My City September 2021

“The kids run the station and we treat them just as they’d be treated in a real world setting. Story deadlines, live on air, scheduling, news meetings, equipment care – you name it, they do it. Randy and I are just here to guide the ship and each year, I am more impressed with our kids.” AMY LESKO

camera angles are mapped out. When the game begins, everything goes live, broadcasting on channel 191 in Davison and to the world on YouTube. “I actually have two groups of students working in tandem,” says Scott. “One is at the stadium reporting and the other is back at the school handling production and direction.” After the game, each crew handles clean-up. “We don’t get out of there until nearly 11pm.The students are at the school from 7am to nearly midnight. It really is a full commitment.” It is much the same process for every DTV live event. Soon, those long days may get easier as Davison High School is getting ready to build a whole new DTV studio. “We have very limited space now and a larger area will allow us to create a much more professional setting and expand what we can do,” adds Scott. Perhaps with the new studio in mind, Scott has de cided to throw a talk show or two into the mix for this new school year. DTV News is the model of a high school program done right.The stu dents gain vast experience and confi dence to follow their own paths after graduation. Alumni have become TV producers, directors, news broadcasters and sports announcers. Scott and Lesko are proud of each and every one of their students, as Scott constantly documents and updates their achievements on the DTV website. “I love this job,” says Scott. “At the end of their tenure here, I want our kids to know that they are capable of anything. We really push it to another level and if they can do it here, they can do it anywhere.” x

CO-MANAGER AMY LESKO (FAR RIGHT) WITH DTV STUDENTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

understand why news is so important and the difference between real news and opinion,” says Scott. “Perhaps, the first lesson we teach is that social media is not reality.We all use it but it doesn’t translate to what’s really being said. Credibility is important, news ownership is a responsibility. It’s a big challenge.” In August, the DTV News team was treated to a special experience when they were allowed to broadcast Davison’s first football game of the year live fromThe Big House at U of M in Ann Arbor.

“The kids are really excited,” Scott shares. “I was there almost two weeks early scouting the site. It’s a big deal for everyone and a big undertaking. Every game is a week-long event and being in Ann Arbor adds to the workload.” For a typical home football game, DTV students start preparing at the beginning of the week with research and planning, and creating graphics for the production.The day of the broadcast, a meeting is held immediately after the school day ends – equipment is checked,

19