Announcements that are usually displayed on the screen before and after chapel will be presented in a more interactive way this semester.
Instead of having the usual scrolling announcements on PowerPoint every morning, the communication department’s TV16 staff will produce short videos of the day’s announcements to be played before and after chapel. The announcements will be broadcast as students are walking in and out of chapel the way the PowerPoint slideshow is currently shown.
The news team from Harding’s cable TV station will anchor the segments and film them directly after the previous night’s 5 p.m. live newscast. Ginger Blackstone, instructor of communication, said she will oversee the chapel segments and is excited about how the format can benefit chapel and the awareness the segments will bring to TV16.
“I like the fact that students [participating] are excited about it,” Blackstone said. “We are always looking for ways to keep our program fresh. Chapel is really the hub of activity. The majority of students are required to attend and it’s a high-profile spot with a great deal of exposure.”
Blackstone said students should begin seeing the televised announcements by Jan. 30, if not sooner. The segments will be between three and four minutes long and cover events happening on campus, the day’s weather forecast and upcoming sporting events. Although there will be a few changes, President David B. Burks will continue to read in chapel announcements that pertain to the majority of the student body, and Thursday will still be set aside for personal announcements.
Blackstone said the idea for the televised announcements came from a group of communication students who brainstormed ways to help improve the chapel experience for the student body.
“I think the students would like to see a face, instead of just reading a screen,” said Nate Copeland, assistant to the president. “It’s going to be very beneficial to the overall chapel experience. Hopefully it will be more effective because I think students will actually listen and notice the announcements pertinent to the them.”
Senior Aaron Gillaspie said he looks forward to seeing the TV16 news segments as an improvement to the chapel experience.
“I think it will be a great way to receive chapel announcements,” senior Aaron Gillaspie said. “Having someone on screen will give a more personal element and make it feel like they’re talking to me, instead of to a mass of people. I know it will help me pay better attention to the announcements, especially having fellow classmates present them.”
Although the delivery will be different, the process of submitting announcements will not change. Those looking to get an announcement on the morning video segment should email Cindy Hunter (chunter@harding.edu) at least 48 hours before the event.
