The author is director of Blue Streak Media at John Carroll University and a regular contributor to Radio World.
Blue Streak Media is a student-led media agency that equips students to gain valuable experience and create high-quality content across a variety of platforms.
John Carroll University recently completed the annual Summer in the Heights precollege program.
High school students from across the country and world are welcomed to University Heights, Ohio, an inner-ring suburb of Cleveland, for a week of academic immersion, college preparation and exploration of the city.
This year, the Tim Russert Department of Communication launched “On-The-Air: Media & Broadcasting Bootcamp” as one of eight academic programs that students could apply for.
Ten high school students from all over the country signed and stayed the week, studying radio, TV, podcasting and even learning digital editing on Adobe Audition.
The students were ages 14 to 17, in grades 10 through 12, at schools from Denver to Washington, D.C., New York to Cleveland. A few already had decided that they were interested in a career in radio.
For the radio portion, they studied under Dr. Mary Beadle, Dr. Jake Kucek and Jasen Sokol, the general manager of John Carroll’s WJCU (FM), the No. 1-ranked college station in the nation. They learned voice and articulation, delivery and production skills.
They recorded a podcast, radio newscast, public service announcement and radio commercial. In JCU’s computer lab, they spent the morning editing with Mike “Mac” MacDonald, editing their podcasts on Audition. Later in the week, they practiced TV production, working both “on the air” and behind the scenes, producing a newscast, and were interviewed by Dr. Kucek for the chance to work in TV unscripted.
The week culminated with a capstone presentation. Russert Department Chair Dr. Brent Brossman made an introduction and viewed the fine broadcast work the students did over the course of the week.
I spoke with two of the students interested in radio. Miles Anderson of Lakewood, Colo., near Denver said he’s always been interested in radio, and part of his interest stems from listening to Colorado Public Radio station KVOQ(FM) “Indie 102.3.” Its programming really prompted Miles’ interest in radio, which speaks volumes for great programming. Miles hopes to continue his education and work in radio.
From Cleveland, Ray Kinnie Mosley listens to FM stations WZAK and WENZ. His interest was also stirred from local radio. He’s tentatively planning on attending JCU and possibly being on the air at one of the Cleveland stations someday.
These 10 students were enthusiastic, professional and did an incredible job. If the future of radio and TV are in their hands, it’s a bright future.
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