NESPA is happy to announce our first ever broadcast journalism in person contest. This event will take place Friday, Oct. 20 at Quincy Access Television and the Thomas Crane Public Library at 88 Washington St., Quincy, Mass.
What is this contest about?
The premise is simple: Teams will have four hours to write, produce and edit a broadcast package in the category of News/Feature Story by completing a Video Package or Audio Only Podcast. To make it a little more exciting, participants will not be allowed to schedule interviews ahead of time, and all video content must be recorded during the contest. Yes, that means exploring the area on foot with microphones and cameras to find the right story to tell, AND get it all done before the deadline.
If you have an established broadcast program with a large group of students, this contest is for you.
If you have a brand new broadcast program with a small group of students, this contest is for you.
If you have a journalism program, but students have never made a broadcast package, this contest is for you.
We recommend team sizes no larger than five, but will leave team size to teacher discretion. Schools may enter up to five teams total. The entry fee is $20 per team.
This contest is open to any high school students in New England. The only requirement is that students need to bring any video, audio and editing equipment laptops needed to complete this contest.
Each submission will be eligible to achieve Gold, Silver or Bronze status. Submissions will be evaluated by industry professionals so that students receive feedback from people who understand the challenges of reporting under a deadline.
Running the program are Zack Gorman of Holbrook Middle High School and Paul Nellis of Braintree
High School. Gorman is the executive director of Holbrook Community Access and Media, the town community media center. Having started an after-school video production club 11 years ago, Gorman is entering his 12th year as an adviser and 7th as the Holbrook Midde High School Video Production teacher. Code Blue Now, entering season 6, broadcasts weekly and is produced entirely by students.
Nellis has taught since 2012 at Braintree High where he developed WampTV, the school’s broadcast communications program. He is a CJE with the Journalism Education Association.
8:00 Morning check-in
8:30 Orientation
8:45 Contests begin
12:45 Contest deadline
12:45-1:30 Complete day’s events