UTC TV News Airs Friday


        The second edition of UTC TV News, a television newscast written
and produced by and for UTC students, will begin airing Monday, Dec. 13 at
noon on Comcast Cable Channel 3.
        UTC TV News is a production of students in the course Communication
400, Producing Television News.   Students produced the first program that
aired in November and early December.  They built on that knowledge from
that show for this second program.
        The eleven class members served as reporters, video photographers,
editors, producers and anchors, as well as in studio production roles.
Students selected the stories, shot and edited videotape, and wrote the
packages and script.  "This is a 'real life' learning situation for the
students," said Dr. Betsy Alderman, instructor in the course and
Communication Department faculty member.
        Stories in the show include the problem of students drinking on
campus; freshman visitation rules; personal safety; a religious
organization causing controversy; a profile of a student trying to do it
all; cafeteria food; empty seats at athletic events; the popularity of
tattoos; a tour of the Challenger Center and others.
        "The stories are designed to entertain, as well as inform our
audience," said Matt Rogers, a student producer.  "We wanted to appeal to
students' interests and let them enjoy the show too."
        Anchors for the show are Shawanna Kendrick and Peita Horley.  They
were selected by a vote of class members following an audition.
        Students also served as production crew members for the taping of
the show in studios in Frist Hall. Chris Willis, director of the Video
Production Center, assisted students in the production of the program.
        The background and set of the show were donated.  The news desk was
provided to the university by WRCB Television and Premier Digital provided
the enlarged photograph of Hooper Hall.
        The show will move to permanent headquarters in the Metropolitan
Building at UTC following renovations.  A state-of-the-art television
studio will be constructed to produce the show and others in cooperation
with the school's Video Production Center.
        Other air dates for the show are: Dec. 14, 9 p.m.; Dec. 15, 10
a.m.; Dec. 16, noon.
        The show may also been seen on the Internet at www.utc.edu/~video.
Real Video software to view the program.
        Students who will enroll in the Communication 400 course for the
spring 2000 semester will produce the next show.  Alderman anticipates that
show will be ready by late February.