Broadcasting New Voices

Reporting live from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills... broadcast journalism has returned!

While California State University, Dominguez Hills students have been able to study the principles of journalism, the broadcasting element has largely been missing.

That is about to change.

The Communications Department is bringing back Bulletin TV after several years of inactivity with plans to rebrand it as a broadcast news program called "Voices."

Bulletin TV debuted in 2018 after Communications students pushed for a broadcasting program on campus. These students produced a broadcast version of the CSUDH Bulletin campus newspaper, which included interviews and news segments.

Communications Department chair Dr. Brant Burkey said Bulletin TV got off to a successful start with positive recognition from students and viewers. However, the program was put on hold when COVID-19 hit.

"In that period, our program disappeared," Dr. Burkey said. "Nobody was able to do Bulletin TV remotely."

Once pandemic restrictions were lifted, students returned to the classroom. Bulletin TV did not.

This fall, newspaper advisor Adam Elrashidi will oversee the relaunch.

The broadcast class will be composed of reporters and editors. Originally, Bulletin TV covered school-related news; however, "Voices" will have a different approach.

Elrashidi says the goal will be for students to go into the community and find compelling stories.

"I want students to have a grasp of journalistic ethics so that when they land in a professional newsroom, they'll have a deeper understanding," Elrashidi said. "I want them to look much deeper, beyond the surface level, and really apply some critical thinking to how they produce content."

After students find and report stories in the area, they will produce segments in the classroom. Students will have access to important resources such as a designated room on the third floor of the library equipped with a TV set for cameras, lighting and green screens. Although the headquarters location hasn't been identified yet, there is a plan on how the space will be set up.

This will allow the students to get practice on camera and working on set.

"Voices" will also share resources with DHTV, the university's broadcasting studio. This grants the class access to more microphones, a bigger recording area and an actual studio to work in. The connection with DHTV allows students to work in the facilities of an actual broadcasting facility, Dr. Burkey said.

Dr. Burkey believes that "Voices" is the final piece needed to give students a try at as many forms of journalism as possible.

"When I came on board here 10 years ago, if you were a Journalism major all you could do was work for the newspaper," Dr. Burkey explained. "So we started offering them opportunities to create other forms of journalism, including feature writing for magazines, creating podcasts and other digital content. But we still didn't have the capability to expand our broadcasting offerings."

With the revived Broadcast Journalism class and "Voices" program, Journalism students will once again be able to report in front of the camera.

"Getting experience broadcasting as a student can help build skills," said Journalism major Robbi Gallegos, "[including getting] first-hand experience, knowledge and skills that will make you stand out in the job market."

Students will not only be working in their preferred career field but they will also have an audience. "Voices" will be available through the DHTV YouTube channel and the cable channels of local cities. This is where residents of Carson, Torrance and Lawndale will eventually have access to the work that Toro students are producing.

Program content for "Voices" intends to focus on people in the South Bay, who have compelling stories about their background, as well as the culture, upbringing or any type of social issues that can be relevant for South Bay area audiences.

Dr. Burkey says "Voices" is only the beginning. The Communication Department plans to add more electives revolving around broadcasting.

"This is just the beginning," Dr. Burkey said. "Students have enough of an interest in broadcast journalism of various forms, whether it's sports, entertainment or news, that I think it will be able to continue to grow, evolve and develop over time."