by Sarah Tillotson
Broadcast journalist, news reporter, radio host, and DJ: these are some careers Custer County students are preparing for by taking a radio broadcasting and journalism class. This dedicated group of high schoolers comes in for radio class on Friday, a day when most Custer County High School students sleep in, since they have a four-day school week. Students involved in the class are Amanda Neiges, Beth Wessels, Cameron Kessler, Emily Wenger, Ethan Owens, Jared LaPlante, Jessica Fultz, Levi Fultz, and Sarah Tillotson.
These students participate in many projects to build their knowledge of journalism. Acting as the media in the school’s mock emergency drill last fall was the class’s first project, but the students weren’t just acting. They used their interviews and sound recordings to produce news reports that aired on “A Peek in the Valley,” a program spotlighting local events on the Wet Mountain Valley’s community radio station, KWMV 95.9 FM. The class also learned about voicing and delivery to create better stories.
As part of a project called “Now and Then,” the students interviewed older residents of the Wet Mountain Valley and compared the interviewees’ childhood to their own lives. Junior Amanda Neiges said, “I loved interviewing others and listening to their stories.” She and the other students wrote about the differences between the present and the past in radio, fashion, technology, international influences, music, and the holidays. In this project, the class learned interview techniques and became more educated about the history of their community.
Students also learned about the musical aspect of radio. They chose their favorite songs to air on KWMV and told listeners about the band performing the song or explained why it was their favorite song. “I enjoyed choosing music because I was able to express myself on the radio,” said sophmore Jared LaPlante.
In addition to the other projects, the high school group recorded public service announcements for the Great American Smokeout and Through with Chew Week. The class also produced their own public service announcements debunking myths about teenagers. They wrote about respect, violence, and getting involved in the community. They also submitted their own recorded essays to National Public Radio’s “This I Believe.”
In March the class went on a field trip to visit KRCC- FM and KRDO- FM/News Channel 13 in Colorado Springs. The students watched the production of live radio and TV shows and learned about the technology used. They alo got to see and experience the differences between radio and television, and wrote and produced reports about their trip.
The class is currently working on a radio drama to learn more about scriptwriting, voice casting, using sound effects, and editing sound. Their script combines the classic fairytale “Cinderella” with the popular story “Twilight” to make an interesting play.
Junior Ethan Owens said, “In radio, I’ve learned about voicing, delivery, and how much dedication it takes to be a journalist. I most enjoyed editing on the computer, meeting people when interviewing them, and well, the overall experience.” The radio class is taught by KWMV station managers Bob Thomason and Shanna Lewis. To listen to Custer County Youth Radio’s stories or for information, check out kwmv.org.
Sarah Tillotson, a sophomore from Westcliffe, plans to major in journalism, communications, or mass media and minor in vocal music at a Colorado university. She is involved in Custer County Youth Radio and aspires to be a journalist– right after starring as Alice in Alice in Wonderland in a wildly popular world tour with co-star Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter.
