The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC) has finished a complete update of its studio to HD.
JOMC, which is using the Broadcast Pix Slate 5000 integrated production system as the cornerstone of the upgrade, is relying on the newly updated studio mainly to produce “Carolina Week,” a twice-weekly live news show produced by students for students.
Terry Hill, JOMC TV and emerging media engineering manager, first saw a Broadcast Pix system in action at WRAL-TV, the local CBS affiliate serving the Raleigh-Durham market. Students have been quick to embrace the Slate 5000, and its ease of use allows them to focus on the creative aspects of producing a live newscast, he said.
“The new switcher gives us the opportunity to be both more precise and more sophisticated with our news programs,” said C.A. Tuggle, JOMC professor and director of the journalism program.
The HD renovation also included Sony PMW-EX3 cameras, a Soundcraft audio console, and Bitcentral Précis news production system. Students use Final Cut Pro for editing news packages and other projects.
Bumps, stingers and other material for “Carolina Week” are accessed directly through the Slate’s built-in Fluent clip store. The built-in Inscriber HD CG is part of every broadcast as well. Slate’s Fluent multiview capability helped to save money in the upgraded control room because it limited the need for new monitors, Hill said. Clips and graphics can be sent to Slate from other parts of the studio with Fluent Watch-Folders.
The school also used Slate 5000’s multiple outputs in a unique way to support its teaching objectives. Two outputs provide multiview monitoring to two 52in LCD monitors in the control room, while a third feeds a program monitor in the studio. Another output is fed to an LCD screen in the newsroom along with the live IFB audio feed, so JOMC students can monitor the interaction between the technical director and talent during the production.