won’t know this unless they take this class.

Thus, my recommendation to everyone is to take this class if you are serious about pursuing a career in broadcast journalism. Even if you think you just want to be on-camera, like myself, I recommend you take this class because it is invaluable. You learn so much about what it actually takes to put on a show. You learn to respect every position that you once had at USC and the role you play in helping the younger students learn skills they need.

My recommendation for those who garner up the courage to undertake this challenge is to believe in yourself and your news judgment. Stacy and Serena will help you perfect your vision, but they will never dictate what it should be. Use this class to learn from your mistakes in newsgathering and always strive to bring the best, most current angles to your stories. Try to localize every big national and international story.

Let me give you an example: If a nation is in the midst of a civil war, like Egypt was, don’t just report an update. Be proactive; find a student who is abroad to provide firsthand knowledge/experience to our local viewers; or find a USC student with family in that country to explain what they’re feeling. This is a difficult task and after dozens of unsuccessful calls, you still may not land an interview, but you have to try, that’s what will make you stand out.

In a nutshell, don’t aim for mediocrity, because that’s not the point of this class, and certainly not the point of journalism. Aim high, make mistakes, but learn from them.