Campus Currents

Broadcast News Gains Professional Edge

Jim Hannum was in the right place at the right time. That place was the National Association of Broadcaster’s convention in Las Vegas, in the early ’90s. Hannum, associate professor of communication, stopped by the booth of a company called Comprompter. There, Rick Hallock, Comprompter employee and 1980 wwc electrical engineering graduate, saw his wwc badge and struck up a conversation. Hallock then introduced Hannum to his boss, Ralph King, company president.

King is a former college teacher himself, and at that time gave wwc a newsroom software system, called Electronic News Room, which was designed by Hallock. Last May, a move by the wwc Communications Department to a brand new television studio in Canaday Technology Center prompted the need for new software, particularly something that could be used with Windows. Having learned that Comprompter had developed a new software system called NewsKing, Hannum called King, asking if he’d be willing to donate to the school again.

This time, King not only donated the software, he sent Hallock to install it in August. During his visit to wwc, Hallock also trained future users.
Comprompter does not typically make donations of this kind.

According to King, an exception was made for wwc because of Hallock, who has worked for him for 22 years. “It’s simply an expression of my gratitude for his loyalty, that he can pass on to a place that has done good things for him,” says King.

NewsKing is newsroom automation software that allows students to produce television newscasts with pinpoint coordination. This software enables communications students to work on professional level software that is the industry standard in broadcasting. The network software system retails for $15,000.

The software program calculates the length of the broadcast as the script for a newscast is typed in. The user enters notes that indicate when a piece of video should play, when a graphic should appear on the screen, or when a still picture should come up during the newscast. The software then controls these different elements, automating the newscast.

If the news anchor were to read the script slowly, the software would recalculate and adjust the length of the program and the time at which different elements should appear. It lets the user know if something should to be cut from or added to the program. The software is Windows-compatible, and no expensive hardware is needed in order to use it.

“It’s an excellent, high-end system for newsrooms, and news writing, having news desks connected and being able to change the agenda of a news show while you’re on the air,” says Hannum.

Several communications classes will use the new software, including Broadcast News Writing, a new class developed to support the news laboratory. Students producing Blue Mountain News, the television news program produced by the Communications Department, will work with the software to create a live newscast Monday through Thursday.

“It’s a real advantage for students to have the opportunity to work in a real newsroom environment,” says Pamela Harris, chair of the Communications Department. “Students are working on the equipment that they’re going to find in the professional industry.” W

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