Media Production

Fall
Students learn the basics of audio and video production by means of exploring the fundamentals of production: media aesthetics, audience analysis, choice of medium, visual writing, and more. The course covers theory, terminology, and techniques. Basic technical and aesthetic skills of both radio production and television studio production are covered. Students apply these fundamentals by participating in hands-on group projects.

Social Media and Radio Broadcasting Apprenticeship I is held at Seven Mountains Media studios in Lower Yoder Township, suburban Johnstown, on a weekly basis convenient to the student and the station. The student will learn to analyze the station’s audience demographics to understand interests and online behavior, create regular social media content, assist with live updates during live action broadcasts, film and edit short-form videos.

Fall
Students will gain basic knowledge and skills for creating professional photographic images. Focus will include photography theory, techniques, and history. The course also includes an introduction to the camera and Photoshop. The work of great photographers will also be discussed for a better understanding of picture composition.

Broadcast News and Video Production Apprenticeship I is held at WJAC-TV’s studios in Upper Yoder Township, suburban Johnstown on a weekly schedule convenient to the student and the station. The student will gain a fundamental understanding of video editing and video switching as well as a fundamental understanding of prompter use and graphics creation and implementation. The student will understand the roles of director, technical director and understand the elements of graphics, timing, rundowns and cues.

Fall
The average American is exposed to more than 3,000 advertisements and media messages each day, but recalls only about a dozen. To write creative and memorable messages that stand out in the marketing departments of local, national, and international organizations, skill is required. This course introduces the student to effective copywriting for radio, television, and e-based platforms.

Social Media and Radio Broadcasting Apprenticeship II is held at Seven Mountains Media studios in Lower Yoder Township, suburban Johnstown, on a weekly basis convenient to the student and the station. The student will learn to create social media content, including film and edit short-form videos, infographic and animated videos, memes and online polls, job-shadow announcers and use analytics tools to plan posts and measure performance.

Fall
Video production combines essential storytelling along with the technical skills needed to make the story come alive. The fundamentals of video production will be studied including the production process, the production team, the function and elements of the camera, proper mounting, balance, and composition. An introduction to creating, editing, and producing digital video, the course will enable students to use digital video terminology and video editing including adding transitions, special effects, music, sound effects, and voice-overs, graphics, and titles.

Spring
New media production offers hands-on instruction in multimedia and emerging new media technologies.  Students learn to use new media technologies effectively for different types of communication. The scope of the course will cover application areas of new media. Digital, visual, and media literacy will be improved as content generators.

Fall
This course in media literacy introduces both theoretical and applied constructs and techniques in order to promote critical consumption and production of media content. Media analysis techniques, media reviews, and exercises are used to enhance overall student knowledge of the topic area.

Broadcast News and Video Production Apprenticeship II is held at WJAC-TV’s studios in Upper Yoder Township, suburban Johnstown on a weekly schedule convenient to the student and the station. The student will gain a fundamental understanding of field camera operation, shot composition and lighting, single-camera ENG (Electronic News Gathering) shooting and audio, and interview set-up.