This is a plan intended for high schools who are considering starting their own student-driven Media Production Department. Some schools have a journalism department with their own newspaper. Some have a “yearbook” class to create the school’s yearbook. Take that basic idea of student-driven and apply that to a TV station!
View Google Doc of plan by clicking here.
This is a plan intended for high schools who are considering starting their own student-driven Media Production Department. Some schools have a journalism department with their own newspaper. Some have a “yearbook” class to create the school’s yearbook. Take that basic idea of student-driven and apply that to a TV station!
Overview
High schools can provide real-world ON THE JOB training for high schoolers to effectively produce a variety of broadcast events while also learning how to positively interact with media outlets in order to be confident, media-savvy, and highly competitive in their public lives beyond high school.
Let’s face it, cameras are everywhere these days. Why don’t we cover events and turn these into real world ON THE JOB training while elevating the school’s public image, develop media-savvy students, encourage more participation and interest, and help raise revenue for the boosters?
Summary
Every school event is an opportunity for students to learn and become more media savvy on both sides of the video camera. Whether it’s sports, a cheerleading competition, a band or concert performance, or a play, these live events represent real life practical classroom opportunities to understand how to present one’s self to a pervasive media and virtually anyone with a cellphone (in front of the cameras) and how to plan, produce, cover, and portray these events to an interested audience as a part of the media (behind the cameras).
To be competitive, the need to understand and harness the power of digital media is a growing necessity. This applies not only for schools competing for students and financial benefactors but to every student as they face new challenges in navigating their future careers and professional lives.
Throughout its busy year, a school hosts or participates in many events. Their students compete and represent the school in many different sports, performances, arts, and other competitions.
Every event the schools’ students participate in is an opportunity for the school to become more media savvy and cover with their own, fully autonomous, student-led and run Broadcast and Media Production Department.
This is a general plan that we hope will be considered to create a more thoroughly-tailored plan to suit your school’s distinct needs.
Behind the Camera: Student On the Job Training Opportunities
These are only some of the roles an in-house Media Production Department would provide ON THE JOB training for.
Job Title | Description | Employable/Life Skills |
On-Air Talent, Commentators & Announcers | Every sporting event needs announcers and commentators! Sometimes this involves the same person doing both. | Communications, journalism, creative writing, public speaking, performing arts |
Production Directors | Coordinates a production team to cover an event or a performance for a live broadcast. | Communications Various production skills and techniques, equipment, systems, hardware and software. Understanding how to set up a live stream broadcast, queue transitioning between cameras, graphics, previously-produced video segments. |
Graphic Artist /Animator | Create graphic slates, titles, overlays, animations, etc. | Learn a variety of techniques, skills and software that translate into real-world, employable skills. |
Production Assistants | Perform media production duties from setting up video cameras, livestream feeds, microphones, lighting, other equipment and cabling. | PAs learn a variety of media production skills and can work up to become a director. |
Videographer /Camera Operator | Setup, maintain and operate live cameras. | Understanding framing, light exposure, focal adjustments. |
Chyron /Scoreboard Operator | Different events will need data displayed in a professional manner during a live stream. | Learn different ways to operate software and other equipment that may include live data feeds. |
Business Admin & Management | Operation decision-making, managing agreements, budgets, division of labor, supervision, disputes. | Learn hard skills and experience operating and managing a business. |
Marketing & Social Media | Manage the marketing and social media of the operation. | Learn a variety of techniques, skills and latest industry best-practices. |
On Camera: Student Featured Media
This highlights some real-life scenarios that will result from covering live events and help explain some of the potential benefits.
Scenario | Benefits |
School covers an event through live stream broadcast. |
|
School hosts a special competition or event and streams it live. |
|
Athlete gets interviewed after the game. |
|
High school coach is highlighted interacting with team on live streams. |
|
Projected Costs
Though we can strive to be as professional as we can, this isn’t ESPN. It’s a learning and training opportunity for our students. Here is a breakdown of a basic list of equipment and other incidentals that are needed to start this program. The requirements to start a Basic Media Production Department and those items that would be needed at a minimum for what would be considered a semi-professional setup are provided based on 2025 averages costs.
Item | Reason/Use | Estimated Cost Range |
Consulting fee | Depending on scope of plan | Between $1,000 – $10,000 |
Setup & Training fees | Incidental costs based on acquisition, set up of equipment and needed training. | Depends on full service or minimal assistance needed |
A new PC laptop | Operating live stream software and other basic video and graphics processing. | $1,000 – $2,500 |
Video capture card/device | This allows streaming software to show multiple feeds from video cameras. | $600 – $1,500 |
3 to 5 HD or 4K Video cameras | Capture video, prefer high ratings for auto focus and low light.
| $500 – $2,500 each |
Tripods & mounts | Operating video camera | $200 – $400 each |
2 to 3 Microphones & stands | Capture audio | $200 – $400 each |
Incidentals: Monitors, cables, wireless transmitters, remotes, other hardware | Carry signals, power, safety, bins, etc. | $500 – $4,000 |
Independent Live Streaming Companies
I have been personally involved in live streaming different events, including high school sports. These companies need content and high school sporting events is content that can draw thousands of viewers which they can then monetize.
If a school does not operate its own live streaming and make it a policy that prohibits third party companies to live stream students, at some point, someone will try to monetize it either openly or through more stealthy means. Individuals with a cell phone can do it now, and many are doing it even without anyone at the school’s knowledge or consent.
We recommend prohibiting live streaming any student events by outside parties. Schools should publish notices in programs, make announcements during the event, and post visible signs at such events.
FAQs
- What about privacy and consent?
- Though out of the scope of this document, it is critical that the schools conduct a legal review before embarking on a Media Production Department enterprise.
- Are there NIL considerations?
- Questions regarding NIL should be addressed and complied with but are out of the scope of this document.
- Isn’t this exploiting the kids?
- We contend that if a school does not do this, random social media influencers, streaming companies, TV stations, parents and students already are. The difference is that doing it this way ensures the school will not only be able to control content and the narratives, they can provide real-world training on how to deal with the media and how to effectively produce media.
- Can schools monetize this?
- If allowed, it is possible the boosters can also raise modest revenue from streaming and managing their own YouTube channel as well as getting sponsors to pay for advertisements during events. Students may benefit from being involved in the responsibility and learning the business and management side of media as well.
Questions about this document can be directed to Aaron Belchamber. For more inspiration and ideas of how to set up a Student-Driven Broadcast & Media Production Program for High Schools, contact us at https://brandager.com/contact-us/ or contact Aaron directly.