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USC launches its own television news studio
Journalism studies at the University of the Sunshine Coast took a huge leap forward today with the official launch of USC’s own television studio.
The fully-equipped studio has already enabled journalism students to produce quality television news bulletins – featuring their own interviews – which have been broadcast online.
With technical support from professional editor and camera operator Ben King and presentation advice from Seven Local News journalist Rosanna Natoli, students are revelling in their new opportunities.
USC’s Head of School of Communication Associate Professor Stephen Lamble said the studio featured a commercial-quality television camera with autocue, lights, monitors and an editing machine.
“The camera we have uses the latest high-definition, wide angle and wide screen format and we’re streaming that on to our website,” he said.
“This is huge for the students. We have never been able to do anything like this before.
“The real beauty of this is that it’s not just TV. It’s combining television and web, which is where the industry is going. It’s part of our approach in preparing students to be able to work across different media platforms.”
Dr Lamble said the studio would provide students with experiences in using recording and editing equipment, and assist them in producing show reels of their work to display to prospective employers.
He said as a pilot project this semester, seven USC journalism students had been supplied with cameras, tripods and microphones to record interviews.
“They are putting together a 15-minute bulletin each week, using their own interviews, and taking turns at presenting,” he said.
“They are producing Sunshine Coast news stories with topics ranging from traffic accidents, development debates, wet weather and sports stories.
“The students are really right into it. They’re very committed to it.”
Samples of the work already completed by students are online at <http://usctvnews.journalismaustralia.com>.
Dr Lamble particularly thanked Seven Local News for its assistance in establishing the television studio on campus.
“Seven Queensland director of news Rex Clark has been particularly supportive of our journalism program. As well as regularly placing our interns, he donated equipment and the studio set we use for our news broadcasts.”
Dr Lamble said the studio was now part of a communications hub at USC that included a photographic studio, a sound booth, and a print newsroom where students produce the Sunshine Coast Daily’s weekly Junior Sports Supplement.
— Terry Walsh