OCHS Reveals Brand New TV/Media Studio

OCEAN CITY – In 2004, Ocean City High School introduced a new program for interested students known as TV/Media. The program, consisting of an introductory course and three higher course levels, was designed for students with an interest in reporting and behind the scenes media production. Acting as the perfect jumpstart for students who wish to pursue a career in television, the courses also help prepare them for college courses in a related major. Awareness of the program has continued to grow and as the 2016-17 school year approaches, students and staff find it hard to contain their excitement over a brand new studio unveiling.
This fall, the high school will reveal an incredible new set with an updated look for the school’s television magazine program known as Current OC. The changes were inspired by many recent advances made in television technology and will be the most noticeable update since the program began 12 years ago. The initial set that served as the background for student broadcasts was originally built for WNBC-TV’s 1996 Summer Olympics coverage in Atlanta and used by Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Sue Simmons, and Len Berman. It was donated to the school by current TV/Media Facility Engineer, Steve Trauger.
Today’s studio design will offer more room for the students to work and will include a custom-made 20’ seamless curved video wall. The video wall will be placed behind the anchor desk, which has also been given an updated design that allows for both roundtable discussions and informative delivery-style broadcasts. The desk design and video wall will allow for a more expressive telling of newscasts. The new set also includes an interview area and expanded green screen, making full body chroma keys possible. A number of technology upgrades will support the new look including the recent installation of be five new studio cameras (three with teleprompters) and an array of advanced behind the scenes technology in the control room operations center.
Current OC will return this fall with all sorts of innovative features. It is estimated that the students will take about a month to learn the technology and actually start producing shows. Students who have been in the program in previous years are thrilled about the updates and cannot wait to get started.
Mackenzie Pearce is a senior enrolled in the NJ School Choice program and has been taking TV/Media classes since her freshman year. “I was told about the program through friends who had taken the class before and they mentioned how Ocean City has the best high school news program in New Jersey. Knowing media production was something I wanted to get involved with after high school, I decided to apply to the Choice Program. I absolutely love being a part of it and it was great to see the department working so tirelessly with the school this past year to bring the Current OC to life and now this state of the art studio.”
With the rise in popularity of television and film studios in high schools offering similar courses, Ocean City is lucky to have such outstanding resources. The studio updates would not have been possible without the financial assistance from the Ocean City Board of Education and the Sea Isle City Board of Education. They are committed to giving students in the program all the skills and knowledge needed after graduation. Then there is the high school’s talented staff, including Greg Wheeldon, Walt Johnson and Steve Trauger, who bring many years of experience in the industry to the curriculum.
Students in previous years have gone on to work for CBS Sports/NFL Network Thursday Night Football, MLB Advanced Media, FilmNation Entertainment, Comcast SportsNet, Discovery Communications (Discovery Channel/Velocity/Animal Planet), the San Francisco 49ers, Nickelodeon, and more. 
For those interested in becoming a part of the TV/Media program at OCHS, make sure to visit www.oc-tv.org to view view the work by done by current students. Students outside of the district who are yet to enter high school, but show interest in studying TV/Media at OCHS, can look into applying for the NJ School Choice program. Visit the District’s website at www.oceancityschools.org or call the high school at (609) 399-4161 for more information.