Video Distribution system, GPB and WPCE School news!

In our school we have a distribution system that is a basic closed circuit system with one working channel for showing any DVD/VHS videos.  We use it every morning to broadcast our morning news.  Over the last couple of years the system has gone from 4 working channels that teachers could use the phone system to dial up their video, down to one, where the media specialist has to start and stop when needed.  The county is currently remolding and upgrading existing systems but that takes time.  We are on the "list" to get a new distribution upgrade but couldn't tell you when that will happen exactly.  I recently visited another elementary media center where there news crew set up was much more state of the art than ours.  There was more equipment that dealt with the audio and visual aspects of producing the news.  There was even a green screen for producing different action/background segments.  I did ask whether they could report from different locations and they did not have that capability but the media specialist had done this before when she worked in the middle school setting.  She also takes her news crew kids on a field trip to the CNN center each year, how cool is that!  They can actually see first hand how it all works in a professional news setting.  What a great way to expose students who are interested in a future that deals with broadcasting.  

Georgia Public Broadcasting is also used with our students for additional educational resources.  Teachers are encouraged at the beginning of the school year to set up their own account with GPB so that they can have access in their classrooms to United Streaming and Discovery Education.  I know firsthand as a kindergarten teacher I loved all the free videos they provide that went directly with what we were learning and the additional lessons and resources provided.  Great resource for the school and it's free!  

Being a new media specialist I had to ask about how the news was done in the past and start from there.  I decided to hold "auditions" for any fifth graders that wanted to participate and using a rubric I scored them according to what I was looking for in a news member.  I ended up with 30 kids that rotate each week and I have an alternate for each week, in case someone is unable to do their job.  We have done fairly well this year, not too many hiccups.  We cover the basics such as our school mission statement, moment of silence, pledge, Star Spangle Banner and any additional announcements.  I have tried to liven things up with mini skits and props when we can use them, along with fun music for school wide themes.  This year students, teachers and myself have all worked together on the news but I would eventually like to see it move in a more student centered direction to let their creative sides shine!