This year George Washington Carver Freshman Campus (GWCFC) introduced a course that was brand new to its students, Journalism. In this particular class, students learn a multitude of skills concerning camera angles, video editing, and tools used in all fields journalism. One of the main projects the students in Journalism work on is their weekly news show, and they also create scrolling announcements and website articles for GWCFC. Additionally, they help create videos to help with classroom instruction. Coffee Now Productions is not only GWCFC’s very first news show, but it is also a substantial way for anyone wishing to go on the film production career path to learn what the business is all about.
Each week, a group of students from Journalism work quickly and diligently on the news show, making sure to get it done by the weekly deadline. In this day and age, being one step ahead of the game when it comes to editing and technology skills in general is very important. Students have worked with programs such as Digital Juice (which allows them to import a multitude of graphics, sounds, etc), Adobe Photo Shop, Windows Movie Maker, I-Movie and Adobe Premiere (where the Coffee Now Productions shows are edited). Working on the news shows definitely puts video editing the test; once the students finish filming, the most crucial part of Coffee Now Productions takes place: the editing.
When the students first walked into the Journalism classroom, they had no idea what half of the computer programs even meant, but now, thanks to working on Coffee Now Productions, they have learned numerous things about computer editing and film production. In fact, one student, Alexis Windham, even stated that “… we are using the same editing programs and techniques that paid professionals use in the real world and we are also learning what it’s like to meet a deadline.” Not only does the production of this show affect Journalism students, but it also affects all of GWCFC; the release of each show informs all students about what’s going on in their community, school, their teachers, and even their peers.
A great deal of time, dedication, and a significant amount of effort is put into each and every Coffee Now news show. Though it is relatively new at the freshman campus, it will surely be around for many more years to come. Coffee Now Productions is not only a way for students that are interested in the field of journalism to practice, but it is also an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
– Submitted by Avery Anderson, Student at GWCFC