MEDIA MODULES
Students learn about broadcasting through GI-TEC program
The School Broadcasting Program with Gratiot-isabella Technical Education Center (GI-TEC) provides students with experience in different aspects of broadcasting media.
The School Broadcasting Program is a co-curricular club as part of GI-TEC’S Digital Media Program. The program started in the 2015-2016 school year.
“This is a volunteer thing that’s a part of the curriculum,” GI-TEC Digital Media Instructor Pat Onstott said. “It keeps me energized and there’s a lot more to do.”
Within this club, the students work to broadcast and produce athletic, academic and assembly events that can be viewed on different platforms like Youtube and Facebook Live and MHSAA.TV (an NFHS Network).
“I’m super proud of the men and women in the program,” Onstott said. “They’ve raised the bar so high for the next group of kids to meet the standards.”
Some of the events the program covers is home Mt. Pleasant High School (MPHS) sporting events, the MPHS Homecoming Assembly, the Mcguire Veteran’s Day Assembly, MHSAA Playoff Football and Volleyball games, MPHS graduation ceremony, and the Beal City Elementary Assembly.
Some of the students responsibilities during broadcasts includes setting up equipment, describing the action and calls of games, running the cameras during events, switching between different camera angles, and managing audio among other tasks. The students can also work on their own projects within the program.
“They’ll create assignments based on whatever interests them and are close to writing their curriculum,” Onstott said. “Some work on screenplays, Photoshop projects, and video
production among other projects.”
Many of the kids plan to pursue some form of broadcasting within fields and college programs while others pursue it as a hobby.
“The majority of the crew is seniors, so there is a dire need for students next year,” Onstott said. “We’re constantly recruiting and it’s an awesome opportunity.”