Bruce's Blog: Field Trip to FOX 6 WBRC and UM Update

Friday, November 16, 2012

Field Trip to FOX 6 WBRC and UM Update

This week I took my TV newscast production class for a tour of FOX 6's station in Birmingham. We have a couple of alums from our program working there, and one of them reached out to me about the opportunity for a tour.

I also invited our video engineering class, which is taught by Dr. John Hoerner, to come along.

Melynda, the alum that contacted me about the tour, works there as a web producer. She gave us a tour of what will be their new newsroom. (It's just a big empty room right now.) We also got to see their temporary digs in the sales department, which is doubling as a newsroom space.

We also got to tour their studio, which was renovated in recent years with the transition to HD. Mickey Ferguson, the morning meteorologist, is also a UM Mass Comm alum. He took time to speak to the students, and he even put us on TV during their noon show!

Mickey Ferguson (far left) posing with our Mass Comm students

Dr. Hoerner was also able to talk with some folks about some internship possibilities for our students in coming semesters. We also got to go out behind the station to look at their news vehicles and stand under the iconic WBRC sign that overlooks downtown Birmingham.

The tour was a lot of fun, and the students really enjoyed getting to see how the professionals do it!

Picture from last year's field trip.

And I must admit, it did feel a little strange to go to FOX 6. As many of you know, I used to work at NBC 13, which is right next door. Kinda made me feel like I was cheating on my 13 family, but to be fair, I did take my class there last year. Remember this -->?

Meanwhile, back on campus... we've been really busy with Falcon Fever and Falcon Weekly. Both shows have really been coming along great this semester. I'm so proud of all of our students. They work so hard, and I hope their hard work is paying off.

Here are some pictures from the studio from the past several weeks.