Jamie Hammond was happy to offer up her advice last school year when St. John Central Academy science guru Dan Vitlip sought her advice about his CST class’ first broadcast.
Hammond, also a fellow academy teacher, originally sought, and gained, her degree in broadcast journalism from West Liberty before returning to obtain her teaching degree.
Little did she know that a year later, that CST class would morph into a broadcast journalism class and that she would be tasked with its instruction. But that’s just where Hammond finds herself this school year as St. John Central is taking its first steps into incorporating broadcast journalism into its course offerings for its students.
“Mr. Vitlip asked me for my opinion on what his CST class had put together and when I started giving very specific critiques about the set and camera angles, he asked how I knew so much about it.
“When I told him I had a broadcasting degree, he asked for my opinion on each episode from then on. He mentioned my helping and about my broadcasting degree to a member of the board, and as you can say, the rest is history.”
When scheduling for the 2021-22 school year began last spring, the school’s guidance counselor informed prospective students that the CST course was changing into a broadcasting class rather than Current Science Topics.
Ten students decided to enroll and, of that total, eight are in broadcasting for the first time. The other two were members of the CST class’ crew the year before.
“Those two will play major rolls in the production and direction of the finished product,” Hammond said.
Outfitting the Class
Rounding up the proper equipment to properly outfit a broadcasting class isn’t cheap. The cameras alone are quite pricey. Then you have all the tech equipment in the board operating room, plus monitors, and microphones and—you get the picture.
St. John is building up to that point, but is making do with some of the equipment it currently has, along with advancements in technology compared to previous years.
“Right now, we are using iPads, Chromebooks, and the students’ have their cell phones,” Hammond said. ‘We do have a few microphones and lapel mics. I was a member of the first broadcasting crew at West Liberty. I know how rough it is to start out with very little equipment.
We make do and figure things out as we go.”
The eventual plan is to have a bi-weekly news cast aired throughout the school. For now, Hammond is having her students get their feet wet with the basics and doing some live streaming for the Fighting Irish’s sports programs.
‘We plan on live stream some of our volleyball and basketball games to get them some experience behind the camera,” Hammond said. “But eventually, we will have a bi-weekly news broadcast.”
A Unique Offering
Hammond knows not a lot of schools in Belmont County have this option. Traditionally, St. Clairsville has featured a strong broadcasting class, and, across the river, Wheeling Park for decades has aired conducted both broadcasting and radio via its 91.9 WPHP radio signal.
She’s been in contact with both in hopes of getting some info and tips. But what it gives SJCA is another feather in its cap to help entice students to enroll at the academy.
“Students want to try something that is also different,” Hammond said. “By offering a broadcasting class, we are giving students the chance to see that there is more to technology in the classroom outside of their phones.
“We want them to have a strong sense of teamwork and they are going to have the chance to start something that we hope will be at the school for years to come.”
Hammond noted that while 10 members of the high school class are enrolled, a number of junior high students have expressed great interest in joining the ranks upon reaching ninth grade.
All signs point toward continued growth and interest.
“I truly believe that this class will be huge in another year or two,” Hammond said. “We are currently working on a new logo and name for our broadcast.”
