2008 Woodie Awards
Program gives journalists hands-on experience
Joseph Nagle
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: News
When it comes to television news, Greeley stations might not always have news that pertain specifically to University of Northern Colorado students. Recently, that changed.
Last year, UNC's television station, Bear News, allowed students to get hands-on experience in the news broadcast field. It also allowed the student population to look at what was going on around campus from their televisions.
The success of the program made many of the original participants want to take the experience to the next level. This led to the creation of Bear Tracks.
"(Bear Tracks) is a 30 minute news magazine type program, more like 20/20," said Dale Edwards, the adviser for Bear Tracks. "(There are) longer pieces, fewer pieces and more in depth."
The show aired its first episode last semester.
"(After) Bear News aired in the spring, a few of my students wanted to do something in the fall," Edwards said. "I told them if you could get 15 (students), we could do it, and we came up with 20."
The program is now slated for return at the beginning of the first week of classes. Even though some people might not have tuned in this semester, more people are starting to take notice.
"I heard about it through a friend," said Scott Dolezal, a senior history major. "So I checked it out, and now every once in a while I will watch, just so I can find out what's going on around campus."
According to Edwards, the mission of Bear Tracks is to cover events that happen on campus or effect the campus in any way. Ultimately, it is up to the students involved in Bear Tracks to determine if something is newsworthy.
"Both (Bear News and Bear Tracks) are student run, directed, produced," Edwards said. "It's completely volunteer."
Unlike Bear News, which is a class offered in the spring by the journalism program, Bear Tracks will berun by students who will not receive school credit for their work.
However, students said the experience is worth the work.
"If I hadn't worked for Bear News my last semester, I might still be serving food for a living," said Johnray Strickland, a recent UNC graduate.
Edwards said there is always room for more student involvement in Bear Tracks.
"If you want to volunteer, the easiest way is to send me an email at dale.edwards@unco.edu," Edwards said. "We will also be sending out flyers on the journalism listserve."
Last year, UNC's television station, Bear News, allowed students to get hands-on experience in the news broadcast field. It also allowed the student population to look at what was going on around campus from their televisions.
The success of the program made many of the original participants want to take the experience to the next level. This led to the creation of Bear Tracks.
"(Bear Tracks) is a 30 minute news magazine type program, more like 20/20," said Dale Edwards, the adviser for Bear Tracks. "(There are) longer pieces, fewer pieces and more in depth."
The show aired its first episode last semester.
"(After) Bear News aired in the spring, a few of my students wanted to do something in the fall," Edwards said. "I told them if you could get 15 (students), we could do it, and we came up with 20."
The program is now slated for return at the beginning of the first week of classes. Even though some people might not have tuned in this semester, more people are starting to take notice.
"I heard about it through a friend," said Scott Dolezal, a senior history major. "So I checked it out, and now every once in a while I will watch, just so I can find out what's going on around campus."
According to Edwards, the mission of Bear Tracks is to cover events that happen on campus or effect the campus in any way. Ultimately, it is up to the students involved in Bear Tracks to determine if something is newsworthy.
"Both (Bear News and Bear Tracks) are student run, directed, produced," Edwards said. "It's completely volunteer."
Unlike Bear News, which is a class offered in the spring by the journalism program, Bear Tracks will berun by students who will not receive school credit for their work.
However, students said the experience is worth the work.
"If I hadn't worked for Bear News my last semester, I might still be serving food for a living," said Johnray Strickland, a recent UNC graduate.
Edwards said there is always room for more student involvement in Bear Tracks.
"If you want to volunteer, the easiest way is to send me an email at dale.edwards@unco.edu," Edwards said. "We will also be sending out flyers on the journalism listserve."
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