CIVIL DISCOURSE
High School’s
STUDENT BROADCASTING
This is why Ensworth is such an amazing school, because it has something for everyone to prepare for the years ahead while pursuing our goals. Kendall Ungar ’23
W
hile the Ensworth community implemented many significant changes this school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of technology and the required infrastructure was largely already in place. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the student athletics broadcasts that provided a lifeline to families and friends who were not able to attend games.
A team of students runs the broadcasts, from announcers to cameramen to sideline reporters. The high production quality includes instant replay and multiple cameras. Students have been assisting with game broadcasts at Ensworth for over ten years, although the technology and personnel have increased. William Joy ’10 remembers the early days when the football coaches used one wide-angle camera to record games. “Part of that was for game footage to review from a coaching standpoint,” William recalls. “But then they decided to just stream it live so that people could watch the game. I approached them and said, ‘Hey, let’s try to do some play-by-play and color commentary for that.’” Assisted by IT staff Jason Hiett and Jason Robinson, Joy began play-by-play and color commentating with math teacher and coach, Walter Schultz. A year later, Ensworth began streaming basketball games in the same way. Joy recalls the challenges and resulting lessons from the broadcast experience. “If you’re doing play-by-play, you have to fill a lot of time,” he explains. “You have to be very comfortable having a conversation on air. I think people underestimate how difficult it is to just go when somebody says ‘You’re live’ and start talking. And that pause there, that hesitation, is tough to get by. It’s more of a wall than people admit, and being able to do the broadcast club for four years helped tremendously.” Over the years, the student broadcasts have increased in both available technology and the number of students on the crew. Sophomore Kendell Ungar served this year as the first sideline reporter for Tiger football games. “From a very young age, this is the occupation I have dreamt of having one day, and I hope to make that happen,” she says.
12 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
