Illinois alumnus smashes myths in China

The China Daily reports:

Meet "Miss Myth Smasher," Yuan Xinting. The woman with a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois has become an Internet sensation in China for her work refuting or verifying widely held - but usually untrue - beliefs about scientific affairs.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/life/2011-10/31/content_14006604.htm

Behind the Scenes with WCIA TV

Located in Champaign Urbana, WCIA Channel 3 TV continues to serve the ever-changing public and diverse community of the University of Illinois and its surrounding cities. WCIA is a CBS- affiliated television station for the Central Illinois region of the United States. It broadcasts a high-definition digital signal and is owned by the Nexstar Broadcasting Group. It is a sister station to MyNetworkTV affiliate WCIZ. The two share studios on South Neil Street in Champaign.

On October 25, 2011, students in Mrs. Follis’ Science in the Media class, including myself, were able to explore and discover our local television station, WCIA TV. To help guide us through our new environment, News Director Andy Miller transferred us from a world of consumers, into a world of producers and advertisers. Not only did we get to experience the fast-paced but rewarding job of back-room producers, we had the honor to review and analyze a live broadcast of WCIA’s newest show, C.I. Living. This show not only includes guest speakers and public officials, but touches on topics such as home décor and holidays. During our visit, entrepreneur Andy Dallas, who owns the local Halloween and magic store, Dallas and Company, was interviewed about his company's perks, along with ways in which we can “vamp” up our Halloween holiday.

Not only on this visit did we get to experience the ways in which news influences our daily lives on and off camera, but we were also able to experience what it truly takes to become a good media specialist.

News Broadcast Station

When walking into the news broadcast station, I felt as if I had been there before. Although that was my first time there, it was very easy for me to connect this experience with my trip to North Carolina two years ago. During my junior year of high school, my family and I won an auction at the CURED fundraiser for my good friend, Jori. We received the opportunity of flying out to Wilmington, North Carolina, to be extras in the popular television show, One Tree Hill. We had the chance to meet the whole cast and watch how an episode was put together and eventually shown on television to be seen around the world. As I entered the WCIA News Broadcast Station in Champaign on October 25, 2011, the atmosphere felt extremely familiar. All of the noises and voices brought me a sense of nostalgia.

After our class watched the woman film her section of the news report, we observed the process from behind the scenes. The task of incorporating different cameras and lighting seems extremely arduous, but at the same time, very exciting. Although this was community news and not a hit television series, the taping and behind the scenes work was very similar. It is very important to incorporate everyone on camera and make sure everyone is seen. Having the opportunity to watch both of these processes from a different perspective was beyond entertaining. I felt as if I was a part of the crew. After my trip to North Carolina, and after this field trip, I have an extreme interest in media and working behind the scenes. I am so glad our class was able to experience this, because there is nothing like it.

Trip to WCIA Station

Hearing about the trip to the WCIA Television Station in Champaign, I was already very excited to be going. As a Broadcast Journalism major working hands on and visiting news rooms interests me a great amount and is exactly what I was looking for. What I got to see was amazing and now I see what it takes to be behind the camera as well as being the one filmed. Upon entering the studio I inhaled all that the studio had to offer, the green screen that the weatherman had to stand in front of as well as all the cameras that surrounded the studio.

We then split up into two groups to see how everything works in front of the camera and behind the cameras. The topic that was getting filmed was already interesting; it consisted of simple things that could be used for Halloween. For example, a fake cut that you can put on your face that gave the same appearance as a real cut. Also a wide variety of masks as well as smoke machines. At first we went into the Control Room where a man would give orders to the camera man. I thought this was fascinating due to the fact the man would give orders to film close up to his hand (where he had a fake severe cut) and then the man would tell him to get both of them on camera. The camera man not only records the broadcast but also has the earpiece where he takes orders from the control room to further fix the angle of the camera. I was amazed how how simple it could be to mess up the broadcast.

What was perhaps my favorite consisted of the second part of our trip, when we got to see the broadcast live. The host of the show could see all of us watching her as well as the guests. It astonished me how it could be so simple as to drop something or trip or perhaps say the wrong thing live on the air and humiliate yourself in front of thousands of people. However, I felt the excitement that one could get from having to think of questions during interviews or what to say on the spot. There was a great amount of difference between the control room as well as the live broadcast and it was astounding on how they both worked together to deliver it to the public. I could only imagine how the FOX and CNN studios are. How much bigger and hectic they are. I'm excited to see where my major in Broadcast Journalism will take me because from this tour I like the looks of the direction I'm heading in.

Behind the scenes of 3D contents

Along with the development of science and technology, there have been made vast improvement in the way we access multimedia. Today, it is not rare to see movies come out in 3D, and there are even TVs made specifically for 3D entertainment. However, nobody seems to understand and appreciate the process of making these 3D contents and the groups of people that put in strenuous effort in order to provide us with what we take for granted.

At the recent field trip to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications building, the Journalism 199 class watched 3D contents produced by the power of supercomputers. Although we did not eye-witness the process of making the videos, the guide demonstrate the extent to which scientists and engineers work hard in order to make these videos. It might take up to several months just to make a 10-minute video. The students were given 3D glasses and watched simulations. The video on traveling space that was a part of an I-MAX movie was also shown. Even though the video lasted only about 10 minutes, the guide told the students that it took many months in order to complete just that small part of the movie.

These videos that contain simulations of natural phenomena all have copyrights and therefore cannot be shown freely to the public. However, these contents can be viewed when a field trip or a showcase is scheduled. People do not understand that there are a countless number of people and many days, months, or sometimes even years of effort that is put into making 3D contents.

I believe that if there were regulations that allow educational videos accessible to the public at will or at least make viewing these videos more convenient, people would be more aware of who created the contents, where they were made, and how these contents were able to make it to the viewers eventually.

Live from the Studio.

"We're live in 10" said the cameraman to the cheery talk show host. Standing in the well-lit studio, I was suddenly hit by the idea that there are no retakes and that in 10 seconds this show would broadcast. Magical, ain't it?

Last Tuesday, our class took a fieldtrip to the WCIA 3 news station to understand the various aspects of televised news broadcasting. As a broadcast journalism major, I was keen on understanding the different mechanics of a final televised news piece because, after all, the photogenic news anchor wasn't imagining the content of her speech. OH Dear, that would only result in chaos.

My experience at the news room was given a step-by-step approch by Andy Miller, the News Director. He showed our group the WCIA studio and the control room where we tried our best to not interrupt the hectic schedule everyone else was on. Most people would probably find the atmosphere too hurried and rushed, but I felt excited and motivated to work harder and prove myself in the future.

My favorite moment on the field trip to the WCIA channel would be understanding the mechanics of being a tv show producer and a competent intern. TV producers are required to use their creativity while directing the teleprompter, overlooking the different camera angles used, shifting workload all in a crunch period of time. As a potential intern, I hope to learn the different production aspects of newscast and who knows...soon enough, I will be producing my own show.

So in the least, it was quite a hectic day.

WCIA Studios-Behind the Scenes

My journalism class -- Science in the Media -- had the privilege of going on a studio tour of the local CBS affiliate station, Channel WCIA 3, on October 25. Andy Miller, the station news director, and a fellow Illini, first took us to the meeting room, where he explained to us that he and his team of 34 news members strategize two times a day their goals and issues they wish to cover. My favorite part of the trip came next when we got to witness a live airing of CIA's lifestyle segment ciLiving. The class was divided into two groups; one (mine) went into the control room, while the other watched the taping on the sidelines of the set. I never would have imagined that airing a live show could be so hectic, especially for a smaller, local affiliate station! To my surprise though, I got to see all the hustle and bustle that goes on behind the scenes of a newscast. The biggest surprise of the day was that while we sit at home on the couch waiting for commercials to end, that's the busiest time for the producers, editors, directors, and other behind the scenes crew. The groups than switched and I was equally enthralled watching the live airing directly before my eyes. Needless to say, I have a new-found respect for WCIA, as well as all TV stations. I never knew how much work truly goes into creating a TV program! Andy told us that there are three shifts at the station, a day 10-6, a night 2:30-10, and an overnight 12-the early hours of the morning. Of course, those hours always go over, too. As glamorous as the TV industry may seem for the outside, on the inside, you learn just how much goes into it.

Calling the Shots

"Coming to you live...” Does this phrase ring a bell to you? My guess is that it does. Live shows air all the time, and I'm sure you’ve seen one more than once in your life. But, have you ever wondered how these “one-chance” performances run so smoothly? Fortunately, I got the opportunity to see first hand what goes into a live TV show.

On my recent tour of WCIA 3's news studio, my Science and the Media classmates and I were invited into the world of live TV. After making a few pit stops to a conference room and the weather studio, we were led to the set of ciLiving.tv by WCIA’s director, Andy Miller. After splitting into two groups, my group headed into the tiny control room to see what takes place off camera. My initial thought was, “These four people get to sit here watching this show on multiple screens all day, hitting a few buttons along the way”. Upon leaving, however, my new impression had drastically changed to, “I can’t imagine the pressure these people must feel, having this whole performance sitting in their hands.” These individuals weren’t there to just watch and critique; they were the very heart and soul of the performance. They did everything from controlling which graphics were put on screen to shouting out which camera angle to use and when. Not a second went by that they weren’t constantly analyzing each aspect of the show, making it better along the way. There was something about the control room’s unnerving atmosphere that changed the way I view live TV. Now, every time I see the word “live” in the corner of my TV screen, I can’t help but think of those few important people, sitting in a small room, calling the shots.

By: Madison Webb

Mr. NPR

Being an open-minded and undecided college student, it was incredibly reassuring to hear the suggestion, "don't have too rigid of a career path" as I sat in Gregory Hall, listening to the speaker. What was even better was that the advice came from Don Gonyea. Known for his work with NPR, his very first job was surprisingly as a country-western disc jockey. Years later, he eventually became a correspondent for the White House. Clearly, he knew what he was talking about!

Among the many stories he shared about his career experiences, my favorite was when he explained the complicated process of gathering the information for a story that recently brought him to Paint Creek, Texas. It involved a cow, a bull, a football game and more than a few hours spent in a pick-up truck, roaming the land. The tale was just as, if not more, entertaining as the actual final product: the popular political podcast, For Rick Perry, A Restless Life on the Farm.

Whenever I hear these success stories about people who left college with a fresh degree, fell into a business and climbed their way to the top, I find it both inspiring and intimidating. The reason I am able to hear from these people is because they are, in fact, the best of the best. But it's always humbling to learn just how hard they worked to get to get to where they are today. Don Gonyea is a perfect example. It was amazing to hear such a renown storyteller speak in person.

Although former President George W. Bush coined this nickname during a moment of desperation at a press conference (just another humorous anecdote shared), it is a very well-deserved way to describe the remarkable man: Mr. NPR.

Even News Can Only Travel at the Speed of Light

There's been much hullabaloo about the discovery of supposed faster-than-light neutrinos at CERN. How is this possible? Was Einstein wrong? Is this the beginning of a new physics?

According to Einstein's relativity, nothing can go faster than the speed of light. To do so would break relations between mass, energy, and most significantly, time. (Google "Einstein's Relativity Proven Right". There are literally hundreds of experiments and instances where it has been confirmed. In fact, if relativity were untrue, your GPS wouldn't work!)

So where do these neutrinos fit in? As it turns out, that isn't the question at all. This experiment is a single experiment in a single lab that has yet to replicate its results, or find anyone who can. Remember learning the scientific method in elementary school? Part of the scientific method that is necessary in professional science (perhaps not in elementary science) is confirmation of results, by either replicating the experiment or mathematically proving the possibility of your results. In this neutrino experiment, neither has occurred.

A theory running about is that the scientists didn't account for the GPS satellite's motion properly, as such an error would account for their error of 64 nanoseconds exactly.

If they weren't wrong, and neutrinos can travel faster than light, that doesn't mean we throw out relativity, just like we didn't throw out Newtonian physics when they failed with larger masses and faster speeds (we just developed relativity to pick up where Newtonian mechanics left off!). If anything, this just means that relativity is incomplete--not proven wrong.

Either way, there is a lot more to this story than the headlines, "Einstein's rolling in his grave." In fact, if he were alive, I rather think he'd be fascinated.

Emma Weissmann Blog Post-WCIA Studio Field Trip

Throughout the course of the semester, I have not only learned many valuable lessons on science and its presence in the media, but I have also learned a significant amount about media-oriented industries. One of the most memorable field trips that we went on as a class was our trip to WCIA studios on Tuesday, October 25. We were privileged enough to view the airing of a live show, Ci Living(find the link to CiLiving's website above!) Although the host, Heather Roberts, was obviously the one familiar face the audience saw during the 4:00 p.m. show, there were many behind-the-scene folks who played an important role in production.The show is geared towards people at home and is a Lifestyle-oriented program. The guest of the day was Andy Dallas, of Dallas and Co. Costumes. While everything seemed calm, cool, and collected on the set of the show, the control room was full of jokes, laughter, and, most importantly, direction. I was most impressed with the director in the control room. He directed camera angles "by the seat of his pants," and coordinated exactly what viewers saw at any given moment. Each person had a distinct job, and everything needed to flow perfectly in order for the show to run smoothly. It was surprising to learn that many of the employees in both the control room and behind the cameras were new to the job, since they all seemed to know exactly what they were doing. Andy Miller, News Director for the station, also described an average day in the studio, and informed us of internship opportunities for students (especially at U of I!) who are interested in a career in either journalism or broadcast journalism, in case we should ever want to explore our media career options further.

Mubarak Salami Blog Post

During our last field trip to the news station, I learned how demanding and even somewhat intimidating the journalist and TV profession can be. I gained a new understanding of the industry. When we were able to go into the control room and see all the behind the scenes work, I thought that was really cool. I thought the people were under intense pressure. They had to make split decisions live and rapidly without much prior consideration. That takes a lot of skill to do. I don't think that I would be able to do that. I would be too scared that I would mess up. Also, when watching the lady host react to the teleprompter and conduct the interview on live TV on cue, I was very impressed. She was so comfortable in front of the camera. That was cool to see. I guess that is what it takes to be a professional in the business. Though it was a bit daunting, I was able to take a lot away from the experience. That was the first time I was able to see a news production up close. I look forward to other experiences like these. I learned a lot from being in an actual news setting. I realized that there is more to the production than just the people on camera. There are many people pushing buttons and making important decisions off camera that greatly contribute to the success of the news show. In this way, the field trip was a bit eye opening. I was able to see what goes on during a typical workday. Even though it was a bit intimidating to see from an outside view, it is something that I could see myself doing in the future. It would just be in more of a sports' setting.

JOUR 199 Podcast | Kelsey, Natalie, Meredith, Emma

Citations:
Graham, Sarah. “Experiment Shows You Really Should ‘Sleep On It.’” Scientific American. Scientific American, Inc., 22 Jan. 2004. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.
Biello, David. “Snooze or Lose: Memory Retention Enhanced by Sleep.” Scientific American. Scientific American, Inc., 11 July 2006. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.
Moeller, Rachael. “You Snooze, You Win, Learning Study Reveals.” Scientific American. Scientific American, Inc., 3 July 2002. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.
Potier, Beth. “Go to Bed! Say experts at pajama party panel.” Harvard Gazette. The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2007. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.