My Portfolio
Welcome to my portfolio. Here you’ll find a selection of my work. Explore my projects to learn more about what I do.
BROADCAST JOURNALISM
When I signed up for Intro to Journalism my freshman year, I thought that I’d be picking up a pen and paper not a camera. To my surprise, most of the work I have done throughout my four years of high school was done behind the lens, capturing people's stories from a new perspective. I found a new sense of love for the subject of journalism and storytelling through broadcasting. Between doing on camera interviews, filming B-roll and editing clips on iMovie I discovered a new way to further my story-telling skills and develop my craft as a student journalist. Take a look below to see some of the broadcast journalism work I've done over the years.
FAITH OVER FEAR
Capturing the journey of senior, Brooklyn Lech, and the annual sand volleyball tournament she organizes to raise funds for pediatric cancer provided me with a firsthand experience of the ability of storytelling to inspire positive change. The process of crafting this broadcast, from interviews to capturing the life of former Wildcat Taylor Lech, illuminated the potential of journalism to amplify voices and share impactful narratives for a meaningful cause. Witnessing the ripple effect of Brooklyn's efforts fueled my desire to be a storyteller.
FROZEN MASTERCLASS
This was the last broadcast I completed my junior year and it holds a special place in my heart. At the Holland Center for Performing Arts, I followed students in our Alternative Curricular Program who immersed themselves in a Frozen acting masterclass hosted by actors from the real Frozen Broadway musical. It was exhilarating getting to interview these public figures and partake in an experience that shined a light on underrepresented students in our school. After filming B-roll, crafting voiceovers and editing clips I was acknowledged for my outstanding work in the audio portion of my broadcast, as I earned a Gold Pinnacle Award from the Nebraska Broadcaster Association for Best News Broadcast - Audio.
WALK, RUN AND FLY
During my junior year, I explored the themes of resilience and hope as I documented a family facing Congenital Heart Disease(CHD) through my news broadcast "Walk, run and fly." As I documented the event dedicated to raising funds for children directly affected by CHD, I discovered the power of journalism to create awareness and foster understanding. My experience working with Heart Heroes not only deepened my appreciation for the diverse narratives within our communities but also solidified my commitment to utilizing journalism as a tool for advocacy and empathy.
PERSEVERING THROUGH PERFORMANCE
After personally witnessing senior Carmen Hoye's exceptional stage performance during our show choirs premiere, I was shocked to learned that she was 60% deaf in both of her ears. After hearing the exceptional story, my partner and I set out to interview her and her mom, eager to showcase their inspiring narrative of resilience and perseverance on our platform.
ENERGY DRINK PSA
When brainstorming story ideas, nothing seemed to come to mind until I took a look around the room and realized half of my peers had an energy drink in their hand, thus sparking the idea for a PSA on energy drinks. Wanting to challenge ourselves, my partner and I decided that we were going to animate our broadcast. Spending hours on our tablets sketching out designs and animating our drawings on a free app called "FlipaClip," we created a broadcast PSA that placed 2nd in the Broadcast Public Service Announcement category at NSAA State Journalism.
ANCHORING
"Welcome back to the MWHS Wildcat News," these were the words I had dreamt of saying since I was a freshman. Every Friday during Quality Time my teacher would pull down the white projector screen and turn on the MWHS Wildcat News, Millard West's student run broadcast. Having the opportunity to now anchor as an upperclassman has been a full-filling experience for me as a high school journalist. I love getting to share the work that my fellow staff reporters have produced, while also sharing stories from students around the school. Click the photo below to see an example of one of the shows that I've anchored.
NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL RADIO PROJECT
During the spring semester of my junior year, the Nebraska Broadcasters Association President, Jim Timm, and Radio DJ Kurt Owens, delivered a briefcase, unveiling the Nebraska High School Radio Project. With an immense sense of excitement, I, along with six other dedicated staff members, embarked on a journey to bring this project to life. In just three days, we achieved the extraordinary feat of launching the first ever production of the High School Radio Project in the Nation, which we claimed as "The Uproar." To be pioneers in introducing a groundbreaking initiative on a national scale was nothing short of monumental. Throughout the remainder of my junior and senior years, we meticulously voice-tracked segments and carefully selected songs, curating an experience that resonated with listeners nationwide.
Throughout the week our staff records voice tracks, where we insert voice links between songs within our predetermined playlist. We use the spreadsheet below to keep track of everyone's radio shifts. With this system we were able to fairly incorporate everyone in the class and give everyone the opportunity to voice track for the radio station.
Below is a direct link to The Uproar, where you can listen to our curated track lists and voice-overs. Everyday we have designated shifts, where we create both front-sell and back-sell voiceovers either explaining what the next song will be or what the song that just played was. In addition, we create either short radio PSA's or news segments that explain current events around our school, in our local community and nation wide.
With being the first class in the nation to ever produce the High School Radio Project, we had to rely heavily on our skills in broadcasting and journalism to teach ourselves how to utilize the equipment. After being handed a manual and a plethora of Youtube tutorials we efficiently taught ourselves the ins and outs of radio in a matter of days. As I experimented and researched the intericacies of the RØDECaster Pro equipment, I quickly learned how to master the techniques of capturing audio and previewing songs.
Toward the end of the 2023 school year, we began to find our footing and acquaint ourselves with the Nebraska High School Radio Project. After dedicating weeks to voice tracking, we were ready to present a live show. On May 17, six of our staff reporters and I collaborated on a one-hour live show. We selected the songs and topics for our segment, and I opted to produce a brief pop culture segment with a friend, delving into the latest news in the pop culture scene. Click the photo below to tune in and listen to the live show produced by our class.
After acknowledging my ability to execute excellent public service announcements for the Nebraska High School Radio Project, Nebraska Broadcasters Association President Jim Timm, asked that I record a PSA to be used on real radio stations. Through this experience, I was able to bring my talents and voice into the world of professional journalism.
WILDCAT SPORTS NETWORK
In addition to working on the Nebraska High School Radio Project and anchoring for the MWHS Wildcat News, I also run camera for the Wildcat Sports Network. Outside of the regular school hours, myself and students in the Advanced Broadcasting class livestream various sporting events through the livestream network STRIV. My favorite is running the camera because I'm able to capture all of the action as it's happening right in front of my eyes. We utilize the sign-up sheet below so that everyone has the chance to participate in the Wildcat Sports Network and either run camera, produce, comentate or do the play-by-play for each of the sporting events.
NBA PINACLE AWARDS
Attending the Nebraska Broadcasters Association awards as a high school journalist was an unparalleled experience. Stepping into a room filled with the energy of professional news casters and broadcasters, I found myself in the midst of a vibrant community that I was eager to be a part of. To be honored at this prestigious event for Best News Broadcast - Audio and for our team to be honored as the first broadcasting group in the nation to pilot the Nebraska High School Radio Project was phenomenal. This opportunity not only fueled my passion for journalism but also provided insights into the standards of excellence upheld by the industry. It was a transformative moment that not only recognized my efforts but also fueled my aspirations in the field of broadcast journalism.
