2008 Broadcast Pacemaker Winners

Contest judging and embedded video players courtesy of a partnership with RTNDF and SchoolTube.com

DTV News Live, Davison HS, Davison, Mich.
Randall Scott, adviser
Judges’ comments: A very slick, well-produced newscast. The interviews were very well done and were cut expertly into the narration in the packages. The student medical emergency story made good use of video shot to re-create the events that transpired. It would have been advisable to super those “re=enactment.” Zach Hall does a great job thinking ahead about how he will write his story, and the stand-up’s are top-notch. This was evident in the story about the commercial development of Davison Township. An excellent job on Iraq. Of all the entries judged, this newscast showed the best continuity as the student anchors moved from one story to the next. There was also good use of voice-over’s (not every story has to be a reporter package). The promo about DTV News was excellent. What a great sports segment; the pacing was very good.

HTV Magazine, Hillcrest HS, Springfield, Mo.
Dave Davis, adviser
Judges’ comments: A very nice newscast open, [though] it’s too long. Excellent work on the easy access story (ordering liquor online). This was a very impressive enterprise story that showed care and proper steps to make sure that the student journalists were not breaking the law. A fine example of student journalism at its best. The video phone story was also well done; it was well shot and edited, and it, too, showed good reporting skills. The story about the football team had really good writing and use of natural sound. Bravo for doing the “chatroom” piece on the 17-year-old brain tumor survivor. Also for including commentary in the newscast. Congratulations to a high school journalism program that puts an emphasis on the fundamentals of ground-breaking reporting, solid writing, and enhanced story telling through video and sound.

MHS-1, McKinney HS, McKinney, Texas
Alyssa Armentrout, adviser
Judges’ comments: Great to see the newscast move quickly into the first reporter package instead of trying to inject too much artificial chatter between the anchors. Get to the news right away. Good use of natural sound and narrative. The drum competition story was well shot and edited. The theater class package – also well done with excellent b-roll. Newscast showed good pacing, although there were abrupt transitions coming out of reporter packages.


2008 NSPA Broadcast Pacemaker Finalists

Broward Teen News, BECON, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Cheryl Cammarano, adviser

Searider News, Waianae HS, Waianae, Hawaii
John Allen and Lorraine Gershun, advisers

WDHS, Deerfield HS, Deerfield, Ill.
Charlotte Titcomb, adviser

BVTV Student News Team, Blue Valley USD 229, Overland Park, Kan.
Bruce McRoberts, adviser

DTV News Live, Davison HS, Davison, Mich.
Randall Scott, adviser

HTV Magazine, Hillcrest HS, Springfield, Mo.
Dave Davis, adviser

MHS-1, McKinney HS, McKinney, Texas
Alyssa Armentrout, adviser