Mass Comm Department dedicates new television studio
Carrie Henderson, Assistant Editor
NGU’s new television studio will give mass comm students an opportunity to work with updated technology as they prepare for film and video careers. Photo credit: Carrie Henderson and Google Photos
North Greenville students now have even more opportunities to expand their knowledge of and experiences in television.
On August 26, NGU’s Mass Communication Department held a dedication for its new television studio.
While the news set from Fox Carolina has been beneficial in teaching students news broadcasting, said mass communication Instructor Shurajit Gopal, it was time for a change as everything is moving digital.
Andrew Stevens, instructor in the mass communication department, said that some of the changes include taking out all of the old set pieces, including the old news table. One side of the room is now black with a curtain around it for setting up interviews, while the other side is green for virtual sets, he said.
He also said the lighting grid has been expanded for more lighting; one of the cameras now has a professional camera pedestal; and a system has been repaired that is now the server, allowing for more accuracy in scheduling.
“The work was primarily done by students and faculty,” Stevens said.
“The beauty of this new television studio is we can have any kind of set in the background,” Gopal said.
With the new virtual studio, places like the Biltmore House, the White House or a castle can be brought into the studio, he said. The new set is not just applicable for news broadcast, however. The studio is also useful for interviews, filming and even some movie production.
Heidi Campbell, chair of the mass communication department, told the students who attended the dedication that the studio was for them to build experiences so they could go out into the world, making an impact for Christ whether in Christian or secular media. “We did this because we love you guys,” she said, “We are excited to see . . . what’s going to come out of the station.”
Linwood Hagin, dean of the college of communication, said that they are not ending with the recent updates. This is only the first step to future improvements.
Randall Panell, NGU’s interim president, ended by emphasizing the importance of communication. “In this culture, if you’re not savvy, if you’re not actually intentional and committed to communication, it’s just really not applicable. You’ll be drowned out and you’ll be swept away. I don’t think it’s a choice. . . . I think we all are ultimately called to be in the communication business one way or the other.”
