Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006
Westminster College recently received a grant from the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB) to purchase a state-of-the-art digital video camera, which allows one person to be the photographer and the reporter on a story.
"Convergence is blurring the lines between print and broadcast journalism," said Brad Weaver, instructor of broadcast communications at Westminster College. "Newspaper photographers now shoot and edit video and present those stories online thanks to the light weight, professional digital video camera. In order to remain competitive, young broadcast journalists must become savvy to the ways of digital video shooting and editing. The digital age means the jobs of producer, shooter, editor, and reporter are merging, and to remain competitive, broadcast students need training and experience with the new digital video systems."
"This new digital video camera will also allow us to integrate video with out Web efforts as a vital component, including video blogging and podcasting," Weaver said. "Broadcasters need to grow past the idea that they can just tag on video and audio to the text they post on the Web. Digital cameras let us think about how to produce video and audio content for new media"
"PAB has long been interested in campus broadcasting programs and especially the curriculum followed in Pennsylvania's College and Universities aimed at broadcast majors," said Richard Wyckoff, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters. "We decided to assist these colleges and universities by establishing a grant program. PAB is very pleased to recognize Westminster College for its broadcasting program and is most happy to award the College with one of our 2006 grants."
"Our broadcasting program is proud that we are recognized by professional broadcasters via the awarding of this grant," said Dr. David Barner, chair of the Department of Communication Studies, Theatre, and Art. "In addition to the grant, the PAB allows Westminster students to attend PAB professional seminars at no charge. Through this outreach, Westminster students meet working professionals and receive free training in the latest broadcast techniques from the top broadcast professionals in the country."
One of Westminster's current broadcast students, Kathryn Larson, recently conducted research on the use of the digital video camera.
"My research was largely a case study in Nashville, Tenn., where this new 'baby Sony' camera is currently affecting the local television stations," Larson said. "Whether liked or disliked, a reporter or photographer will write their story using video and sound shot from this digital video camera, which weighs just a few pounds and costs considerably less than the $10,000 digital video pro at $10.000 digital video $10,000 and a $5,000 tripod. Right now this 'baby' camera is used at the ABC affiliate Channel 2 in Nashville, where people say it's the wave of the future."
Kathryn Larson is a daughter of Jane Lauer of Nashville, Tenn. Larson, a senior English and broadcast communications major, is a graduate of Harpeth Hall School.
Contact Barner at (724) 946-7239 or e-mail barnerdl@westminster.edu for more information.
