Meredith students are now producing a biweekly show from the news studio in the Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (CHESS) building.

The program, Meredith College Student News (MCSN), features stories shot, written, and edited by students under the guidance of Dr. Lynn Owens, associate professor of communication. The opportunity to participate is available to students from all majors.

Senior Freya Dahlgren serves as executive producer and anchor of the show.

“I decided to get involved with MCSN because I have always loved news and learning,” said Dahlgren. “When this opportunity presented itself on campus I knew I had to jump at the chance to participate.”

Dahlgren has enjoyed giving Meredith stories a wider audience. “I think everyone has a story to tell that people can learn from, and I love how we can share these through our programming.”

Owens has a strong background in television news, having worked as a reporter for WNCT-TV and at Reuters Television in London as a technical producer. She has been teaching journalism and mass communication since 2006, having served as the faculty advisor for UNC-Chapel Hill’s student newscast, Carolina Week.

“I’m just there as quality control, using my background knowledge in the industry to make sure that the product looks professional, but I’ve always stressed that this is their show,” she said.

The biweekly schedule allows students to develop story ideas and gather the content needed
for each piece.

“We put it all together live – there’s no do-over as I make sure it’s done in one take, just like a real newscast,” Owens said. “One week we pitch ideas and then the students go out to write and shoot their stories. The following week is studio day when we go in with the anchor and put the show together.”

Owens said the mission of the show is to be informative.

“We want to let students know what’s happening on campus, and to focus on accomplishments and opportunities,” she said. “My students want to showcase the good things people are doing.”