Dove Creek goes live

Most broadcast news anchors are seasoned reporters, wordsmiths who have worked their way to the top after years of experience. But not so at DC TV where the news director squeezes in broadcasts

When Dan Fernandez decided to start a television station in Dove Creek, a town of 700 tucked in the southwest corner of the state, several students got their big break. A handful of fifth, sixth and seventh graders, including news director Kyle Rice, run the station as part of their 4-H project.

Fernandez, agriculture and 4-H youth agent and county director for Colorado State University Extension in Dolores County, officially launched DC TV on Dec. 15. Funded by grants and donations, Fernandez set up a $50,000 studio just outside his office in the basement of the courthouse. The station features a 24-hour community calendar, weather reports and local and national news for 5,000 residents in Colorado and Utah via cable and UHF.

The Colorado State Extension 4-H youth development program is the perfect umbrella for DC TV. The enthusiasm of the pint-sized camera operators, news director, anchors and weather forecaster is contagious. They gather news off the Internet and at school, write their notes -- they've learned it doesn't look very professional to write notes on their hands, so they use paper now -- and give several evening broadcasts a week. Since the program started, the students have learned a lot about themselves and the joys and frustrations of their newfound fame. "I just want everybody to treat us like regular kids," said sixth-grade student Brennan Banks, news reporter, remembering his life before the fame of DC TV. But along with stardom come critics. "I'm going to have to quit making fun of the Dallas Cowboys, because I keep getting beat up at school," Banks said.

But DC TV is serious business, even to the kids. Kevin Rice, news director Kyle's brother, says they all take their job seriously and act as professional as possible. He and Kyle don't even let sibling squabbles into the studio. "We have rules. We run a TV station," he said. "No cussing, no fighting. It's not like the Jerry Springer show."

They've all improved their speaking and communication skills and have learned to work as a team. "We don't stutter and we watch what we say around people now," said Banks. "Because if you mess up here, 300 people see it."

They've also learned more about the world. Kyle, for example, regularly reads the paper. And they all admit they pay more attention to the news and what's happening in their community. "You learn how to pay attention to more things at once," said Kyle. "It's fun. We're not bored all the time here. It's something to do and it keeps us out of trouble.

"And it gets you more mature ... sometimes," he adds, tossing a glance at his brother, Kevin, and Banks, who are giggling.

"Our ultimate goal is to have students assume responsibility for station operations," said Fernandez, although his office will maintain management. The high school's school-to-career program also might tap into the station. It's clear that the students currently involved in the station will continue their interest in DC TV for many years. Thanks to Fernandez and the Colorado State Extension 4-H program, several of these young broadcasters aspire to be the next Katie Couric or Peter Jennings, using DC TV as a springboard to career development. They've already realized this experience puts them one step ahead of many others who will have to learn about broadcasting in a classroom, instead of in a real studio.

And, the DC TV crew also has learned from their mistakes. "Dan gives us room to make mistakes," said seventh-grade meteorologist April Garchar. "During one of our first broadcasts, someone was chewing on their microphone. You can see how far we've come since then."

Partners in DC TV: TCI Cable of Durango; Colorado Advanced Technology Institute; Region Nine Economic Development District; Dove Creek State Bank; Town of Dove Creek; Dolores County commissioners; Dove Creek Natural Resource Conservation Service; U.S. Forest Service; Southwest Colorado Translator Association and San Juan Resource Conservation and Development; Dove Creek schools.

For more information, contact your local Colorado State University Extension office.

Go to top of this page.

Uploaded Wednesday, July 09, 2008 Error processing SSI file