PCN shines election spotlight on campus

October 30, 2010

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa-- The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) brought its "On the Road" election coverage to Westminster on Saturday. The College hosted PCN's "On the Road" election coverage of the Fourth Congressional District race. The statewide network telecast live for an hour Saturday afternoon in the Berlin Lounge to gauge reaction during the last days before Election Day.

The network even hired one Westminster student to serve as a freelancer. Senior Broadcast Comm major Lee Bieremeyer gained experience behind the scenes of the telecast with the television crews

The visit to Westminster focuses on the Fourth Congressional District election between incumbent Congressman Jason Alltmire (D) and challenger Keith Rothfus (R). Rothfus participated in the event while Altmire did not accept the invitation.

Faculty members James Rhoads, Ed Cohen and Dwight Castro joined former 4th Congressional District Representative Melissa Hart (R) on he panel with Rothfus.

Joe Ligo, Anthony Tammaro, Mariah Ellis, and Jenna Meighen were among the Westminster student panelists.

PCN officials say one of the reason's the picked Westminster is the ongoing working relationship the cable network has with the Westminster Cable Network (WCN). Each year PCN picks up one of WCN's high school football broadcasts to feature as one of its statewide high school games of the week.

"We were looking at schools in the Fourth Congressional District that had political science departments," Michelle Robinson explained. "I saw Westminster and I knew we had worked with the school's TV crews in the past. We made some calls and it was a go."

Watch our sideshow!

Faculty and Staff Attended Mobile Pedagogy Seminar

October 28, 2010

Andy Borts, Westminster College instructional media technician; Dr. Keith Corso, Westminster assistant professor of communication studies; and Brad Weaver, Westminster lecturer of broadcast communications, attended "The New Mobile Pedagogy" seminar Oct. 27 in Mars, Pennsylvania.

The seminar focused on the use of mobile technology for learning as well as accessibility solutions in classrooms and included extensive discussion about applying the mobility of technology to teaching and learning in higher education. More than 40 participants represented colleges and universities from western and northern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

"The presentation offered a fantastic exploration of the question of class attendance based on making content available online," Borts said. "If faculty post a variety of content online, the lesson plan could include more ways to create experiential learning based on that content. The students could get the content early and understand it better when the lesson plan is geared toward meaning-making."

"More and more higher education instructors are realizing that there's more to teaching than lecturing for an hour at a time," Corso said. "The mobile technology revolution is opening doors that allow instructors to utilize classroom time in ways that permit students to analyze and apply what they learn instead of just passively receiving content."

"This seminar allowed me to explore how I can adapt the mobility of technology as I work with my students in broadcasting and journalism," Weaver said. "Using smart phones, laptops, digital cameras, and other technologies are great tools for working with students, who can help shape what they learn and how they make sense of it and use it."

Borts is a 2010 Westminster graduate who joined the staff in July.

Corso, a 1984 Westminster graduate who joined the faculty in 2004, earned a master's degree from the University of Akron and Ph.D. from Capella University.

Weaver, who has been with Westminster since 2000, earned an undergraduate degree from Alderson-Broaddus College and master's from the University of Kansas.

Contact Weaver at (724) 946-7238 or e-mail weaverbl@westminster.edu for additional information.

Autumn Views: One-room school house along the way

October 25, 2010

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP (Mercer County), Pa.-- Amish farms and homes line the roads of Wilmington Township in Mercer County where an afternoon drive reveals brightly lit open fields and patches of canopied autumn leaves covering the roadway like a forgotten covered bridge. Driving along Leesburg Road offers views of one room Amish schools. The old ways of the Amish and the modern tractors of the "English" farmers share the road as you pass buggies and large farming tractors heading to fields and farms.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau the 13 miles of the township have 1,105 residents.

City-Data.com reports that more than a third of the people living in Wilmington Township share a German ancestry.

Most common first ancestries reported in Wilmington township (CityData.com):

* German (34.5%)
* Irish (10.1%)
* Scotch-Irish (9.4%)
* English (8.1%)
* Italian (8.1%)
* Pennsylvania German (5.7%)
* United States or American (4.8%)

Enjoy some of the view along the roads running the Lawrence and Mercer county line as WCN 24/7 documents the autumn views in this rural community.

Blown Away

October 23, 2010

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- Faded autumn colors fall to the grounds of Westminster creating a new project for Physical Plant crews.

Workers use industrial leaf blowers to gather up the leaves before using rakes.

They then deposit the leaves along borough streets for municipal crews to pick up and haul away.

Random Views of October Near or Around Campus

The Campus Orange Tree- It's only temporary

October 15, 2010

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- One natural centerpiece on the Westminster College campus transformed this October standing out against the steel and glass of the McKelvey Campus Center. A lone Sugar Maple tree, also known as Acer saccharum Marshall, has turned into an orange tree.

Officials at the Physical Plant Office say the 40-foot tree is about 30 years old. It's proximity to the Campus Center makes it a popular place for students to sit and read or relax.

First Frost of the Season

October 13, 2010

PLAIN GROVE TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- Early morning risers discovered frost covered windshields on Wednesday morning. Walking along a road side covered with fallen leaves revealed an extra crunchy sound. Dozens of leaves from nearby Maples and Oaks shimmered with what appeared to be a sugar glaze coating thanks to Jack Frost.

The first significant frost of the season ushers in an urgency to the brilliant foliage painting the Lawrence County countryside.

The colorful scenery will soon disappear as will the memory of this first frosty morning of October 2010.

Enjoy our Autumn Views along Reese and Old Ash roads in Plain Grove Township and on Potter Run Road in Washington Township.

Stacks of Stalks

October 12, 2010

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa.--Each autumn in Lawrence and Mercer counties means the mulching and plowing under of corn stalks on most farms, but on the Amish farms in the area you'll find those corn stalks piled neatly into what locals call corn stalk teepees.

Johnston says where most farmers discard the old stalks, the Amish see an opportunity to recycle and turn a profit.

"I normally just mow mine down," Johnston told WCN. " But the Amish stack their stalks into the what you call teepee shape to dry out the stalks. It prevents mold and mice from destroying the stalks. They sell the dried stalks as decorations."

Check out our slide show and enjoy the brilliant colors a journey along Wagner and Allen roads in Wilmington Township in Lawrence County.

Capstone Students Blog On This!!!

Lee Biermeyer,
The BC Conquerer

BC Capstone student Lee Biermeyer took the plunge with producing THE COUNTY LINE this week. However, Lee's role did not end there. He also directed the show and is serving as the show's executive producer this semester.

But wait! Lee even found time to produce a TCL friendly package based on his documentary, The Ladies of the Duke. The TV feature piece Lee put together for TCL about the local restuarant gave us a nice sample of what he'll be serving up with his documentary in November.





BC 602 Blog Prompt for the Sept. 19 Deadline!!!

Tw0 Parts

Part One: Introduce us to your off-campus expert. Provide a brief professional bio and summarize the person's expertise. Briefly explain why you selected this person and how they can help you in your project. Please also identify how this person can offer you constructive criticism through your production and post-production process. Give a few examples of input they have given you and what you have done with the feedback.
Part Two: Give us an overview of the production process so far in your project. What have you shot? Where have you gone? Have you logged your video? Be specific as you discuss your video and audio and analyze it with a critical eye. What has gone wrong? What has gone right? How will you address any problems? Will you re-shoot? Finally, offer us a summary of your plans for the next few weeks. Be specific when offering insight into when you will be completing a script and rough edit.

BC Students Freelance VIDEO stories for local newspaper

September 15, 2010

Westminster College students in the spring semester "Broadcast Journalism" course experienced the challenges and rewards of freelance video production.

The junior broadcast communications majors were in a class taught by Bradley Weaver, Westminster lecturer of broadcast communications. "This exercise gave students an opportunity to pitch a story and then deliver it to meet the expectations and promises negotiated with the editor," Weaver explained.

Students met with Tim Kolodziej, editor of the New Castle News, with proposals for video essays they researched, shot, produced, and submitted as freelancers for the paper's online edition. Their payment was 10% of their grade, if the video was accepted by the newspaper. No points were given if the video was rejected.

"That's how freelance journalists make it," Weaver said. "Payday only comes when someone buys your work. This project forced students to tap into their skills as journalists and their skills in presenting and selling their work to an employer."

Six of the nine videos were accepted by the New Castle News.

"We are planning several stories to coincide with the videos we've received from the Westminster students," Kolodziej said. "Our summer intern will review each video and build a more in-depth story by visiting the sites and interviewing the subjects further."

Weaver and Kolodziej have partnered on other projects-most notably, the music on the New Castle News' website during the holiday season and sharing news clips and videos from Westminster's The County Line show-but this is the first classroom assignment they have undertaken cooperatively.

"I enjoyed meeting with Brad and the students back in April," Kolodziej said. "I was impressed by their passion for their subjects and their confidence in pitching ideas. I like Brad's energy and his students are well-prepared for their tasks."

Coming soon...new BC Capstone bloggers

This entry is directed at all new BC Capstone bloggers. It's time to set up your blog, develop your blog persona and start posting.

So what's this blog thing all about?
It's a place for you to reflect and communicate with me and each other (AND THE WORLD) on what you're doing with your documentary. Your BC weblog is also where you will explore what you want to do with a career while also reflecting on your experience at Westminster College.

What should you blog about?
Each week I will prompt you to write reflectively or professionally about a topic or aspect of your documentary, your future plans or some aspect of your college life.

You are encouraged to go beyond the required blog entries. Discuss current events in electronic media or offer your own polished commentary on the industry to demosntrate you're plugged in to the business and issues of electronic media.

I also encourage you to post links to job resources that may assist you in your future efforts.

Finally, keep your capstone blog PROFESSIONAL and on task. It is about your capstone and broadcasting. I encourage you to review the blogs of your classmates as well and engage in commenting with constructive feedback. However, keep personal matters to a private or separate blog.