chstv

What comes first, a great teacher or a tremendous class? With CHSTV it is hard to tell. Both are dedicated to their purpose. Doug Green has been teaching broadcast journalism at Carlsbad High School for five years. In that short time, he has built a program that has won national Emmys, many awards from the Student Television Network, a mention in Newsweek and built a reputation as a feeder school into college broadcast journalism programs. The only problem for CHS alumni who major in broadcasting is waiting around for everyone else to catch up.

Adam Bollinger isn’t waiting though. A freshman in broadcast journalism at Chapman University, he also interns for “Larry King Live.” Already a bit of vet, he was involved with CHSTV’s interviews of Tom Hanks, Katie Couric, Robin Williams and Larry King. Bollinger must have made a good impression in the King interview because he got a call from CNN and became their youngest intern. San Diego Magazine designated Bollinger as one of the 50 people to watch in 2007. Doug Green

Current senior Melissa Sass isn’t waiting around either. Besides four classes at CHS, one at Mira Costa College and some online classes from Brigham Young University, she works on the weekend for Channel 10 and is ABC’s second youngest employee at 17. It is rumored that her mother says Melissa doesn’t really go to bed; at some point she just falls down.

Bollinger and Sass are highly motivated students, but some of their fire comes from their highly motivated mentor. Mr. Green arrives at CHS at 6:30 a.m., quite often seven days a week. He preps the studio for his students to arrive at 7:30 a.m. You know something must be going on because some of them arrive early. Who says you can’t get teenagers out of bed? Room 102 is better than coffee. Junior David Tanner said of Green, “He runs a tight ship, but we’re the best because of him.”

Granted, Green has a great group of kids and he gets some extraordinary help from parent volunteer, Janna Bollinger (Adam’s mom). Bollinger has been a volunteer at CHSTV for four and a half years, full-time for three years. Green said, “It’s basically a two person job. I could not operate without Janna.” Ruth Clark, whose daughter Jancee is in the program said, “He [Green] and Janna are CHSTV as far as I’m concerned. He is so much more than someone just doing his job. He is amazing.” Of Bollinger she said, “Janna gives so much of her time. They balance each other out as a team.”

Clark also said the parents have started a booster club of sorts. “Parents are very anxious to help and have been very good about donating when there is a need.” And the need is huge. Many would like Bollinger to be in a paid position, but that has not happened yet. She has sacrificed not only her time, but also her dining room table to CHSTV. It is covered with her take-home work.

To look around the former science room, the transformation into a TV studio begs the question, “Where does the money come from?” And a closer look suggests life on a shoestring. Green said, “Everything is on a budget. We do lots of fund raising. Our most help comes from Kids Are Worth A Million.” It’s a symbiotic relationship since CHSTV helps produce Kids Are Worth A Million’s annual telethon. And because it’s a technology class they get help from a Perkins Grant.

Green has introduced many students to the wonderful world of television in middle school. He also teaches at Valley Middle School and was formerly at Aviara Oaks. Some of the students have a couple years of broadcast journalism classes under their belts by the time they come to CHS. “This is actually a writing class,” Green said. As a middle school English teacher, Green began using his knowledge of broadcasting to help students with their writing. Then he started an after school program that morphed into AOTV and VMSTV and eventually CHSTV.

“Each anchor writes their own script,” Sass explained. The hard work is done on paper before it goes to the teleprompter. When student reporters go on location they write their script and any voice over they do for the story package. Writing is the groundwork, editing makes the art. “Mr. Green encourages everyone to try every job,” Sass said.

Cameraman, audio engineer, graphics designer, anchor and technical director are just a few of the jobs that could overwhelm a newbie. “We have a mentoring system,” Bollinger explained. On a new job, a senior may work with the frosh. A freshman that’s been in broadcasting at the middle school may help out a junior. Sean Funkhouser, a junior in his second year in the class said, “A lot of the technical aspects were overwhelming at first. But people were really helpful.” After about a month he was comfortable and knew which buttons to push.

Walking in mid-semester, it strikes you that everyone has a place and knows their job. It is a Popsicle stick that determines a student’s fate for the day. Green starts with a staff meeting while Bollinger takes roll. Green pulls a Popsicle stick with the student’s name on it out of a mug. As he calls each name, the student picks their job for the day. “You did that last week,” Green reminds a student and they pick another job. Everyone has to do a job twice before they can settle into an area of expertise.

Because CHS is on a block schedule, each class is two hours long. Immediately after the staff meeting the students get to work on daily duties. There is no time for cliques, hierarchies or any other adolescent awkwardness. The show runs live at 9:23 a.m. everyday on campus to an audience of 3100. The Monday and Friday shows are carried on Channel 3 to an even larger audience of about 60,000.

“30 minutes out,” Sass reminds the room of the time until the cameras roll. Once at work, the jargon flies. A giant, red digital clock warns of deadline. Students huddle over monitors, computers, behind cameras or disappear into the voice over booth (homemade with state-of-the-art egg crate mattress pads), or into the editing room. Students group and regroup. “Hey, want to hear my opening? . .What do you think?” One student asks another not out of insecurity, but inviting constructive criticism.

Green believes the program gives the students a confidence that helps them in any field they will eventually go into. Clark concurs, “In actuality it is something every teen could learn from.” That day’s anchors are Aron Gunner, who seems a natural, and Johnny “Tip Top” Tipton, who Green described as a quiet kid when he started the program. In the background, Tipton rehearses for the live show exuding energy and composure. Funkhouser, who at first glance seems shy, jumps right into conversation, “My favorite job is anchoring, writing scripts, putting myself out there.” Looks can be deceiving.

“15 minutes out,” Sass reminds. Green and Bollinger just become part of the mingling, thinking and working crew. The anchors rehearse, getting their urge to laugh out. Green challenges the students to work at a professional level. “Is that gum?” Green asks an anchor. Bollinger adds to the other, “You get one free pass to wear a hat on camera. You used it.” Tanner said, “Even if you are good at what you do, he doesn’t let you get away with anything.” And many of the students sacrifice a lot to be in the program. To free up time in their schedules most take their required freshman classes in summer school.

“Seven minutes out,” Sass hollers. Many of the CHSTV crew has their sights set on related careers. Funkhouser said, “I’m planning on majoring in film or journalism. This program is so helpful. It trains you in both.”

Nielsen said, “My dream is to go to NYU or San Francisco for film or editing.” In the media age, CHSTV opens doors for students to explore life possibilities.

“One minute out.”

Every year Green takes students from both CHS and Valley to the Student Television Network (STN) Convention. There are breakout sessions and awards. Well-known anchors and reporters are there teaching and inspiring. Green is taking 40 plus students this March.

“Ten seconds out.”

In its first year CHSTV won two major STN awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. They have kept coming every year. In 2006 they took away a top honor in New York, a national Emmy for Outstanding Technical Achievement. There is some international recognition as well. Green just got back from Germany and is headed soon to Tokyo to educate teachers

Sass quiets Room 102.

So is it the mentors or the mentored that have built CHSTV’s reputation for excellence? They are wise to reporters’ questions and quick to turn the spotlight on the other. “We are live . . .” ends all discussion. “And rolling . . .” •