RTA News and Events
TMUVotes was a groundbreaking way to watch the Ontario Provincial Election on Thursday, February 27. Created and produced entirely for students, by students, was must-see election TV.
A dedicated team of over 60 students across the School of Journalism and RTA School of Media dove deep into all aspects of election coverage. They covered scoops live at each party headquarters, created the virtual set from which panellists will broadcast the latest news, and produced all aspects of the broadcast. This was an incredible opportunity for students to practice skills that they have been developing in class in a live setting that they can bring with them to their future careers.
This ambitious operation and undertaking was spearheaded by Ryan Sykes (Production Technician, Video, RTA School of Media), Lindsay Hanna (Instructional Technology and Web Design Specialist, School of Journalism), and Nicole Blanchett (Associate Professor, School of Journalism).
The live election was covered in part from the newly launched Arthur Smith Virtual Production Studio. RTA students were excited about the unique capabilities of this state-of-the-art facility to create engaging, entertaining, and informative content. This project brought together skills developed in production classes and applied them in an experiential learning environment.
This opportunity connected students with real-world opportunities, enabling them to produce industry-level content while building a diverse skill set and adaptability.
“Students have access to cutting edge technology that the best broadcasters in the world are just learning how to use” Sykes says. “What they are learning by covering the provincial election will set these students up to be leaders in the production industry.”
Floor Director, third year Media Production student, Selena Osunde was excited about what this opportunity will mean for her future, when interviewed leading up to the production. “I am very excited to be part of the TMU Votes election coverage event! I know it will be riveting, and I'm eager to help this production come to fruition through floor-directing. I've taken on the role of floor director many times through my experience in RTA, and it's satisfying to see how all of the live production aspects work together to produce a seamless event for viewers at home.”
Missed it live? No worries! You can still watch the TMUVotes broadcast at this link - https://www.youtube.com/live/PFljn2qSMSI (external link) .
Event: Thinking of joining the Media Production or Sport Media programs in the future? Connect with faculty and staff live and learn why RTA School of Media is right for you! (google form) RSVP Here (external link) . Prefer to ask a question and receive an email response? Reach out at the same and a faculty member will get back to you in your inbox with answers.
Online Event Dates: Wednesday May 21
Wednesday May 28
Wednesday June 4
Time: 4PM
Location: Online via Zoom