Broadcast Journalism
When I joined journalism, I didn’t even realize that broadcasting was a component of reporting. I had been so focused on writing and photography that the idea of adding another form of media almost felt overwhelming. Still, I found that videography had taken form in small ways throughout my life. I loved collecting footage from events, summers, and even our trips to the JEA fall convention. Stringing them together with comical cuts and sound effects proved not only easy, but enjoyable. I would even create video advertisements for club events that I took part in, often becoming the go-to videographer for our team. When I finally took on larger video projects in my publication, it was daunting to file down footage to just a few minutes. But as I learned how to transfer my love for visual media to journalism, the end result was by far worth it. In an age that is quickly becoming more digital, it can be difficult to stay engaging as a student publication. Videos, as I learned, are an incredible way to draw in readers and acquaint a story with its audience. Although I still have much to learn, I’ve learned it’s crucial to continue finding ways to make news engaging.
23 Questions with dean Welch
I worked on this project with my old co-editor Saanvi Arora, and it was a great introduction to the broadcasting world. We wanted to mimic the “72 Questions with Vogue” videos that featured interviews with celebrities in their homes, continuing about their day while also answering a series of questions. The movement and ease of the subject seemed to make these videos more engaging, and we figured there was no reason we couldn’t test out these strategies in our own community. After a new dean had been hired by our school, we wanted to give her the opportunity to introduce herself to the community. While I wrote a feature on her, I also helped Saanvi film her video. While I held the camera and steadily walked backward to follow the dean around the school, Saanvi stood behind me and asked her questions. It was likely not the best idea to practice my recording skills while also trying not to walk into a wall, but it was definitely an exciting challenge. It taught me that broadcasting, like many things in journalism, requires a team. And after including the fully edited video within my article, I realized how much life a video can bring to a story. It’s one thing to hear about the new administration who used to be an English teacher and enjoys softball, but it's another to see her walk around the school and talk about her passions.
Hot Cocoa & Harmony
As mentioned in the Reporting & Writing section, this project was one of the most robust pieces I had worked on up until that point. We knew that that article was going to be long, detailing the origins of the students’ Christmas album as well as their history with music. But with this length, we also knew it needed to be accompanied by a variety of media to keep the story engaging. So aside from the photos, graphics, and audio clips, we settled on making a video that walked our audience through their story. When we arrived at the students’ home studio, my co-editor Srivas immediately began filming as we both alternated interviewing. The footage ran for an hour and a half, complete with a demo, studio tour, and plenty of good pull quotes. Over the course of the next week, I spent upwards of 10 hours sorting through the videos, lining up audio, and finding ways to vary camera angles. After it was published, I realized that with time videography could be manageable and even rewarding. This project has since inspired me to devote some of my last months on the staff to improving my broadcasting skills.
A quick look into the video and audio layering that went into editing this video. Note: Due to a subscription error, some files appear "lost" in the photo.
Social Media Coverage
Another way our publication incorporates broadcast journalism is through our social media coverage. We do a thorough job at covering nearly every varsity game—fall, winter, and spring—with live updates on Instagram. I’ve covered around 12 games, using videos to showcase athletes’ key plays, team performances, and interviews with captains and coaches to capture their post-game reflections. I’ve found it’s a great way to connect our viewers with the teams and allow parents or fans to keep up with players when they’re unable to attend a game.
DEI Committee Podcast
This was a project I worked on outside of the Ghostwriter with my town’s DEI Committee, but that showed me a lot about the world of professional journalism. We went to the Westford Cat, my town’s local news station, to record a podcast featuring student perspectives on DEI. Upon arriving, I was introduced to the sound manager and got the opportunity to learn more about the professional podcast equipment. It was thrilling to utilize their microphones and sound-proof room for our conversation, and I left with a greater depth of understanding on professional sound and video equipment. I found that the more I learned, the less overwhelming broadcasting became.