Schieffer School completes new HD broadcast news studio

Fort Worth, TX

12/7/2010

Broadcast journalism students at the Schieffer School of Journalism have taped their first newscast using a new state-of-the-art studio set, marking the completion of the construction of Studio C, the school’s new high-definition broadcast news studio.

The set was designed by FX Group, considered to be among the leaders in set design for television news, and the studio was added to the Moudy Building as part of a $5.6 million expansion and renovation of the facilities.

After visiting the studio during its installation, CBS News Senior Correspondent Bob Schieffer, the journalism school’s namesake, said, “This is world class and will be a great, great recruiting tool.”

Students had been making partial use of the studio this fall, but this was their first week to shoot a newscast on the new set. The installation of the set was completed hours before the newscast.

Bill Brown, the creative director of FX, said the Studio C set is, “The most flexible and versatile design I have ever produced.” FX’s clients have included the Golf Channel, Fox Sports Network and dozens of local television news stations.

Aaron Chimbel, assistant professor of professional practice at the Schieffer School and the adviser to TCU News Now, said the set will be “the envy of other college journalism programs.”

The set’s modular design allows it to be used for different types of programming. Students can present the news from a traditional desk but can also reconfigure the set for such programming as an interview show or panel discussion.

Students Chris Blake and Jourdan Sullivan discussed the new set on camera at the end of the newscast.

“I think it’s really professional,” Sullivan said. “It gives it a really real-world feel like you might see in a real newsroom.”

The first newscast on the set was the regular weekly edition of TCU News Now, a campus production of Schieffer School students.

Upper-level students write the newscast script and take turns anchoring the newscast. Studio production is handled by students from the Film-Television-Digital Media department. Reginald Hardwick, morning executive producer at NBC5 DFW, works with Schieffer students in addition to Chimbel.

In addition to the set, Studio C also adds high-definition production capabilities and gives journalism students a dedicated production space for the first time.

Watch the first newscast from Studio C and catch future newscasts at DailySkiff.com.

To learn more about the Schieffer School's journalism program visit www.schiefferschool.tcu.edu or email schiefferschool.tcu.edu.