A Peek Behind the Screen

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of In The Know, FCHS’ student-run daily news program? Here’s your sneak peek.

Started in 1997, In The Know (ITK) provides a way for FCHS students and staff at FCHS to stay up to date on the latest news. TV Production teacher David Small, who acts as the show’s producer, and his student crew work hard to make sure ITK runs smoothly five days a week. While student positions change daily, current ITK Technical Director Malcolm Walls says, “With the help of Mr. Small and having a good director on set, everything tends to run smoothly. Our director usually keeps us in check and Mr. Small always runs through the procedures with us before we air.”

A lot of the things that are being taught with ITK can also help with future career plans. Senior Brooke Martens, who typically works the cameras, says “It really helps us with public speaking and learning how to produce, and it helps us learn that making mistakes is normal, and you’ve just got to keep going.”

Each day’s production is set up by the 1st Block TV Production class. News anchors and other staff members then rush to the TV Production room at the end of 1st Block and quickly take their places so that the show can begin about five minutes into 2nd Block. Of course, things don’t always go as planned, so the crew often has to cope with technology glitches and other issues while live. Senior Arianna Bugg, whose main focus is to direct, says, “Of course, it’s a little stressful when someone makes a mistake, but since it’s live we can’t go back and edit it, so we just keep moving forward.”

The crew does their best to not just produce a quality show, but also have fun. Seniors Ryan Taylor and Ben Bossong are both anchors on the show and have been involved in it since their junior year. You might recognize them from the ITK birthday segments which some students consider the highlight of the show due to their jokes and impromptu comments. “We have the opportunity to have fun and do our own thing. There isn’t a script to read off of, so it’s fun to just let loose,” said Taylor.

Bossong said their first day doing the birthday segment was very nerve-wracking. “I didn’t think I was going to do well, but it eventually got easier after the first week, and it just became normal,” he said. “I stopped getting nervous before rolling because we eventually started coming up with a plan instead of improvising every time,” Where do they get their ideas for keeping the segment fresh and entertaining? “Me and Ryan always go down and check the birthday box in the library, then look at celebrity birthdays, and kind of base our segment around that,” Bossong says.

If you want to be a part of ITK in the future, see teacher David Small in Room 4505 to find out when the next ITK tryouts will take place.