ABC7 staff shows students the world of broadcast
By Kate O’Rourke
On the second day of The Media School networking trip, 12 students visited ABC7/WLS-TV to learn about the television broadcast opportunities at the large Chicago station. Professor of practice Tom French accompanied the students, a mix of freshman Ernie Pyle Scholars and junior and senior Media School Ambassadors.
Upon entering the station, ABC7’s internship coordinator, Elsa Ruiz Claveria, greeted the students and French. She took them on a tour of the building, featuring the Windy City Live and news sets as well as the control room and the green room.
Claveria stressed the importance of strong writing skills and an openness to learning the behind the scenes elements of broadcasting.
Despite the industry-wide cuts in job and internship opportunities, Claveria offered words of encouragement to students, saying, “You can do it. Believe in yourself because we believe in you.”
Students asked the staff of various departments questions and tried their hands at forecasting the weather in front of the green screen. ABC7 uses advanced technology such as robotic cameras and virtual weather models, a new tool that will be available to the station soon.
When The Media School moves to Franklin Hall, the school’s students will get to use robotic cameras, among other high-tech equipment similar to that of large television stations like ABC7.