UPDATE: After airing The Feather segment on their Cool Schools show, the CBS47 feature was posted on their web site, Dec. 14. The Feather is reposting the three-minute segment near the bottom of this article.
In order to cover local campus stories, CBS Channel 47 visited The Feather’s journalism lab to film the staff and interview various students, Dec. 5. The students arrived early to meet with reporter Mike Scott and cameraman Dirk Teichman beginning at about 7:30 a.m. and continuing through the start of the day.
After winning an All-American rating from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) in November, the Feather became one of Channel 47’s feature in their weekly Cool Students segment. The show will air on CBS Channel 47’s morning show between 5 and 7 a.m. and again at noon, Dec. 14.
The recognition that the segment will bring for the students encourages staff members to continue working hard and putting in extra effort to succeed. For Features Editor Viviana Hinojosa, ’14, Channel 47’s visit was a special way to reward all of her hard work.
“It was nice to see that the community took notice of all the hard work that our staff has been doing,” Hinojosa said. “As only my second year being on the journalism staff, I hadn’t been a part of something like this before. It was also great to see the rest of the staff take interest in this. It was a bigger turnout from our writers then I thought it would be, so it just proves that they are serious about journalism.”
Principal Todd Bennett is proud of the group of students who produce the daily publication, and thinks the news segment is a great way to show off the school’s highlights.
“I think it was a great opportunity for Fresno Christian to get some free advertising,” Bennett said. “It’s really cool that people are starting to recognize the success and efforts of The Feather staff. You can look at other high school newspapers in the Valley and of course The Feather is so much better. They are so professional and also a timely newspaper.”
Bennett also feels that the experience is a good reminder for other students to appreciate the nationally-ranked newspaper that their peers have developed.
“Well, I hope the students don’t take it for granted,” Bennett said. “Through the leadership roles of Mr. {Greg} Stobbe and other The Feather students, the site has won all these national awards. The students expect that we are going to be in the running each year, but what I really hope is that the kids understand how unique and special that is and recognize each others efforts.”
Senior Brandon Porter does not participate in the class, but acknowledges the success and opportunities the staff has encountered. Though he knows about The Feather’s success, the public’s awareness makes it more special.
“I just think it’s cool to get some recognition for my peers on a public level,” Porter said. “It makes it a little more special to know that something from our school is being featured on the news. It’s going to be on T.V. so it should be cool.”
Cartoonist Katie Barisic, ’13, was interviewed for part of the segment, but was excited mainly for the experience.
“I thought it was cool, and I didn’t know it was going to happen, so it was unexpected,” Barisic said. “I walked in thinking it was going to be a normal day, but then the news was there. They advertised my comics, so I hope more people start reading. It’s kind of awesome. It feels good to be important enough to be interviewed.”
For first-year staff member John Dooman, ’15, being a part of The Feather includes him in something more than just a class.
“It makes me feel like I am part of something bigger, like a school legacy,” Dooman said. “My name is out there and I’m getting noticed. It feels good because we all deserve it. Everyone has been working hard, and I think they deserved to be recognized.”
KGPE CBS47 Fresno aired a 3:12 feature about The Feather Online three times, Dec. 14. The segment appeared twice during the morning show (5-7 a.m.) and once at noon. It now appears embedded in The Feather courtesy of CBS47.tv Cool Schools web site.
As the mostly new staff nears the end of their first semester, Hinojosa believes that the feature was timed well, giving the staff proof that their work has an influence.
“It actually shows me that someone cares to looking and read all the work I’m doing,” Hinojosa said. “It makes me want to try harder to give the Fresno community the best newspaper they’ve ever had. Because our staff is mostly new, I think it showed them that their work is being noticed and that it matters. It’s going towards a bigger purpose and it’s not just writing for their peers, but for our whole city.”
According to Scott, CBS47 will air The Feather episode on the Cool Schools segment, Dec. 14. Check TV listings but the three-minute show will be on twice between 5-7 a.m. and once at noon. After that, check the CBS47.tv Cool Schools web site for the VIDEO feed.
For more news, read the Dec. 3 article, Annual Constitution test gives way to nerves, excitement.
