This year, Chamblee Morning News has grown out of its role as a simple recitation of the announcements and into a popular Chamblee fixture due to the many improvements the broadcasting department has made and its new entertainment factor.
With a core of seniors led by Cody Chaffins, this year’s CMN staff possesses a lot of skills. Broadcasting teacher John White said the seniors have “wonderful talent.” He is also pleased with the progress of the underclassmen. Dedicated students such as junior Joseph Aims, who attended a summer broadcasting program at North Carolina School of the Arts, will be able to pick up the slack when the seniors graduate. Because of the annual loss of the most experienced students, White says it is hard to make drastic improvements year to year, but the program is gradually advancing.
New technology has also played a huge role in improving this year’s morning news. The blue screen has been a key element in football commercials, weather reports, and “Iron Mic” backgrounds. Teleprompters have made it easier for the anchors to read the news and, White says, have increased the professional look of the show.
White hopes to bring in new technology every year, including digital cameras, digital audio/video capabilities, a better editing booth, and better lighting. The studio is currently being redesigned to be more spacious. Technology, however, along with the new positions it creates, has caused some confusion in the studio, according to White. When it gets too hectic, White says he turns into a “raving lunatic.” Despite his distress, he lets his students continue to work with “a certain amount of creative freedom,” saying they must learn from their mistakes since the main purpose of the class is education.
In some instances, though, White does have to limit his students’ freedom. In a few broadcasts this year, White said he noticed that “the humor was getting out of hand,” and that he had to curb the “antics” of a few students. He says he wants to increase the level of professionalism in the studio, but he doesn’t mind a little fun on the student’s part.
The bill has expanded beyond just the morning news. Every Friday at lunch, a talent showcase, including the “Iron Mic” competition, is shown in the cafeteria. This gives students a chance to show off their talent, and it has given a few broadcasting students the chance to give comedic performances.
White has many plans for the future of Chamblee Morning News. He wants to broadcast the show live on an in-school, closed-circuit feed rather than taping it a few minutes prior to the broadcast. He would like the television to replace the intercom so administrators could make video announcements at any point during the day. White is also interested in the possibility of broadcasting the afternoon announcements and hopes to create a bigger sports segment, deploying camera crews to games, and perhaps creating a weekly sports show, citing the fact that “sports are a big part of the high school experience.” Mainly, he says, student input will determine the direction in which the program will move.