This blog appeared in part on the HTV Magazine Blog for Hillcrest High School and it contains information that I'd like you all to know. This was written by Dave Davis, broadcasting teacher at Hillcrest High School.
Football is Fun, Football is NEWS
Posted by davis on 04 Sep 2010 | Tagged as: Classroom, True Stories, The Story
"School is back in session and that means high school football takes center stage on Friday nights. Too bad, because in our town, that often means mediocrity gets the spotlight.
We have five public high schools in Springfield, MO. In years past, we have had our success stories. Some excellent teams have put together great seasons, but we have not had a state champion yet in the sport that dominates the headlines every September, October and November. And lately, it’s been ugly.
Here is the thing with football. It costs a lot of money. It brings in a lot of money. It involves a LOT of kids. Think team, band, cheerleaders, pep squads, dance teams, and so on. It is the ultimate squeaky wheel. A lot of people have an investment in the sport.
Another thing we TV teachers know. Football is one of the absolute best sports to cover. So many great visuals, so much wonderful sound, so much emotion. I just wonder if we actually “cover” our football teams like we cover other news topics. I mean, that is what a football game is. It’s a news event. People come together, things happen, and some go home happy, some go home disappointed. Money is involved, taxpayers’ money. The games bring in money, but it still takes our tax dollars to turn on the “Friday Night Lights.”
From what I have observed, high school TV shows rarely scratch beneath the surface of the game being covered. We get caught up in the action, the emotion, the school pride, and avoid practicing “journalism” at any cost. When is the last time our kids asked tough, but fair questions about the team, or the game? It almost never happens.
While we preach to our kids the importance of objectivity in journalism, where does objective news coverage go when it comes to the school football team? How long can losing seasons and poor participation continue to be ignored by the school NEWScast? Is your district pouring money into football when it may involve only 30 or 35 players, while it ignores classrooms with outdated technology, leaky roofs, a textbook shortage, or a library in need of a serious update? Those things impact your entire student body every day, not just on Friday night.
I challenge you, this fall, to teach your kids to cover football, and all sports, like you would cover anything else. Avoid tip-toeing around issues that deserve to be examined, questions that need to be asked.
If your school journalists continue to ignore serious issues related to sports in general, they might as well wear team jerseys when they anchor your show."
Recently, Shonda had an opportunity to "run with the pros" by shadowing the Marietta Daily Journal videographer during a Friday night football game. She got some of the best shots that have ever come back to Eagle TV after a weekend game. She observed storytelling by videocamera firsthand. So...what stories can you produce at a football game? Give me some ideas. Think outside the box and come up with ways to cover the news of sports!
Yes, at times we fail to realize how important it is to cover all of our games. We should be more professional as advanced students and cover every single sport that we have at our school. Not only for the senior and highlight tapes but because we are advanced students and we represent the coverage we bring back for eagle TV! The time I spent filming the sch vs. hillgrove football game with David from the Marietta Daily Journal was the most compelling and attentative time I had ever focused on any game in my life! I was right there for every moment, every play making sure I didn't miss a thing. I learned some great techniques about filming a fast past sport like football and Dave helped me understand the game of football way better! That friday night will be a night of learning, fun, and excitement that I will never forget.
ReplyDeleteThe topics are numerous and at hand every friday night- now that i think about it. There are the cheerleaders and what they think about the game... especially the real big games, then you have the devoted girlfriends of the game players, they know the true "dirt" that goes on behind the scenes, the stuff that no body knows. Along with the girlfriends are the sports-med girls, the fans, the parents, and the siblings. Another thought would be to cover the half time show and the thoughts of the band on how the game went. There might be a student that is a devoted fan that goes to every game that may have a condition and going to the game every friday night keeps their hopes up. There are many other things that we could cover that i might not be thinking of, but there are stories we just need to look.
ReplyDeleteKrisanne Patrick said...
ReplyDeleteThere are numerous stories that can be covered at a football game. For example, if the two teams are rivals we could show a brief history on their rivalry as well as feature videos of how important that game would be.
Another story could be produced if a football team (incuding individual players and coachs)is going through something difficult or overcame an event. For example, Kenny Mckinley's death could be incorporated in the game that was being filmed. This would be relevant since he was a past South Cobb football player. Also if a coach for instance had an illness such as heart disease or cancer, their illness could be a link to how the players want to win that specific game in dedication to that coach.
-Krisanne Patrick
I have never filmed sports before but there are a lot of different things you could do.Get all the big plays of course and also get shots of the sideline stuff.Like the coach talking to players,rituals before the game ,the mascot pumping up the crowd and of coarse the fans .
ReplyDeleteAmanda vinson
you could stay down close by the side lines to make sure you git good close up and clear shots. Most important you should follow thw ball because whereever the ball goes the action goes. MAKE SURE YOU WHITE BALANCE SO YOU CAN SEE THE FULL EFFECETS OF THE GAME d.h
ReplyDeleteI think when im recording a game its kind of difficult for me because at first i didnt have no idea on what to do but since i know how to white balance and the most important thing i have learn when you recording a game i need to follow the ball so now i know what it takes to be better at recording a game.
ReplyDelete-kemberlee pierre
You shuld be ON THE FIELD and making sure you get EVERY PLAY because you never know what could happen within seconds of the game. You should also get the CROWD, not just the game, because the fans are just as important. Tape half-time performances, and maybe even concession stand lines so the person watching can get a feel for how football on a friday night may be at South Cobb. It's really not that hard, you just have to be creative.
ReplyDeleteIf im recording a game, its a little hard because when you filming you expect to get good plays and things like that. But the game can turn out to be the worst game and you decides you want to start recording. Then the big play comes up and you miss it. The package turns out ugly.
ReplyDeleteWe should be on the feild getting every play of the game because you never know what could happen next.
ReplyDelete