Student announcers broadcast during football, basketball games
At varsity football and basketball games, senior Sean Jesse and junior Emma Mason can be seen in front of a cluster of cameras, diligently filming the games. The two are part of a small group of students who broadcast Free State sporting events.
“(I started) freshman year, I was already taking video classes with Mr. Smith, and I was like ‘That sounds pretty cool I think I’ll try it out I mean I like sports I kind of always have liked sports’… So I started with basketball and just kind of stuck with it,” Jesse said.
We just wanted to have an opportunity for students who were interested in (sports broadcasting), whether it’s play by play or directing or any production of sports to have that experience,
— Scott Smith
The program is meant for students who like sports and are interested in learning how to be a sports broadcaster. Students usually come from adviser Scott Smith’s video classes but anyone can join who want to.
“We just wanted to have an opportunity for students who were interested in (sports broadcasting), whether it’s play by play or directing or any production of sports to have that experience,” Smith said about starting the program. “We had never, to my knowledge, ever done that here.”
Currently Jesse and Mason are two of the only students still involved. The program is based purely on volunteers, so it can be difficult for Smith to find students at times.
“Eventually, I would like to have a class for people who are interested in maybe not necessarily sports broadcasting but just that element of journalism and that element of communications,” Smith said. “After the beginning journalism class we offer graphic design, yearbook, newspaper, there’s an obvious hole that we need (to fill).”
Mason, the director of the productions, hopes to keep the program going after she leaves.
“(My goal is) just to keep doing it. I was the first female ever in Free State to ever direct a football or basketball game so that was pretty cool. I would say just to keep it up and maybe get some more people involved and show people how to do it (would be my goal),” she said.
Students who want to get involved in the sports broadcasting program can talk to Smith.
“Come talk to me (if you want to join), we’ll take anybody, everybody who has an interest… if you like sports and think you might want to do that we’d love to talk to you,” Smith said.
Go to citylinktv.com during varsity football and basketball games to see the live stream.
