Students in the Communications and Performance Studies (CAPS) department are getting a taste of their future broadcasting careers with the opportunity to produce live sports games as part of their program at NMU.

The students of Sports and Special Event Programming (BC 310), a class in the CAPS department, have been producing live events with the help of NMU CAPS Professor Dwight Brady. Their projects include the U.S. speedskating trials, as well as Wildcat football and hockey games.

This weekend, the class will be producing the International Skating Union World Cup event for in-house viewing at the Berry Events Center during the competition.

According to Brady, the 13 students in the class take turns filling the different positions needed in such broadcasts, including camera operators, announcers, sideline reporters, directors and technical directors.

“It really takes a special kind of student to be successful in this class because it requires a high level of commitment inside and outside of the classroom,” Brady said.
Cory Cameron, a senior media production and new technology major, has directed two live broadcasts with the help of his classmates since the class started.

“Not a lot of people realize how much work it takes to produce a live sports broadcast of this caliber. Since taking this class, I have a much deeper appreciation for the people on air and behind the scenes,” Cameron said.

According to Brady, in order to produce such high quality broadcasts, his class has been using a digital instant replay unit, three cameras and a Mobile Systems Unit.

The digital instant replay unit allows for slow motion replay of key events during the live games.

“The Mobile Systems Unit is amazing because students can use an all-in-one compact unit that can be connected to cameras, microphones, the digital instant replay unit, and more. Before this equipment, it used to take two live trucks just to do the same,” Brady said.

In the future, the CAPS department hopes to acquire more instant replay machines that can be connected to the Mobile Systems Unit in order to provide a better experience for audiences and students.

According to Brady, not many universities allow undergraduate students to use this kind of production equipment.

“Using this kind of equipment gives students a leg up when they enter the real world. Being in this class also gave my students an opportunity to realize how the broadcasting field works with the long days they have been working while at the games. Often times, they’re there for eight hours at a time,” Brady said.

Sports and Special Event Programming (BC 310) will be offered for a third time next fall. For more information, contact the CAPS Department at 227-2045.