Recently, our broadcasting class here at GEMS took a field trip to a local news station to get a real-world experience of journalism in action. Students were able to see firsthand what it’s like to work at a professional news station. In this article, you’ll hear from the broadcasting teacher and several students about what they learned from the trip.

First, many people might wonder how long this field trip has been happening. Mr. Noonan explained, “We started doing this the first year I started the Broadcasting program in 2010.” That means this trip has been a tradition in the broadcasting program for more than ten years.

Next, what was the motivation behind planning this field trip? Mr. Noonan shared, “I chose to make this an annual event because it gives Broadcasting students a valuable opportunity to experience how a real news station operates. It’s exciting for them to see the professional level of production and recognize that many of the same techniques are being applied in our work on GEMS TV.” His goal was to give students a real-life learning experience that helps them grow as young broadcasters.

Then, I reached out to several students in the class, starting with Cameron Kraushar. Do broadcasting students here at GEMS and professionals at the news station prepare the same way before filming? “Yes, we prepare the same way just like the news station,” said Cameron. This shows that the class at GEMS and the professionals in the industry share similar preparation methods.

Let’s look at another interview with a broadcasting student, Jackson Brauning. What was one thing you liked about this field trip? “Going to the mall food court and eating food,” replied Jackson.

Lastly, another broadcasting student who enjoyed the trip was Nevan Owen. What is one thing you learned on this trip that you didn’t know before? “That they have thousands of dollars worth of equipment,” responded Nevan. Clearly, the students found the experience eye-opening and enjoyable.

In conclusion, the field trip to the local news station gave broadcasting students a firsthand look at the industry. Interviews with the teacher and students highlighted how the experience deepened their understanding and passion for news production.