So You Want to be MVP?

This semester, ATVN is fortunate enough to have an overwhelming amount of students involved in the program, many on a voluntary basis. 

While it is important to remember that all of us are still learning, there are specific qualities in many of our volunteer reporters and MJs that can score them the title of MVP of the week.

One of my favorite memories this semester was seeing MJ Kaylee Heck get awarded MVP of the week. Although I was not the one who chose her, working with her that Monday was an awesome experience -- she totally deserved it. When Kaylee came in for her shift that day, breaking news was happening right under our nose. A pedestrian-involved accident had just happened right on the border of campus, and Kaylee was one of the first to jump on the scene. She brought back great video of the incident, and even got interviews with relatives and witnesses. The best part about her coverage, however, was her enthusiasm. This was her first experience with breaking news, and it was clear how much she enjoyed herself while out on the job.

Not everyone who works for ATVN wants to go into a career in broadcast journalism, but for those who do, the real-life news experiences we encounter each day are an awesome way to prepare for the future. 

There are many other members of team Monday who provide the same kind of enthusiasm for growth and experience as Kaylee does. Each week our anchor Brad Streicher continuously asks me, "what can I do for the show?" Once he completes working on one story, he's ready for the next. This week he took on a heavy load, producing all of the ISIS-related content for our show. He went above and beyond what was expected of him and truly became a mini-expert on the subject for the day. 

One of our studio crew members, Giovanni Moujaes, has recently stepped up his game. He has always been extremely enthusiastic about being a member of ATVN, and lately he has really shown how seriously he takes his role in the program. Although his shift only requires him to be in the Media Center for our live broadcast, yesterday he came in way ahead of his scheduled time. He showed up, ready to work, and immediately hopped on one of our editing computers to help cut video for the show. I was extremely impressed by his enthusiasm to participate in a role he didn't even sign up for. 

There are many different qualities in a person that can make them stand out as a stellar MJ or reporter in ATVN. Many of our star teammates are great writers and video editors who work well under pressure. The people whom I often notice have a dedication to their work that makes it clear they're willing to do anything. They really jump into the news of the day and get excited about the stories they are assigned to. As a producer, I love leading our team and helping each of them get the best possible experience working at ATVN.