Opportunities to learn from national platforms are rolling for students of Grand Canyon University's new broadcasting program.
The Future Broadcasters Club recently visited the Phoenix Suns to tour its broadcasting facilities, learn from veteran media professionals and get a glimpse into industry careers.
“Any time we can expose our students to real-world environments, I think is a win,” assistant professor of broadcasting Barry Buetel said. “It was a completely different environment than a lot of them had ever seen.
“I could see some of their eyes open wide, like, 'Wow, I want to do this, I want to be in here.’”
Senior Kalkidan Meyer always has been fascinated by sports broadcasting. When she heard about the Phoenix Suns trip, it was a no-brainer that she would sign up.
Along with roughly 30 students, Meyer was invited inside Suns’ expandable trailer, which houses a panel of monitors and control boards for external game-day broadcasting.
From color-coded buttons, split screens and various channels to audio queues and inputs, students learned about the rigorous roles, industry lingo, tips and tricks that go into producing a successful live show and game broadcast.
“It opened my eyes to what it means to be a sports broadcaster,” Meyer said. “It’s one thing when you are doing this for student leadership, but a whole other thing when you are out in the real world.
“This was a very educational experience, and it brought more color into this very vague world of sports broadcasting. It gave me so much more respect for the people who are doing all those millions of little buttons in real time.”
The group explored the top of Phoenix’s Mortgage Matchup Center and the internal broadcasting sector. They saw the behind-the-scenes process that produces the advertisements, game replays and entertainment bits that captivate audiences.
The NBA game-day experience gave GCU students insight into more than producing a basketball game. With a closer look at media operations, students could envision their futures.
In his time as the Future Broadcasters Club president and anchor for the student-produced news show “Lopes Lately,” junior Kyle Schmidt's desire to connect with the community has grown, as has his aspiration to be in front of the camera.
But being in the front row seat at a high-energy, professional athletic event and seeing how professionals brin that event to the screen stirred Schmidt’s heart for the profession even more.
The night got even better for Schmidt when an audio engineer invited him onstage during the pregame show and lent his headset to him to listen in as producers talked, transitioning through sound queues and camera angles.
“Our program is growing, and the fact that we were the first group to be able to do this with the Suns was really cool,” Schmidt said. “Connections are huge in any industry, but especially in broadcasting. It is amazing that we have free-flowing connections like this.”
Since joining the College of Arts and Media this academic year, the broadcasting program has made strides to elevate its reputation and expertise.
Most influential and inviting to students has been the refurbished space on the second floor of the university's Technology Building. Home to the Broadcast Lab and Esports Arena, the space features a fully operational control room, anchor desk surrounded by cameras, teleprompter, studio lights, a green room, podcast rooms and more.
Students produce weekly “Lopes Lately” live shows and get to step into various production and broadcasting roles. With Buetel’s and broadcasting professor Michelle Fortin’s mentorship, students have stepped into many opportunities to grow their skills, such as the visit with the Suns.
“I have known Barry Buetel for a very long time,” Bob Adlhoch, Phoenix Suns executive producer, said. “I have been out to GCU a couple of times to speak to one of his classes and club, so this seemed like a natural next step.
“I was very impressed by the knowledge and the experience that many of the students had already. The questions they asked were all really on point.”
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at [email protected]
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