A new television newscast written and produced by and for UTC students debuted Friday, Nov. 5 at 9 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 3.
Other air dates for the show are Nov. 9, 9 p.m.; Nov. 10, 10 a.m.; Nov. 11, noon.
UTC TV News is a production of students enrolled in the university-s television news production class. “We wanted the show to inform and entertain students, faculty and staff at UTC,” said Niccole Carpenter, a student producer of the program.
Students began working on the first program in September. They selected the stories, shot and edited videotape, and wrote the packages and script. “This is an example of the professional work our students can do,” said Dr. Betsy Alderman, instructor in the course and Communication Department faculty member.
The eleven class members served as reporters, video photographers, editors, producers and anchors, as well as in studio production roles.
Stories in the show include a look at UTC in 2000; current problems at the school; self-segregation among students; students and credit card debt; finding jobs and internships; ways to have fun around Chattanooga; training and workout programs in athletics; and a feature on Scrappy, the school’s mascot.
“The stories are designed to entertain, as well as inform our audience,” said Matt Rogers, a student producer. “We wanted to appeal to students’ interests and let them enjoy the show too.”
Anchors for the show are Shawanna Kendrick and Eddie Reece. They were selected by a vote of class members following an audition.
Students also served as production crew members for the taping of the show in studios in Frist Hall. Chris Willis, director of the Video Production Center, assisted students in the production of the program.
The background and set of the show were donated. The news desk was provided to the university by WRCB-TV 3. Premier Digital provided the enlarged photograph of Hooper Hall.
The show will move to permanent headquarters in the Metropolitan Building at UTC following renovations. A state-of-the-art television studio will be constructed to produce the show and others in cooperation with the school’s Video Production Center.
The show may also been seen on the Internet at www.utc.edu/~video. Real Video or Quick Time software to view the program.
In the mean time, class members are busy working on the second newscast to be completed by the first week of December. That show will begin airing in mid-December on Comcast Cable Channel 3.