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Hatchet broadcasting hits the airwaves [Washington Times-Herald, Ind. :: ](Washington Times-Herald (IN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 15--Washington High School juniors and seniors now have the opportunity to learn about the radio and television business thanks to a new broadcasting class offered for the first time this fall. The class, instructed by radio personality DeWayne Shake and director of technology Todd Riker, offers the students involved a hands-on opportunity to immerse themselves in broadcasting even during school hours. "Washington High School is very excited to be able to offer this type of learning experience for students," said Principal LeAnne Kelley." Anytime we can offer hands-on classes of this caliber, it is a win-win situation for students. They will leave this class with job skills that will put them in-line for radio and TV job opportunities." Capped at 15 students, Shake said that students will learn about all aspects of both television and radio broadcasting over the course of the school year. "We are starting with radio," said Shake. "And we have our own radio station where the kids will each have their own hour-long show each week. We will start doing TV later in the semester." The radio station, broadcast online at www.whsh.us, is streamed 24 hours a day and plays music from the 2000s to current chart singles. In just the first handful of days of operation Riker said that over 100 people had checked out the station. "Most of that has been by word of mouth. A lot of the kids have told their friends and parents about the station." "This is an awesome class," said Drew Davis. "We do live radio before and after school and we each have our own show. We also do the daily announcements." Davis said he has always been interested in broadcasting and thought taking the class would help him determine if broadcasting was something he would like to pursue as a career. "I really thought it would be harder than what it was but once you get started doing it, it's easy," said Davis. "When you go on the air, you have written down what you are going to say but you sometimes freeze up and get nervous but it comes back to you." Shake said students will eventually be doing broadcasts from school activities and sporting events and will be visible in the community as well. "They do their own prep work for their segments on the air and as part of the learning process, they will have to listen to their show and transcribe their shift. We've already had community organizations ask us to come out and broadcast from their events as well." In addition to the hands-on learning, Shake said students are quizzed on various topics that are important to the class. Once the students move into the TV portion of the class, they will audition for the position of news anchor but every student will have a part in the broadcast. "We have the capabilities to produce HD quality," said Shake. "This is similar equipment to what WTWO uses and the students have everything at their fingertips." Shake said once the class becomes more familiar with the ends and outs of broadcasting, he said some of the TV broadcasts will be sent to Vincennes University and plans are in the works to provide some coverage that will be available on a local access channel. "We are trying to give kids an opportunity they wouldn't have in a traditional classroom," said Riker. "We are looking at a newer approach to education." Superintendent Dr. Dan Roach said the program is something the school corporation had been looking into for quite awhile. "The timing was ideal and we decided to take a leap of faith and provide a new learning opportunity for our students," said Roach. "Classes like this one provide our students with a unique approach to instruction and the students gain much more than anyone will ever see. The skills set they are learning they can take to many avenues." ___ (c)2014 Washington Times-Herald (Washington, Ind.) Visit Washington Times-Herald (Washington, Ind.) at washtimesherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |