Student media seeks to fulfill positions

From disc jockeys to writers, news anchors to cameramen, MTSU’s TV and radio stations are looking for students to get involved in the production of the campus broadcast programs.

The student-run TV station, MT10, and radio station, WMTS, will both be holding general interest meetings the coming weeks. WMTS will explain how to get involved Sept. 17 and 18 at 9 p.m., and MT10 will do the same Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held in room 103 of the Mass Communication building.

“At MT10 we have a variety of opportunities for students, and we will be talking about all of the different opportunities at the general interest meeting,” said Michelle Potts, news director for MT10. “Some of the topics that will be talked about are how to get involved with news, getting production or writing experience, on-air positions, sports and even those who are interested in making their own show. These are just a couple of the fantastic opportunities that we offer at MT10.”

Currently the university’s Electronic Media Communication department is part of the fifth-largest communications program in the nation, and its merit is reflected in the quality of its media outlets.

Robert Jasso, faculty adviser for WMTS and MT10, said it isn’t difficult to join either outlet.

“There is room for infinite amounts of people,”Jasso said. “Bringing in new, fresh young talent is vital to the sustainability of the stations – so really, the freshmen and sophomore classes become the lifeblood of the station.”

Students may participate in both organizations, but they are very different from one another in terms of content.

WMTS– 88.3 FM– provides purely an outlet of expression for students and entertainment programs – one program on the fall schedule is titled “The Zombie Apocalypse.”

MT10– Comcast channel 10– has a focus on broadcast news with four newscasts a week.

“MT10 News is a great way for students to learn the basics of television production, and to learn how to operate the equipment,” said Lee Miller, student media coordinator for the Center for Innovation in Media, where both organizations are housed. “Broadcasts are held Mondays – Thursdays at 6:30, and they hold open crew calls every night at 5:00.”

However, MT10 also features music and entertainment programming.

“We do have other entertainment shows that are done on a weekly basis,” Jasso said. “We have a show that is entirely based on skits and puppets.”

It’s even possible for students to have their own radio shows.

“To become a DJ you have to be an intern first, which means you have to learn the gear,” Jasso said. “Once you do that, in the spring you would become an actual DJ. You would put in a proposal for a show and then find out when your show would air.”

However, the opportunities and positions available with the TV and radio stations go far beyond just disc jockeying and facing a camera.

“Not only do we need on air talent, but we need people behind the scenes,” Jasso said. “People who can punch the boards, and put in audio, run the switcher and queue people; also, we need writers.”

~ Photo courtesy of the CIM.