From classrooms to broadcast booths!
A group of Johnston High School student groups gathered to establish a media club last fall, and is now attracting attention across the state.
The group, known as the Johnston Media Club, is made up of students aiming to work in the media.
“The number one you need,” said Johnston’s senior matt Clements. “It needs interest. That’s what we needed. There were people who wanted to make an announcement like us and us doing video, audio, statistics. They’re all intertwined together, and that’s how we started a media club.”
The JHS Media Club began broadcasting home basketball games on YouTube with the help of his advisor Johnston music teacher Oliver Reed.
“After the New Year, Johnston Boys vs. Shea,” Clements said. “That was the most we saw. It was a big one. It was the first game we called together right after the New Year.”
We took off from there.
Clements is the announcer per main play, and junior Anthony Vendetti is his partner at Booth.
The rest of the group handles behind the scenes responsibility for making the broadcast come true.
“We don’t like each other,” Clements said. “We’ve had multiple guys calling the game. Everyone does a little bit of everything.”
A typical game day would look like this.
“We’ll set up the camera first,” Clements explained. “Prepare the audio. Tyler will proceed to OBS, a streaming service, and set up all the graphics for the game. Once the teams get here, they will print the roster of both teams. Go to the opposing coach, start the lineup and ask for a little insight into the team.
“Before a game, get on the microphone and make a call, practice your voice, prepare your final thoughts, and then join the stream and do business from there about 5-10 minutes before tip-off.”
It’s a complete team effort to get the broadcasts up and running.
But the effort paid off.
The club reached New Heights a few weeks ago. The NFHS provided the boys with the opportunity to call the Rhode Island division playoff games on the road.
“It was an absolute honor,” Vendetti said. “When we got that message, it was automatically yes. It was an unrealistic experience. We couldn’t believe how much this group took off, reached the NFHS, got that level and they loved the work we did.”
For three months, JHS Media was built from the ground up and became something the Panthers are proud of.
In addition to streaming games on YouTube, the club has Instagram and Tiktok pages.
“Looking at this short time growth is definitely my favorite part, and it shows that we can do it in three months,” Clements said. “Imagine what you can do in three years.”
The group says the best part is watching the hard work come to life during the broadcast, and the club has big plans for the future.
“I’m already planning on upgrading this to football,” says Vendetti. “We’re trying to play baseball and softball this year. That’s our main goal and we’re expanding the group.”
