By SARAH GLEASON
Features Editor
This year a new rivalry started when students of the live broadcast studio elective walked into class on their first day. Unlike previous years, the class was split into two groups: one that would be mentored by TV teacher Jennifer Cornine, the other by radio teacher Bill Bengle.
“Nobody was expecting that,” said junior Austin Smith, currently a student participating in the radio element of the curriculum.
Bengle told the students that every day there would be one TV broadcast and one radio show.
“Both shows are news based, but we have independent scripts,” Smith said, referring to “Wake Up CHS” and “Words with Friends,” the television and radio broadcasts, respectively.
Bengle explained that the semester long class had been split into two marking periods, one dedicated to radio and the other to TV.
“We did a little radio last year as our first test run,” he said. “Now we have competing shows.
“Hopefully as the junior curriculum develops, with the approval of Mr. Gleason, we can create an advanced radio production course,” he said.
Bengle’s radio class has up-to-date equipment to use in making their show.
“I would say our equipment is as good or even better than 90 percent of the stations out there. Radio stations won’t invest in new equipment unless something breaks,” Bengle said.
“I’m really glad we’re starting radio to get it over with,” said junior radio class student Casey Cleffi. “The class itself is a lot of fun, but when it comes to grading, we all get horrible grades.”
Smith illustrated Cleffi’s point in stating that Bengle’s radio class is currently his lowest average and his only ‘B.’
“I think Mr. Bengle has high expectations,” he said.
According to Bengle, the class has “exceeded my expectations so far.”
“I’ve heard good feedback from students and teachers, including a pat on the back from Mrs. Mulshine, so that was a good indicator,” he said.
Mulshine teaches sophomore journalism class.
Cornine attributed the new radio portion of the class to an interest by the students to learn the equipment.
“We joke around when the announcement for the morning news is made,” she said, citing examples of the competitive spirit between the classes.
“Wake Up CHS has been a live broadcast every day, whereas Words with Friends just started going live recently,” Cornine said. “For good or for bad, we’re live every day.”
Junior Matt Baker, currently a member of the TV broadcast team, said he believes the TV class produces a better show.
“People seem to watch it [TV] more because they like having a visual. But I like the switch halfway through the class,” Baker continued to explain. “One you’re into something, you go with the flow.”
Senior Mary Badger, a student in Peg Wilson’s statistics class, is there each day when her class chooses between Channel 63 and Channel 64.
“We watch TV almost every morning, but we have listened to radio a few times. Most of my class prefers TV so that’s what we watch, but I like radio better,” Badger said.
“I’d have to say radio is my favorite because they do a good job of sounding professional and making interesting packages, even though they only have audio to work with.”
Junior Christian Kelly said his chemistry class praises the new radio show.
“They’re both doing pretty decent so far, but we normally listen to radio and the stories are usually entertaining,” he explained.
Badger explained that the radio show is incomparable to anything the school has done before.
“I might be more critical with the radio broadcast if I had seen it more than I’ve seen the TV broadcast,” she said.
Sophomore Jules Algava compliments the radio, but prefers TV for its visuals.
“I think the radio is very well planned and put together, and I really like the music, but I just like having a visual to go along with it, so I like TV better,” she said.
Competition between TV and radio broadcast is expected to continue until the end of the semester.