“I really like sports,” Devlyn Williams said when describing why he chose to enroll in the Sports Broadcasting class at Jackson Academy. “I like commentating and watching people like Mike Breen or Jim Nantz commentate.” During third period, the sports broadcasting class gathers in the Learning Commons media room to learn from Bryan Eubank and Josh Hinkle. The elective course covers the mechanics of running cameras, audio, and production for a broadcast. It also includes creating a commercial, meeting professionals in the sports broadcasting industry, and planning a broadcast trailer of their own. Devlyn found the elective course a good fit for his interests and class schedule, as did many of his classmates.
“I’ve always been someone that likes to talk, especially on air,” said Davis Cress. “Also, I always loved watching sports commentating, listening to what it brings to a sport, and so that was an opportunity that really intrigued me with this class.” Students find the opportunity to dive behind the scenes of sports broadcasting fascinating and eye-opening. During the fall and spring, class projects include working the broadcast for JV football and basketball games. Students rotate through different roles, working the various cameras and commentating in the gymnasium or handling replay, audio, or directing in the trailer. “Having to work as a team in different positions, you have to work together in different ways,” Davis said. “Sometimes it’s good, but sometimes it’s challenging.”
“You just don’t realize how much goes into it until you actually do it,” sophomore Mary Peyton Barnette remarked. Barnette’s father, Tommy Barnette, works as a sideline and color commentator for the Raider Network. Sports broadcasting is only available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and Mary Peyton enrolled as soon as she could.
“It’s been fun,” JJ Banks commented. “The classmates have made it fun.” Working together to learn the technical aspects of sports broadcasting comes with the added benefit of building camaraderie. Whether in the classroom or at work on the sidelines of a sporting event, the humor flies fast between students during the lull before or after periods of intense focus.
“It was always my vision to be able to share my broadcast knowledge with students, and Jackson Academy and The Raider Network help provide me this opportunity and I am so grateful,” said teacher Bryan Eubank. The specific skills taught in JA’s sports broadcasting class can open doors to job opportunities and careers, but for students who never pick up a video camera again, the ability to learn new skills and to connect with others will always be an asset.
