Live from the classroom Fishers Sports Network transitions from club to class
F Scan this QR code to view FSN’s website for live broadcastings or on demand games!
Student view from the press box at a FHS football game. Photo provided by Ben Rosen.
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Tiger Times
Ava Hunt
huntava000@hsestudents.org
ishers Sports Network, otherwise known as FSN, is an organization that emphasizes the broadcasting and distribution of sports. It offers viewers the opportunity to watch live FHS sporting events, and even gives viewers the chance to replay the games on demand. Students who are a part of FSN participate by interviewing coaches and athletes, providing commentary for games or operating the camera. Starting next semester, FSN is treading into new territory, expanding its organization from an extracurricular to a class. Club sponsor and soon-to-be FSN teacher Cameron Diep explains the reasoning behind the inclusion of FSN into the class options. “There is a great student desire for this type of broadcasting network,” Diep said. “With technology advancing at every chance, the opportunities to offer students positions in this type of environment can help them achieve goals after graduating high school. By offering this club as a class, it allows for Fishers sports to reach a larger viewership.” The switch from being strictly a club to being offered as a class gives students the availability to dive deeper into the sports broadcasting industry. Since Diep is also a business teacher, he plans on striving to teach students about the role technology plays in marketing and advertising through a broadcasting lens during the class. “We will be looking to professional networks, such as ESPN, to guide how we can improve the content that viewers are consuming,” Diep said. “Nothing specifically will change about FSN, except we will continue to distribute more professional and
higher-quality content.” Another reason the club decided to become a class is to give club members more time to work together and improve their skills. Diep and FSN member freshman Sharanya Srivastava agree that FSN is not extremely time consuming, as members have some flexibility with their level of involvement. That being said, if students do decide to enroll in the class, there will be after-school participation requirements for FSN. “I think it is a great idea for FSN to become a class because our club is just going to get so much better,” Srivastava said. “We are going to get better at the graphics, broadcasting and producing throughout the class, making us a better club. It also can help the viewers enjoy the games more, making it feel even more like they are at the game.” The viewership of FSN is an indicator of the quality of the job that the broadcast is doing. For this upcoming semester, Diep wants to focus on the aesthetic of FSN as well as how it is being portrayed in the community. “I am excited about learning and improving our viewers’ perspective of Fishers sports,” Diep said. “Something cool FSN does and will continue to do is highlight specific individuals, coaches, athletes, directors and those involved with the success of Fishers sports, giving them the recognition they deserve.” The club will make its debut as a class starting next semester. It will be labeled as a mass media -English/Journalism credit and will take up one period. “My favorite part about FSN is the community that we have,” Srivastava said. “Everyone in the club is super nice and everyone gets involved and has a good time. It’s an opportunity like no other.”
November 2021
