2008 Woodie Awards
Channel 48 News gets new look with help from Fox Carolina
Issue date: 3/22/06 Section: News
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Staff Writer
The Vision news station has recently stepped up to a new look of professionalism. After working with a set constructed of 2-by-4's and a sheet, the station now has the secondhand makings of a professional news set, complete with a newsroom backdrop, news desk and risers.
"Up until now it's been a make shift setting but this a real set that's been used in a real TV news station," said Dr. Linwood Hagin, department chair of mass communication.
It all started when Hagin received an e-mail over Christmas Break from Phyllis Olson, the business manager for WHNS TV channel 21, commonly known as Fox 21 or Fox Carolina. The e-mail announced their rebuilding of a new set and wanting to give the old set away to anyone interested. After discussing it with Shur Gopal, instructor and electronic media coordinator, Hagin contacted Olson informing her of their interest in the set. Hagin, Gopal, Steven Lester, freshman broadcast media and Jacob Via, junior broadcast media, and current manager of the news station, immediately went to the station to check out the set and see if it would be an option for The Vision to use.
"We just fell in love with that set and said we are taking it," said Gopal.
Olson then told them that Fox 21 was still waiting to hear from a sister station in Oregon who may have an interest in the set as well. "But fortunately by the grace of God she called Dr. Hagin and said 'the set is yours'," said Gopal.
The sister station decided against sending for the old set and opted to use the money to just build their own.
The Mass Communication Department went to work renting a truck and gathering students willing to help dismantle, haul and rebuild the news set once in its new location. On Tuesday, Feb. 28 the group of faculty and students arrived at the Fox 21 news station at 10 p.m. showing up an hour early because of their eagerness to gather up their newly owned set. "We couldn't wait," said Gopal. It took the group one hour and 45 minutes to completely dismantle the set. "We did not have a proper sleep that night," said Gopal.
"That was one of the most memorable times at North Greenville, I loved that," said Michael Long, senior broadcast major.
A member of Taylor's First Baptist Church, who was once a professional truck driver, volunteered his time to help drive the rented truck to the station and back to campus. "That was so nice of that gentleman," said Gopal.
Jacob Via, junior broadcasting and current manager of the news station says that it's a huge step up for them to receive this news set. "Now we can be taken more seriously," said Via. The excitement of all the faculty and students is evident.
"We're definitely excited, it gives the students a real news set to work with," said Hagin.
"It's not just me, all the students, they are thrilled and so thankful to the Lord for having blessed us with all this," said Gopal.