KMSK TV at San Marcos High gaining popularity

By: BRENDA DURAN - Staff Writer | Sunday, January 15, 2006 12:39 AM PST ∞

SAN MARCOS ---- Long before the first bell rings at San Marcos High School, junior Alli Baggerly and 20 of her peers have completed the biggest assignment of the day: producing, directing and editing the daily newscast for KMSK, the school's official TV station.

"It's become a job and a big responsibility for us," said Alli, who was directing the daily news segment on a Thursday morning last week. "It can get hectic at times, but it's fun and we always pull it together."

Students at the school have been able to challenge themselves as the main producers for their school TV station for the last six years with help from an annual $81,000 state grant from the California Partnership Academies. Their program, which is also paid for in part by the school district, airs daily on classroom monitors.

The broadcast class has served about 20 students on the campus since it was started six years ago, but recent technological advances have drawn more students to the program, school officials said.

In the last two years, the program has received more than $20,000 in new technology equipment such as computers and digital cameras which have helped both the school and the students, according to Rick Ehrenfeld, KMSK's teacher.

"This campus was suffering from a communication problem," said Ehrenfeld, who has been supervising the student-run broadcasts for the past two years. "The TV station was a good way to solve that and at the same time give kids an opportunity to take leadership roles, learn about teamwork and gain confidence in themselves."

Two years ago, the class was struggling to get its feet off the ground and broadcasts were rarely produced because of the limited technology, said Ehrenfeld.

Today, students enrolled in the class show up one hour before school starts to produce the daily five-minute news segment, which uses student anchors to present updates on student club meetings, sports highlights and general school announcements.

The students are in charge of writing daily scripts, designing graphics and anchoring the daily segments as well as editing video footage ---- a process that has become easier with the new technology and student commitment, Ehrenfeld said.

"The kids really believe in it," said Ehrenfeld, who gives the students free reign over the program. "They are very committed and take the role of being communicators for the school very seriously."

The students have been able to consistently produce a daily five-minute segment daily as well as launch footage of the TV station on the web.

"We are evolving," said Ehrenfeld. "We are always trying new things and plan to do a lot more."

Ehrenfeld said requiring students to take supplemental classes like web page design, graphics and computer animation has played a key role in taking the TV station to an advanced level within the past year.

"I'm more computer handy now," said control-room manager David Aguilar, a senior who joined the broadcast class last year. "I've learned a lot."

Other students, such as junior Jessica Cuanas, said the class has not only inspired her to seek a career in broadcast but it has also motivated her to take on other challenging projects on campus.

This month the video she produced and edited for the school's field hockey team after learning the basics of editing at KMSK, will be sold to parents and fans at the next match.

"It's always fun to be doing this," said Jessica, who works in the editing department of KMSK and is planning on attending San Diego State to pursue a career in broadcast production.

For others like junior Nadia Ramirez, who serves as one of the TV station's anchors, the class has been an opportunity to boost her self-confidence.

"I love being in front of the camera," said Nadia. "The class has taught me not to be shy. The teachers who see you every morning applaud you and it makes you feel good."

Principal Nancy Peterson said the TV station and the students involved have not only produced a useful and effective communication tool for the school, but also brought the school a sense of pride.

More importantly, she said the class has offered more than school credit to the students involved.

"It's given the kids a way to experience something they can do in the real world," said Peterson. "I'm always very impressed with what they do."

Contact staff writer Brenda Duran at (760) 761-4408 or bduran@nctimes.com.

www.asbsmhs.org

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