By Jordan Mann
Training for WCGR was held January 28th in CUC’s radio/TV studio. This was the first formal training session of the semester; future training sessions are available by appointment. The training sessions are quick, informal and painless.
Dr. Ericsson (WCGR faculty advisor) began with instruction on how to use the DSLR cameras to shoot video and
record sound, followed by a few minutes on the use of tripods. Fifteen minutes of training is all that is required for students to be able to check out cameras to shoot interviews, news stories, features and television shows.
Alex Patt (co-general manager of WCGR with Brooke Zauner) then took over with training in the radio studio. Another fifteen minutes of training and students are ready to host or manage a radio show. Current shows include music and talk radio, everything from sports, news, church and entertainment talk. Students need only come up with an idea, spend fifteen minutes in training, and they can have their own radio show.
Patt has been with WCGR since his first semester in the fall of 2012, he became general manage this year. He said they are always looking for new people. “The radio participation has been very good….but, when it comes to television and news we are always looking for more people.” He pointed out that people who participate in WCGR can get course credit, “it’s almost like a class, but without the tests and lectures.” There are many open positions that do not require appearing on camera or talking into a microphone.
The practicum is worth one credit hour per semester for most positions, and 1.5 credit hours for managers.
Radio shows stream live over the internet, they can be heard by anyone in the world. Hosts can also download past shows to their computers in an MP3 format. Downloads can be shared with friends and family and saved for a portfolio. Television shows are pre-recorded and then played over the campus television station. Televised sporting events are often streamed live.
Live streaming radio can be heard at https://cuchicago.edu/wcgr, many past television shows can be seen at https://cuchicago.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-arts/communication-department/wcgr-tv/.
For more information contact Alex Patt at crf_patta@cuchicago.edu
