Reflection

As my cursor hovered over the ‘join’ button to enter my 5th period class for the first time, my mind was flooded with doubt. Immediately, a sinking feeling filled the pit of my stomach as I came to the realization that everyone else seemed to know each other already. Had I accidentally signed up for the wrong class? Although I didn’t know it at the time, entering this Zoom meeting for InFocus, my high school’s broadcast journalism publication, would kickstart one of my greatest passions to date. As my freshman year progressed, the once intimidating upperclassmen would become my mentors, and since then, I've striven to emulate their incredible leadership as an Executive Producer myself for the past three years.

At the start of 1st period, InFocus is allotted 5 minutes for our morning show. With the whole school watching, I take immense pride in these 300 seconds. Throughout high school, I’ve immersed myself in a range of roles encompassing various aspects of the production process, including reading the morning announcements as an anchor, writing the script, creating graphics, and meticulously editing the show. Yet, in broadcast journalism, one facet is most gripping: the art of crafting video packages. In equivalence to a written article, producing a video story covers all the tenets of reporting. While researching my topic, my curiosity fuels me to find intriguing leads and relevant sources. Learning the techniques involved in conducting an interview has helped me refine my communication skills and showcase my lifelong passion for asking meaningful questions. However, the step I find the most gratifying is storytelling: the consolidation of divergent and convergent perspectives in a way that conveys information in an objective yet meaningful manner.

Throughout my four years on InFocus, I’ve produced 27 video packages. Working both independently and collaboratively, I’ve explored a variety of topics including public transportation, community events and organizations, and local school board elections. Reporting on a wide range of topics, I’ve been able to interview many different sources: business owners, Paly (Palo Alto High School) students and teachers, and even my city’s mayor. While a video story shares many similarities with a written article, it also introduces many different skills such as filming interviews and b-roll, recording voice overs, and editing with software like Adobe’s Premiere Pro. This past year, I got the opportunity to teach this process to my high school’s Beginning Journalism class. I worked with another member of InFocus to create the following presentation, which we delivered to the aforementioned class, and later led a session at JEANC’s NorCal Media Day in Fall 2023.

During my time on staff, I’ve developed a profound sense of pride in representing the field of broadcast journalism. As InFocus is the only video publication in Palo Alto High’s journalism program, I’ve been determined to help the publication and the medium itself carve out a larger place for itself on our campus. At the forefront of our operations are our video shows. Running for five minutes, two times a week, the broadcasts include relevant announcements regarding school events, sports games, policies, etc. delivered by two anchors, and a video package: a 2-3 minute story produced by members of our staff. As an executive producer, I’ve been responsible for producing and editing the show for the past four years.

While I’ve always loved working behind the camera, this year, I decided to try sitting in front of it, anchoring for the first time in Fall 2023. I’m glad I was able to step outside of my comfort zone and gain experience in this key role. Now, I regularly anchor for the video show and our PA Announcements, which run over the PA system on the days that we don’t have a traditional broadcast.

Each week, InFocus airs at least two packages produced by our reporters. Thus, the process of editing stories has to be done efficiently to guarantee we air the best possible show. As a leadership team, my two other Executive Producers and I make sure that all stories receive feedback and editing at multiple levels. Through a show calendar, I plan out which stories will be aired on which days to stay organized and ensure that all approved packages end up on the show. This year, the executive producer team has started a system of live feedback. On the last week of the cycle, all staff members show their rough cuts in front of the class and receive feedback from around the classroom. Everyone is encouraged to share their suggestions with the reporter of the package, allowing for feedback that a smaller circle of eyes may not have thought of. Being able to lead our class, whether it be organizing our shows, giving and listening to feedback, or even posing the "question of the day" (my favorite: if you could take just one thing with you to a deserted island, what would you choose?), my time as an Executive Producer has not just contributed to my growth as a journalist but as a person, helping me become more confident in myself and building my communication skills.

This fall, I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in journalism. It's safe to say that the experiences and memories I've been lucky to have while on InFocus have greatly shaped my decision to pursue broadcast journalism. Even though I have a lot more to learn, I'm confident that my time on InFocus has equipped me well to handle any newsroom, studio, or anchor desk. In just a few months, I'll be nearly 2,000 miles away from Paly's Media Arts Center, surrounded by completely different people. However, I'll always remember my roots, and that first Zoom meeting which changed my life forever.