From Deseret News archives:
Work of 2 Utah students to air on Channel One
Only 18 U.S. teens chosen to produce the news spots
Kearns High's Cody Deskins and Jordan High's Brad Butler, both seniors, are among 18 teens nationwide selected to participate in the national newscast's "Student Produced Week," expected to be viewed by some 8 million teens and 350,000 educators coast to coast.
More than 1,000 students applied to participate in the 10-day project.
The Utah pair flew to Los Angeles last week to get started.
"Where can a high school kid produce a network TV news program? This is the only place in the world this could happen," Kearns High TV news and production teacher Steve Treseder said. "It's a really incredible opportunity. I wish I could go."
Channel One is a 12-minute, daily newscast geared toward teens. The Peabody-Award winning broadcast dispatches reporters to cover worldwide events, including the death of Pope John Paul II in Vatican City last week.
The 11th annual Student Produced Week is an intensive, job shadowing and mentoring program that has jump-started careers, including that of Hillcrest High alumnus-turned-Channel One anchor Derrick Shore. Former Channel One anchors have gone on to report for CNN, Entertainment Tonight and CBS News.
Deskins and Butler applied for the opportunity by sending in a resume, letter and a two-minute tape of their work.
Deskins shadowed Channel One News executive producer Jim Morris, then produced this week's student-created broadcasts.
"I have a lot of experience in news; apparently, they (at Channel One) thought I can lead people well to help them get their jobs done," said Deskins, who has taken TV production courses three years and won that division of the state VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) competition last year. The Boy Scouts youth leader also helped create an anti-tobacco ad that aired on FOX Channel 13.
Butler, meanwhile, shadowed Channel One graphics designers then took on that job for the student-produced segments.
"I think they picked me because my stuff is interesting," said Butler, Jordan High's student body communications vice president.
Butler, who is the school newspaper's cartoonist, and a friend recently won the state VICA contest with their 3-D animation. Butler's work also has been featured in the Jordan High yearbook and daily school-generated newscasts.
"I'm excited that I got it," Butler said. "It's going to be a great experience."
Student Produced Week segments will air Monday through Friday in participating schools. They also can be viewed online at www.channelone.com/video.
E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com
