Kathleen Hessman, aspiring broadcast journalist
Career Q & A Interview: Part 3 of 5-It’s all about the skills
Comm Creatives-People:
What technical skills do you have that help you as a broadcast journalist?
Kathleen Hessman:
“Over the years I have learned a lot of basic editing skills in Final Cut Pro that will help me in the future if I need to edit my own stories. I have also learned audio production programs such as Adobe Audition, Cool Edit Pro and Protools that could help me in case I need to cut any sound for a news package or if I need to record something for a television or radio show. Through classes I have taken in high school and college, I have acquired the skills needed to work on or off the camera in broadcast journalism. Through my internships as well, I have learned things such as how to dub/ingest tapes and how to log my interviews. I have learned many technical skills along the way which I am very grateful for.”
What did you learn in your high school that helped you in your college major?
Comm Creatives-People:
Kathleen Hessman:
“My high school had a TV studio and Radio station which I got involved in. Through my TV Production and Radio Production classes, I learned about how to make movies and make taped radio shows with commercials and teases in between songs. These skills are very important because in the communications field, while I may be getting a broadcast journalism degree in May, I have acquired so many skills from high school and college that I could use in other media production or journalism jobs that are not necessarily TV News related. Everything I did in high school involving the student media helped me today.”
What type of studying and practice did you do on your own to help improve your skills?
Comm Creatives-People:
Kathleen Hessman:
“I think what particularly helped me improve my skills in broadcasting was working with technical equipment and keeping up my public speaking and performing skills (through theater and singing). Theater has helped me tremendously get over the fear of being in front of a camera. I have also done a lot of articulation and diction exercises through my theater groups in high school and college. That has helped me be able to speak more clearly while on air. It is never easy getting up in front of people, but when you perform a song, scene or monologue for instance, you eventually forget the audience is there because you are so focused on what you’re doing in the present moment. That’s how I feel about broadcasting. What helps with getting over the fear is simply the experiences you continue to get on air through getting involved in something like campus media. Being involved and active in your field helps you gain the experience you need for future endeavors.”
