Hands-on exercise

Hollywood school hosts expo for prospective students

Saturdays are normally quiet at Attucks Middle School’s state-ofthe-art TV studio.

But on a recent Saturday, the lights, cameras and Teleprompters came to life as prospective students tried their hand at anchoring a news desk at the Hollywood school’s first-ever expo and open house for its communication and broadcast arts magnet program.

“It’s very important for us to showcase the things we do at our school,” said Principal Errol Evans. “More than ever, schools have to compete to get students. We want to have a competitive edge and showcase our television studio.”

Attucks is the only middle school in south Broward to have a broadcasting and communications magnet. Students are then able to funnel into the communication and broadcast arts program at Hallandale High School.

In addition to learning about print journalism, radio, public relations and marketing, students produce the daily news broadcast. Each morning, the Eagles produce a 30-minute, student-run news program. The broadcast gives the rundown on sports, school and club news, the lunch menu and more.

“Our news really informs our students about what’s going on in our community and around our school,” said eighth-grader Jason Gagnier.

Students fill a variety of roles, including anchor, director, cameraman and producer.

“Working on the news has

really helped me with going on air and reading more fluently,” said eighthgrader Omid Rashedipour. “This program is what starts you off, especially if you want to work in broadcasting.”

Evans is working to create partnerships with local media to expand educa- tional opportunities. WPLG-10 anchor Eric Yutzy was a special guest at the open house.

“You get to tell stories that impact people [and] that change people’s lives,” Yutzy told students and their families. “We need smart, articulate and passionate folks.”

Yutzy worked with students in front of the camera, but he emphasized that many careers in broadcast journalism are behind it.

For more information, call 754-323-3000. Sara Shell can be reached at sshell@tribune.com.