Fres/111w11 Tris/en llill sel't'('d us (111 alll'lwrJor llU16 News her first semester ul /iul'(finy a.fie,· u1i11ninc1 :\ rkun.•;us T<!lei•isiorz lfrowlcust ,Jn111·11uli.,t ,~/ the yeu r h<'r senior year of high school. I Photo hy Ht'ccu I? ilcy FRESH FACE ON NIGHTLY NEWS Tristen Hill, a freshman broadcast journalism major, began her college career with more experience than the average incoming student. Hill attended Wynne High School about an hour away from Searcy where she became involved with the television production department. Hill worked under her broadcast instructor, Jane Andrews, for three years. By the end of high school, Hill felt as if Andrews was her second mom. 'They usually do not let students do their broadcasting freshman year, but they let me do it unofficially so no one would complain," Hill said. "I ended up taking over their sports videography, and I loved it from then on, and it was pretty much what I did my high school career." Hill became involved with almost every available facet ofthe production program while in high school. By Afadl!iine Jones I Cluire Heffley During her senior year, Andrews nominated Hill for the Arkansas Press Association Video Editor, Producer and Broadcast Journalist of the Year. "She is very good at putting together a news package quickly with quality assurance," Andrews said. "She is very good at on-the-spot reporting and knowing what to say and how to say it with little time for preparation." After being nominated, Hill had to submit five pieces of her best journalistic work, write a statement about the value of scholastic journalism; obtain two letters of recommendation and create a complete broadcast resume. Professionals from regional news stations judged Hill's work and awarded her Arkansas Television Broadcast Journalist of the Year - an award Andrews explained was no small feat. Hill attributed her success to the many hours she put into all ofher production work outside ofthe classroom and the encouragement she received from her parents. In the fall of 2015, Hill served as a news anchor and assistant producer for HU 16. Dutch Hoggatt, professor of communication and adviser of student broadcast journalism, said he was pleased with the new talent displayed during the intervi.ew process. "This semester was unique because we have three freshman anchors, but we have a really good class," Hoggatt said. "Tristen has high school experience, quite a bit, so she is coming in knowing the basics, and we are going to develop them." Hoggatt explained a good anchor has confidence in herself and "the ability to write well and communicate effectively on air." "I think for anyone going through a program like this, the more media experience one has the better," Hoggatt said.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==