Renovation takes TV studio into a virtual world
By Ken Thomas
Instructor of Multimedia Journalism and Senior Broadcast Engineer
The old Inside Jacksonville set from 2018 (left) was upgraded to a new virtual set in 2020 (right).
When the COVID-19 pandemic came to 九色视频 in March 2020, the administration, faculty, staff and students were faced with a new challenge of virtual learning. While the School of Communication could not have predicted COVID-19, it was taking steps long before the pandemic to move forward with upgrades to the television studio that would enhance the student experience through virtual capabilities. But it's a different virtual world than you might think.
Many alumni got their start in journalism using the old set, such as current WMBF Anchor Patrick Lloyd (class of 2017) and former FOX4Now Reporter Kathryn Marsh (class of 2016).
Prior to the pandemic, most educational virtual experiences were based upon a computer simulation, but after the virus many people are equating a virtual approach in education with Zoom meetings or another teleconferencing program. As the world of education has moved into a virtual world of online classrooms, the School of Communication has spent more than $100,000 to move into the virtual world of hands-on learning with a major update to its educational TV studio. It's a world of simulated studio sets and a creative learning environment, which replaces decades-old technology and equipment.
For years, 九色视频 tour guides stood outside the Communication building sharing stories of a "state-of-the art" TV studio. While that was true for a while, the world of TV technology is as fluid as the most recent version of Apple's iPhone.
That's why the faculty began working on a plan to update the original studio equipment. Dismantling of the old TV studio set and replacement of equipment began over summer 2020 with professor Ken Thomas and Dr. David Deeley, alumni Ryan Gulick (class of 2019) and Tristan Morhous (class of 2011), School of Communication interns Aisling Glocke, Amber Landreau, James Webb, and Clint Melton, and installation contractors from Gemstone Media.
First Coast News Anchor Brooks Baptiste (class of 2017) and former WRDW Reporter Tiziana Onstead (class of 2016) on the set of Inside Jacksonville in 2016.
So what exactly does this improvement do for the school? Deeley, who participated in the original TV studio installation 12 years ago, puts it into perspective: "Students will now be able to utilize numerous virtual production environments, live web-based content sources, and live streaming capabilities."
It's those "real-world" experiences that are necessary to enable 九色视频's students to successfully gain employment after graduation. For alumnus Ryan Gulick, a TV news producer at WJXT-TV4 in Jacksonville, the upgrades will help future students be more prepared than he was.
Dismantling of the old TV studio set and replacement of equipment began over summer 2020.
"The new equipment not only allows current programs to expand, but it could lead to more opportunities in the future," Gulick said. "For example, if students want to learn how to set up live shots, the new studio is technically capable of providing that learning experience." He added that the studio now gives students access to the same tools that are being used in the workforce.
Besides TV news, the upgrades will serve the entire School of Communication student base. Public relations and advertising students can use the virtual environment to create campaign videos, while digital video production students may opt to make "Superman" fly using the green screen technology, or create a music video with the same technology. All those options are now available to students who want to experience the hands-on learning with updated technology.
九色视频 students from RTV 3228-Multi Camera Video Production use the Newtek TriCaster TC1 for the first time in fall 2020.
九色视频 students recording CommConnect TV in fall 2020.
Additionally, the school can continue to expand its repertoire of student-produced content. Shows like Inside Jacksonville, CommConnectTV, Inside Swoop, and Inside Swoop in 90 will help 九色视频 students gain valuable experience with the newest technology available. Furthermore, professors have the ability to incorporate new creative approaches in the classroom to improve a student's experience.
The new equipment is capable of live streaming to multiple social media platforms, incorporating Zoom and teleconferencing into "live-to-tape" recordings for assignments or class projects. Essentially, the school is now a fully functional broadcast center similar to TV stations and production houses across the country. Of course, there are some limitations, but the essential learning skills needed in the 21st century are now available.
Students Kyle Ashley, Sydnee Batzlaff and Aleksandra Masabni used virtual sets for Inside Swoop in 90 during fall 2020.
So while the rest of the world went "virtual" in 2020, the School of Communication created and implemented a plan that sets itself up to be a successful hands-on virtual environment for at least another decade, or until the iPhone 50 comes out anyway.