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Salk students work with KHQ to produce on air local news broadcast
Posted by Communications Staff on 12/19/2022 9:00:00 AM
“Red leather, yellow leather.”
That’s the vocal warmup KHQ Content Manager Alex Peebles gave a group of Salk Middle School students from Chris Trechter’s video production class, one of many great Career and Technical Education opportunities available at Spokane Public Schools.
The students were nervously awaiting the start of a six-minute broadcast that aired on KHQ’s 4 p.m. newscast last Friday. The “red leather, yellow leather” phrase is said repeatedly and aloud to prevent students’ nerves from tying their tongues.
Prior to “lights, camera, action,” the students, who’ve spent the semester producing news broadcasts for The Spartan News Network, toured the KHQ studios, then met in groups with editors, producers, reporters, anchors, etc. to create the show. It was an hour of organized chaos as students and KHQ employees worked together.
For Salk students, a lot of the work was the same as what they do in Mr. Trechter’s class each week. But the equipment, the anchor desks, the green screen for weather—that was all new. Some practiced delivering the weather while others were using a lapel mic for the first time or taking a look at the control room.
As the preparation hour ended, the reality of being on television suddenly sunk in. These were real TV cameras, a real, high-tech teleprompter, and a final few seconds to get through everything they planned for the broadcast. Plus - and this was much different from school - there were no do-overs. No stopping and starting over. If you flub a line, you must keep going.
Anchors Grace and Evie opened with breaking news: KHQ anchor Cory Howard had his bronzer stolen! The anchors then moved on to other news and tossed to reporter Abby for a quick interview with her fellow Salk students to learn why they enjoy the video broadcasting class and if they see themselves in TV media one day.
After a brief report from Laney on Winter Break, Mason told us the weather was going to be cold and foggy in the coming days. On-site reporter Izzy spoke with a KHQ cameraman about why it’s important to shovel your sidewalks for pedestrians. Another report followed on Salk art teacher Colleen Maciver’s art fundraiser, then Owen followed with a look at sports —a tough loss for the Seahawks and a preview of Gonzaga’s big game at Alabama. As the six-minute newscast wrapped and cameras turned off, relief settled in for students and the KHQ employees let out a loud cheer.
A behind-the-scenes feature accompanied the newscast during KHQ’s 4 p.m. newscast, showing how students spent the hour.
The KHQ employees went above and beyond to welcome the Salk students and give them an experience they’ll remember forever. Some of those students may be back at KHQ down the road as full-time producers, reporters, editors or anchors.
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