Cherubs stepped out of their comfort zones during broadcast labs.

Instructor Sarahmaria Gomez wrote the broadcast curriculum, which included classes on how to write and deliver scripts the way an anchor or reporter on television would. During the final broadcast lab, students reported live from the scene. This report is called a live shot.

Gomez said participating in broadcast labs make students think differently about journalism.

“You have to think in a conversational manner,” Gomez said. “It’s just like telling a story to a friend using everyday language.”

Students had to research the Women’s World Cup for their live shot.

Alyssa Fisher, of Florida, said she froze in front of the camera during the live shot and was “scarred for life” but not discouraged.

“I thought I would be really good at broadcast because I love being in front of the camera,” Fisher said. “I felt nervous in the situation I was in, and let’s just say I underperformed. It made me want to get better.”

Gomez rewarded students with the promise of a pizza party if they did not use their prepared notes, which encouraged students like Fisher to leave their notes behind when going up in front of the camera.

“Even though it didn’t turn out so well, I’m glad I went for it,” Fisher said.

Renee Lowe, of California, had an experience similar to Fisher’s.

“I was scared,” Lowe said. “I knew the information and the order I wanted to say it in, but when I was in front of the camera I forgot everything.”

Though Emerald O’Brien, of Colorado, was not interested in broadcast before coming to the cherub program, the labs helped her gain a broader perspective on journalism.

“I’ve never really been into broadcast so I was not very excited,” she said. “It didn’t make like it but it showed me I could do it.”

Instructor Stacey Wilkins taught the broadcast labs with Gomez. Wilkins said this is a normal experience for cherubs’ first live shots.

“For everyone’s first time, it’s terrible, frightening and seems impossible,” Wilkins said. “But if you stay with it it’s a fun way to work with news content.”

Gomez said she tries to make the experience positive.

“Being on camera is difficult for pretty much everyone,” Gomez said. “I encourage students not to memorize their scripts. I know they know the news. They need to try to get over their fears and tell a good story.”

Gomez said broadcast is important because today’s journalists need to work in more than one medium.

“You’re expected to multi-task no matter who you are as a journalist,” Gomez said. “If print writers can take their story, turn it into a video script or talk about their story live on television, which print reporters are often asked to do, they will be more marketable.”

The cherubs learned it is not easy to do broadcast well.

“I used to think it was easy, because they cheated with a teleprompter, but clearly they don’t cheat,” Lowe said.