Junior and senior communication students at McDowell High School are once again airing live newscasts from the television studio at MIHS. “Good Morning Millcreek” airs on Channel 16 live at 10:15 a.m. on May 24, 26, 31, and June 2. Each show is 15 minutes long.

The shows are written and produced entirely by the students in the communications 3 and 4 classes. The live newscasts feature McDowell and Millcreek-oriented news and sports, allowing for fresh, up-to-date news pieces. The students write the stories and obtain video to go along with them.

When it comes to production, students select the jobs they feel most comfortable performing. Jobs include producer, director, talent, weathercaster, camera operator, computer graphics operator, technical director, audio director, set designer, reporter, or editor. In previous communications classes, the students had the opportunity to try each job. The live shows allow the students to specialize in one specific job and showcase their talents.

“To my knowledge, no other high school in Pennsylvania airs live student-produced news to the community,” remarked Dr. Dean Maynard, Superintendent of Schools. “Many of the students involved in the live newscasts will be majoring in communications in college. The experience they receive in the television studio at MIHS gives them a great foundation on which to build.”

The high school’s communication classes also produce three other shows which air on Channel 16.

The students are under the direction of Mr. James Strobel, communications teacher at MIHS and McDowell. A sample tape of a Good Morning Millcreek production or a tour of the communications studio at MIHS are available.