BOONE, N.C.—AppTV Chief Engineer and Production Manager Rob Gelber is confident that students’ ability to produce shows outside the studio is a skill essential to their future. Using a recently purchased portable studio, he’s partnering with campus organizations to ensure budding broadcast journalists have ample opportunity to learn outside the classroom.

Gelber teaches in Appalachian State University’s Department of Communication, specifically the live broadcast production course. Last fall, electronic media/broadcasting (EM/B) students enrolled in his course broke new ground Nov. 18 as the first group to use the portable studio. The students collaborated with the Hayes School of Music and the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts to record a live performance of the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra. They used the portable studio, which is a scaled-down version of the equipment students operate regularly inside the Beasley Media Complex television studios on campus, to capture audio and video of the university’s cornerstone orchestral ensemble.

In Gelber’s course, students learn how to work as a team to produce studio shows for AppTV, the university’s student-run television station, and cover athletics events for ESPN3. Last semester, 19 students were enrolled in the course, and this spring, enrollment has grown to 21. Gelber estimates they will record 10 live productions this semester.

“Having a portable studio enables our department to be more flexible and creative with our broadcast capabilities,” said Gelber. “There is no substitute for the experience a student receives while participating in a live broadcast. Our students are learning skills that are highly valued in the industry and we’re here to provide an environment that promotes this growth.”

Madison Deitz, a sophomore from Hickory, served as technical director for the symphony event. She enjoyed the experience of working with the portable studio, and the thrill of a live show.

“In the studio, you can take out [a mistake] in post-production or reshoot so that it looks good,” Deitz mentioned. “If you mess up in a live show, then you see it. It can be stressful but is a lot of fun!”

Rebekah Pegram, a junior from Reidsville, also appreciated the experience. As an aspiring news anchor, she didn’t have much involvement behind the scenes before taking the live broadcast production course. The night of the concert, she was in charge of the middle camera shot.

“The production side of broadcasting is something I never thought about when picking my major,” Pegram said. “Thanks to Rob and this course, working behind the scenes has really opened my eyes to how much fun that part is.”

Gelber was pleased with the recent collaboration and plans to continue producing events at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.

“Looking forward, we’re eager to expand our partnership with other departments on campus,” he said. “We’re also excited about using streaming services like Facebook Live to reach a larger online audience.”

About the Department of Communication

One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Communication at Appalachian State University focuses on preparing students to succeed in the varied fields within the communication industry. The department offers five majors – advertising, communication studies, electronic media/broadcasting, journalism and public relations – and a minor in communication studies. Graduates work in a wide range of positions in media, corporate, agency, government and nonprofit organizations.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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