Broadcast journalism students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Media and Communication, led by Dr. Casey Hart, professor in the Department of Media and Communication, toured the WFAA-TV station and AMS Pictures in Dallas. The tours were provided, in part, by grant funding from the Academic Affairs AID Grant.
Broadcast journalism students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Media and Communication recently toured major media outlets in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, gaining firsthand insight into career opportunities awaiting them after graduation. The tours were provided, in part, by grant funding from the Academic Affairs AID Grant.
Led by Dr. Casey Hart, professor in the Department of Media and Communication, 13 students participated in the trip to Dallas-Fort Worth during the fall semester, and nine students participated in the Houston trip during the spring semester.
“These trips gave our students a chance to step inside real newsrooms and production studios, see how the work actually happens and connect with professionals in meaningful ways,” said Dr. Jo
Broadcast journalism students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Media and Communication, led by Dr. Casey Hart, professor in the Department of Media and Communication, toured Houston Public Media and ABC13 in Houston, gaining firsthand insight into the career opportunities awaiting them after graduation.
hn Allen Hendricks, professor and chair of the department. “We’re truly grateful to the Academic Affairs AID Grant through the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for making these kinds of hands-on, career-shaping experiences possible for our students.”
The students who participated in the Dallas-Fort Worth trip toured the WFAA-TV station and AMS Pictures.
WFAA-TV, one of Texas’ oldest television stations, is known for its strong local and investigative journalism and produces multiple daily newscasts. Natalie Haddad, a 2017 SFA graduate and Emmy award-winning reporter, is a staff member.
At AMS Pictures, a Dallas-based production company, the students learned about the importance of helping clients reach their goals through creative storytelling.
“At WFAA-TV, our students learned about the history of broadcasting in Texas, toured the cutting-edge broadcast facilities, sat in on a live broadcast, learned how investigative journalism works and discussed the ethical considerations connected with investigative journalism,” Hart said. “They also learned about how the news, sales, commercial production and management teams all work together in the media industry. Finally, they had the opportunity to network with many WFAA personalities and insiders, hopefully opening doors to our broadcast journalism majors.
“Since our program balances news production with corporate and commercial production, AMS Pictures was a perfect company for our students to tour,” Hart continued.
According to Faith Fuller, the tour provided a glimpse into her future.
“It was cool to see my career goals in the real world,” Fuller said. “I liked seeing real people work in an environment that I’ve only ever been able to imagine. It opened my eyes to a lot, and I was able to see what positions I might be more interested in when I graduate.”
Students on the Houston trip toured Houston Public Media and ABC13.
Houston Public Media operates KUHT-TV, a PBS affiliate and the nation’s first public television station, and KUHF-FM, an NPR member station focused on news, talk and public affairs. Students used studio equipment, observed a live broadcast and spoke with reporters covering Artemis II at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Students also visited ABC13, one of Houston’s oldest and top-rated stations known for breaking news coverage. Iris Rios, a 2016 SFA graduate, is a digital producer and assignment editor at ABC13.
“Our students were treated to a full behind-the-scenes tour of Houston Public Media’s operations,” Hart said. “They learned a lot about the history of public broadcasting and how public broadcasting operates differently than commercial broadcasting.
“At ABC13, our students received a tour of ABC’s top-tier broadcast facilities,” he continued. “They were in-studio for a live newscast and even interacted with top on-air talent. Then, they went behind the scenes to learn more about how news directors and assignment editors work closely with the community to learn about news as it happens.”
For Alex Enriquez, the tour helped him establish the type of environment in which he wants to work following graduation.
“It was a great opportunity learning the different departments each station had and how their business entity differs from each other,” Enriquez said. “Knowing what they have to offer and how they work taught me that I should know what type of company I want to work for and not just the position I want to get into.”
For more information about SFA’s Department of Media and Communication, visit sfasu.edu/media-communication.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
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