Quinnipiac University Photo James Marra
Instructed by news and sports anchors from three of Connecticut’s network affiliates, 13 high school juniors and seniors spent the week developing news, entertainment and sports stories needed for a 30-minute newscast. The institute’s instructors included: Sonia Baghdady, anchor of WTNH-TV, Channel 8; Rich Coppola, sports director of WTIC-TV, Channel 61; Lauren Petty, weekend anchor and reporter for WVIT-TV, NBC 30; and Kenn Venit, a former broadcast journalist who teaches at Quinnipiac.
The students spent the week in the high definition television studio in the Ed McMahon Center, learning how to come up with story ideas and develop them into quality news packages. They also learned how to operate the cameras, prompters, audio mixers and video switchers, all under the direction of McMahon Center staff.
Marra, a student at Seymour high school and son of James and Rebecca Marra, reveled in the hands-on experience offered. “I really enjoyed getting the chance to experience the field,” he said. “I was given a feel for what I want to do.” For example, it was his time at the institute that made Marra realize that he’s much more interested in writing for broadcast rather than being on camera.
Each participant received a certificate of completion from the institute and a DVD copy of the news broadcast.
