South Side High students say TV production, morning news classes build real-world skills

Two South Side High School students told viewers of the school’s Cyclone Snapshot broadcast in the final show of the 2024–25 year that the TV production and morning news classes provide hands-on experience in roles such as directing, camera operation and teleprompter work.

The classes, led by teachers Miss Delichter and Miss Voltaggio, give students daily practice with production tasks that one student said would help “later in life” if they pursue media careers and another said helped overcome fear of public speaking.

“Basically the TV production class at the high school is a class where you get a really good aspect of the hands on experience of being in a production. You learn, essential skills such as storyboarding and like, just general camera framing stuff that will help you later in life if you do choose to pursue something like this,” said Student A, a South Side High School student participating in the program. Student B, another participating student, added, “being on TV is not as easy as it looks ... it was such a great experience being able to be behind the scenes of, like, everything that goes on for the morning news.”

Students described a range of production jobs available in the classes and related clubs: camera operator, switcher, teleprompter operator, director, audio and computer graphics (CG). They said the school’s studio includes both a control room and a separate studio space — equipment and layout they described as uncommon among neighboring high schools.

Student B said the morning news class produces daily shows during second period and that participating repeatedly helped make directing and public speaking easier: “I used to be so afraid of speaking to, like, people or, like, being in front of a camera. But, like, this class … I felt I got more at ease, and became, like, much more better public speaking wise.” Student A said the class also gives the chance to test whether media production is a path a student wants to pursue in college or as a career.

Students cited specific school productions that combine studio and control-room roles, including an event referenced as “Red and Blue,” and thanked the behind-the-scenes crew and the teachers who lead the program. The host of the Cyclone Snapshot noted the show itself is produced by students in the classes and thanked Miss Delichter and Miss Voltaggio for leading the program.

The segment was presented as part of the school’s end-of-year Cyclone Snapshot program and was framed as an informational spotlight for students and parents considering the class. No formal school board actions or policy changes were discussed on this segment.