Ava Bartinick serves as our show’s director as well as assistant producer.
This week, I had the opportunity to produce the C tease and the C block for Show 2. This was my first time producing outside of a single assignment I completed last semester, so it was both exciting and a little intimidating.
Even though I was nervous going into it, I am very proud of myself for completing my portion of the script and contributing to the overall show. It felt rewarding to see the work I wrote come together during the broadcast.
At the same time, I recognize that there are still areas where I can improve as a producer and scriptwriter. For example, I want to focus on making my transitions between packages more conversational so that they flow more naturally from one story to the next. Smooth transitions help keep the audience engaged and make the show feel more cohesive. I also need to be more intentional with my wording to ensure that the script is clear for viewers and easy for the anchors to read on air without confusion.
One important lesson I learned while producing and writing scripts is the importance of reading the script back as if you were the anchor delivering it live. When writing, something may seem perfectly fine on the page, but when you read it out loud, you can quickly notice if a sentence feels awkward, too long, or unclear. Practicing this approach helped me catch several small issues in my script before the show.
It also reminded me that broadcast writing is meant to sound natural and conversational, rather than overly formal or complicated. Moving forward, I plan to continue reading my scripts aloud during the editing process so I can make them as smooth and understandable as possible.
Ava also helps her classmates shoot video in the field, as this shoot at a WVU gymnastics meet with sports reporter Brayden Laslo.
In addition to producing, I also directed the show. The first time I directed Show 1, I was extremely nervous and somewhat hesitant to take control of the control room. Directing requires making quick decisions and clearly communicating with multiple people at once, which initially felt overwhelming.
However, during Show 2, I believe I showed significant growth in my confidence and leadership. I felt much more prepared going into it because I had a better understanding of my responsibilities and what needed to be done during the broadcast. Having already experienced the process once made the second time feel much less intimidating.
During Show 2, I stepped more fully into a leadership role in the control room. I focused on communicating clearly with my team, making sure everyone understood what was happening during each part of the show, and helping create an environment where people felt comfortable asking questions if they needed clarification. In contrast, during the previous show, I was hesitant to take on those responsibilities. I was even nervous about setting camera shots because I didn’t want to make a mistake or cause a problem during the broadcast.
Through this experience, I have realized that I do have a solid understanding of what I’m doing. Of course, there is always room to continue learning and improving, especially in a fast-paced production environment like this one. However, being trusted with the role of director and producer reminded me that others believe in my abilities. Keeping that in mind helped me approach Show 2 with much more confidence and a stronger sense of responsibility. Overall, this experience helped me grow both technically and personally, and I look forward to continuing to develop these skills in future shows.