APTRA ACADEMY
THE CLASS OF 2001
By Hal Eisner
What a gang! I'm proud to say I know each and every one of the
people you see in the APTRA Academy 2001 class picture and,
I'll bet anything, that some of this year's students will someday
be successful television broadcasters!
Among the students -- most are in college, there's an attorney,
a sales marketing manager and a registered nurse looking to
change careers. There are Northern and Southern Californians
and students from Arizona, Georgia and Idaho. Among the Mentors,
there are radio, television and public safety professionals
from three states who gave of their time and I thank them!
I started APTRA Academy last year in conjunction with the Associated
Press Television and Radio Association and Pepperdine University.
I did that with the hope of creating something very new. A hands-on
workshop where students could spend two days with people they
normally couldn't get close too and learn from them through
the simulation of a story that in the end would, on tape, look
as real as their dreams of becoming broadcast journalists.
The first year was beyond successful. As we entered year #2
I worried. After all, in Hollywood, sequels are tough to pull
off but, by all accounts, we did it! And, now we're looking
toward 2002 and our next APTRA Academy planned for October 5th
and 6th.
This is a project that couldn't have happened without the commitment
of a lot of people, so when you get a moment please take a look
at this year's mentors
list. They are the Academy! They gave of themselves. They
shared with students who may someday look back and say "those
are the people who made a difference in my life!" And, I'll
bet anything that some of them will someday be successful television
broadcasters!
I know for a fact, that each and everyone of the people you
see in the APTRA Academy 2001 class photo (and those who couldn't
stay till the photo was taken) have made a difference in my
life! |
 KPCC's
Kitty Felde organizes the team she's mentoring with KCOP's Sam
Louie next to her |
 EXTRA
Correspondent Phil Shuman lays out his team's strategy as students
and co-mentor KNTV's Mark Oltz listen |
Hughes
makes assignments to Bob Rand's team which includes Melissa
Simpson who flew in from Boise, Idaho |
 LA
County Fire Dept. PIO Brian Jordan gives the latest update on
the fake earthquake as students take notes |
You have to give our mentor photographers a ton of credit. They
gave over 100% all weekend! |
 Student
Kimberly Holmes-Lamar grabs Jordan after the news conference
for a one-on-one. KMEX's Art Quezada does the shooting |
 Over
lunch Steve Cohen shares thoughts on being successful broadcast
journalists |
 After
lunch Saturday it's time for an earthquake update from our Fire
PIO's Jordan and Roland Sprewell. 0675: Students & Mentors pay
close attention to news conference #2 |
 PIO
Sprewell takes questions after the presser. Check out the Malibu
News 12 mike flag :) |
Hal
cues the reporter cut-ins from a near by window
|
 Emilia
Pablo interviews Jocelyne whose playing the part of a tearful
victim at an evacuation center |
 Steve
Cohen talks with KCOP Editors Debbie Kim Bauer and Art Talavera |
 Student
Matt Brennan shares some thoughts as Mary-Rose Abraham and others
listen |
 Sam
Louie turns into a teleprompTer as he helps out on a taped standup |
Mentors strategizing! KABC-TV Reporter Leo Stallworth & KMEX-TV's
Art Quezada |
 Late
Saturday afternoon LA County Fire's Urban Search and Rescue
team show up with flashing lights |
 Sprewell
explains the victim was looking for her dog in the storm drain
when the fake quake struck and she got stuck |
It turns out our victim (Mentor Sarah Acevedo) has (fake) injuries
and will require help getting out |
 Rescuers
move in |
It takes time to get her loose |
 The
rescue is successful! |
 Nothing
like a fire truck to jazz up a standup! |
 KABC-TV
Assistant News Director Mike Espinoza makes it to the ranch
to offer some inspiring words Saturday night around a campfire |
 After
writing their stories it's time to edit. In this case, on a
laptop, with Art. |
 Our
official photographer Rachel Ambrose finds her way in front
of the camera |
 KEYT
Anchor Tracy Lehr helps Joy Short with her mike. |
Bob Dlugos, an engineer and KTTV's Rod Bernsen in the anchor
academy's control room |
 KNTV
Anchor Scott Budman offering some tips |
 Jon,
Dan Hattal and KOCE's Lance Orozco (R) synchronize their watches
|
 Dan
and Bob are calling the shots as an engineer watches on |
 Rod,
Bob and Dan offer some post-taping tips |
Student Patricia Friedman checks out the makeup |
 The
President speaks |
Bob Dlugos (standing), Dan Hattal to the left and Voice Coach
Jon Beaupré (R) go over some of the anchor students' work |
 Hal
and Sarah go over some final thoughts |
Hal graduates students and offers some final thoughts |
| |
