Number one in the nation: CTV wins best weekly news show in the country

BY ABBIE TUSCHMAN

Amid the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic, some good news came to CCHS. Competing against high school broadcast programs from across America, Cowboy Television (CTV) was named the best weekly news show in the nation. 

On April 7, the Student Television Network (STN) announced the winners of its annual broadcast and film excellence awards via a livestream on YouTube. The awards show was previously scheduled to occur during the STN 2020 Convention in Washington, D.C. However, due to coronavirus concerns, DC Health issued a recommendation on March 11 that non-essential mass gatherings must be postponed or canceled. The convention was canceled as a result and all high schools in attendance, including CCHS, had to go home.

Nearly a month later, CTV won its national title. This is the third time that CTV has been recognized as the best weekly news show in the nation by STN.

“Congratulations to Mr. Pichardo and his CTV crew for being recognized for Best Weekly Show in the Nation by STN,” Principal Wendy Doll wrote on Twitter. “So stay tuned for what’s coming and while you are waiting catch some of their very creative past episodes you might have missed.”

CTV President and senior Christopher Will attributes CTV’s success to its well-rounded and multi-talented crew.

“You’ll find a lot of schools that have great on-camera talent but their camera work is off, or they have great graphics but they look awkward on camera,” Will said. “We try to have each person do every aspect of show production, which allows us to understand the ins and outs of each. This allows us to be the best we can at each part and [to] understand how to work together with the people on and off camera, which is something a lot of other schools don’t have.”

Not only does the CTV crew become familiar with all aspects of the production process, but they do so early in the year. Because submissions for the weekly news show excellence award were due in mid-December, CTV could only submit shows from the first semester. By working out any kinks early on, the crew was able to compile a quality portfolio.

“I think we accomplished this by working, practicing and learning very early in the year,” Will said. “Over the summer, in the week before we come back to school, we all get together to walk through the steps and show everyone how we do things. This allows us to start making shows week one. Getting that early start allows us to learn from our mistakes early and find what works.”

While the future may be uncertain in terms of the pandemic, CTV’s future president and junior Kayla Kissel is sure of her plans to continue making the program the best that it can be.

“I want to make sure I make CTV a stronger team, with a bond that’s unbreakable and unbeatable,” Kissel said. “I hope that if as a group we are all able to accomplish all of that, and CTV becomes a stronger team, we will be able to take home another national award next year.”

Photo courtesy of CTV Twitter