Broadcast
My First Love.
Broadcast Journalism has been the area of focus in my Student Journalism over the last 4 years. I have dabbled in podcasting, but video has always had my heart. Of course every form of media has its place, and they're even stronger together, but I believe visual communications is the most productive mean of communication in journalism, as it's most similar to real life. Film catches the nuances of a situation simply by existing, so viewers can interpret action themselves, rather than having to process a verbal explanation, or infer from a photograph.
A More In-Depth Look at My Highlighted Work
Cody High School GSA
Tashi Mathuin, Mason Baum
2019 Pacemaker Broadcast Story Of The Year 5th Place
The Gay-Straight Alliance story is one of my favorites I've ever worked on. Throughout the year, my partner, Mason, and I followed to progress of the GSA as advocates pushed for it to become a club at CHS. The GSA became a fairly divisive issue in our community, because while it garnered some support, community members also questioned whether sexuality should be involved in school, and some were simply unsupportive of the LGBTQ+ Community.
Wyoming Students Walkout To Honor Lives Lost at Parkland
Tashi Mathuin, Alicia Kain
This story was the first I ever did on a "controversial" issue. My partner, Alicia, and I attended the walkout and captured the moment. At this time in our community, animosity grew as issues like rising school gun violence sparked conversation on gun control. At this time, we had a highly divided school board; this was the year policy CKA was introduced- a policy that allows trained classified staff to concealed carry on campus in the event of an active shooter. In the midst of political debate and angst at every turn, the Parkland walkout was one that all who attended understood was not about "taking anyones guns," or "the liberal walkout," but simply paid respects to the lives lost in a cruel act of violence.
Analyzing the Economic Impact of COVID-19
In collaboration with PBS Student Reporting Labs Academy 2020
Group: Tashi Mathuin (WY), Kate Nakamura (HI), Rose Hoover (FL), Gracie Gibbs (ID), Sienna Racoma (HI), Yeonseo Seok (CA)
Advised by: Victor Fernandez, PBS SRL
When quarantine came about, the entire structure of PBS Student Reporting Labs 2020 Academy changed. Though we were due to attend the Academy in Phoenix at ASU; we ended up going completely virtual. PBS sent us the equipment we needed to produce stories virtually, and then taught us everything there was to know about remote journalism. These skill have proven invaluable to me in the time of COVID. IN the Academy, I produced a story on the local economic impact of COVID, as well as collaborating with my team on one nationally. This taught me that truly, I can produce impactful journalism even without being able to go anywhere. It also furthered my new understanding that though not everything can be absolutely technically perfect at all times (I mention more about this in my Self Analytical Essay,) the most important part of journalism is getting the true, unbiased scoop to the audience in a timely manner.
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Click Here To See My Group's Package
Park County School District #6 Faces Substitute Shortage
Tashi Mathuin
Last year, I noticed that many of my classes were being covered by teachers on their planning hours, rather than substitute teachers. I wondered, "how does this affect their ability to plan?" Upon talking to some of the teachers when they subbed my classes, I found that it was a much larger issue than most of the student body was aware of, so I decided to do a story on it. I planned extensively for this story, and I was able to bring attention to the issue.
First Time Voters
Tashi Mathuin, Luis Mata
In this piece, I was inspired by the 2020 election. As one of the most heated elections in years, I felt that youth voice needed to be captured as well; especially with the political activity of "Gen-Z." I faced a challenge in getting B-roll, as we weren't able to film in the polling center itself, but we were able to work around that. In the middle of production, I also got quarantined, which demanded more efficient communication. In Wyoming, there's often an overarching idea that your vote doesn't matter dues to our lo representation, and even more-so if you vote Democrat or Independent in such a dominantly Republican state. I felt it was important to show that every vote does matter, and that making your voice heard by voting is one of the beat ways American youth can participate in their democracy.
Beacons Of Hope
Tashi Mathuin
The Beacons Of Hope project is the project that has taken most of my time over the past 5 months. I have worked to create both a Broadcast News Package and a Short Documentary on the subject. I am still finalizing the edit on the Short Doc, but below, the link can be found to the News Package. I was inspired to work on this project when my father told me about the Beacons Of Hope event, which was that Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council and the Pretty Shield Foundation had put up tipis on the Rimrocks of Billings, MT, that glowed several colors at night. They were put there to honor lives lost due to COVID-19, and those who continue to suffer the impact of the pandemic. This was the most filming I've ever done for a project. I went up 2 separate nights, arriving around 5pm and leaving around 10pm-12am, and filmed over 160 b-roll shots late this December. This was a story I saw little video coverage of, and I felt it was a story that could only truly be brought justice in video. I didn't feel that photographs could full capture the grandiosity and the beauty of the event.
Anchoring
I found anchoring to be an excellent tool to work on not only my public speaking/delivery, but also elemental to the leadership roles I took on Junior and Senior year- especially in shooting anchors. Usually, every anchor we have has never anchored before; so when I film them, it's imperative that I understand how it feels to be in front of the camera, rather than simply bossing from behind.
Production
Shows I've produced by filming anchors, editing, lead writing, and more.
As I became more advanced, I remember setting goals for myself in production. I always had an objective, whether it was wanting to film anchors, edit the sports section, or design the set. My ultimate goal, was to edit the entire CHS Wired show, which I began doing this year as Director. Along the way, I did a lot of shadowing of older students, and the one thing I learned was that the truly most useful thing I could do for the good of the production was simply to fill in where needed. I kept my objectives, but if my skill were better suited helping one of my peers finish their story, or filling in for someone who was sick, that was absolutely where my attention was drawn. This year was a different one. We went from having a crew to fulfill show duties, to two people. We've gotten into the groove of how we can most efficiently get a show out, but it was prefaced by a monumental workload for the both of us.
