C

helsea Hanson’s work is so intuitive and seamless, it’s almost invisible. As Newscast Director for Valley News Live, Hanson is in constant motion behind the scenes, literally calling the shots and “punching” the show -coordinating graphics and animations to illuminate stories, cueing transitions between the anchor desk and reporters in the field and creating an informative broadcast that’s as close to perfect as possible.

“During the show itself, my focus is execution and consistency,” said Hanson. “If I haven’t considered the last detail, something can and probably will go wrong -- and most of what can go wrong is a preventable mistake. I need to be precise and aware with every move I make. If I hit the wrong button, that will affect what happens on air.”

The buttons are on a switcher, a large and complex piece of equipment that she must knew inside and out. If the cameras are the eyes of a broadcast, then the switcher is the brain.

“All video elements you see on your television come through my switcher,” said Hanson. “It doesn’t take a lot of physical strength to operate, but it does take up a lot of physical space. There are a lot of buttons, a lot of colors, a lot of labels.”

There are multiple types of switchers and comprehensive training on the equipment can take weeks. Mastering the equipment in a high-stress environment like a live broadcast can take even longer.

Hanson uses these skills as Technical Director for live events – including Bison football games -- and monitors programming details as a Master Control Operator. She also schedules and assists the production crew as Assistant Operations Manager for Valley News Live.

“She’s not only dealing with technical issues, but she’s also having to manage people,” said her manager and mentor Sean Kelly, Operations Manager of KVLY/KXJB. “To find a person who does a nice job of balancing the two is not the easiest thing in the world. She’s just kind of blazed a trail for herself.”

Hanson first explored a media career in college when she worked with lighting, video and audio equipment while studying journalism at Concordia College in Moorhead. She met Kelly on the job at a campus event and was hired as a part time production assistant in 2010. She was a full time director less than two years later.

“She just jumps in,” said Kelly. “And she’s always looking for something new to learn, some way to challenge herself to be stronger and what she can teach somebody else to lift them up a little further. “

Hanson is efficient and exacting in her own work but she prefers a more collaborative management style. “I try to lead as I would want to be led and give each member of the crew the opportunity to voice their opinions, frustrations, or questions at the appropriate time,” she said. “To me, being a director is being more than just aware of which button I need to hit next….These are people, not machines.”

Hanson looks forward to new challenges at work and hopes to explore freelancing and teaching opportunities as her resume expands. “I’m not very good at sitting back for long,” she said. “I’d much prefer to go, go, go.” [AWM]