Senior Reflection: Chris Ern embraces hands on media experience
As I finish my time here at CBA and with the CBA Digital Network with Mr. Lutz and my classmates, two words continue to play in my mind over and over again: memories and opportunities.
It feels like just yesterday I went to Mr. Lutz’s classroom during my sophomore year and started writing articles for the CBADN website, which was only just the beginning of my journey.
I knew that I liked to write from taking English and History classes throughout my time at CBA, but I had a feeling there was something more waiting for me. I just was not sure exactly what that was until I started heading to room 105 during enrichment each Wednesday. In my journalism class sophomore year, I began to realize that writing was an opportunity for me to grow. I started to write for the first time about news around me, whether that was sports, CBA events, or even current events around the world.
Putting thoughts to words and words to publication was an incredibly rewarding experience that I picked up just in time before the world shut down in 2020. Continuing to write throughout the lockdown by posting articles on the CBADN website, I was able to turn this spark I developed inside me into a wildfire of opportunities as an upperclassman.
I enrolled in Mr. Lutz’s Media, Marketing & Broadcasting period zero class my junior year, which exposed me to media work beyond just writing articles. Through various projects, I worked with professional cameras and editing platforms as I compiled video segments of my interviews alongside my journalism work. My horizons and experiences were growing by the day.
Later that year, Mr. Lutz came to me asking if I was interested in helping out at the basketball live broadcasts. “Sure, I might as well try it,” I thought to myself. I did not know what to expect, and I was filled with nervous-excited energy as I started working on the production computer junior year. Little did I know that saying yes to this opportunity would truly change my life.
When I am working on the computer for the broadcasts, I am a behind-the-scenes man. I control the audio levels for the overall stream and the announcers, keep the score board updated on-screen, and cut highlights of big plays. I’m basically the broadcast’s producer, and when something goes wrong, I have to troubleshoot fast. It can be overwhelming at times and there have been many times where I messed something up one way or another, but the job is exhilarating and an incredible learning experience. I’m working with a real crew on a real livestream for a sport and team that I love. What’s better than that?
Working on the streams requires rhythm and practice. I’m locked in throughout the game, working on different aspects of monitoring the stream and creating highlights to send to Mr. Lutz. The more streams I helped out with, the better handle I got on what to do. Mr. Lutz worked with me on games early on, showing me that it’s all one big interconnected system with so many different parts to maintain clarity and coherence. Mr. Lutz also demonstrated to me how the cameras work in conjunction with the computer, while most importantly showing me how to keep everything under control when a mistake is made. With his help, I was able to learn so much and develop a new appreciation and love for media work.
My senior year was when I was able to put everything together. I wrote articles for the Digital Network, worked close to 20 broadcasts, and helped Mr. Lutz with different projects and media work throughout the year. It finally clicked in my head that this is the career field that I want to be a part of and learn more about as I move forward.
I got the opportunity to commentate on basketball games, which is something I was not even considering as I worked the streams. I was used to being the man behind the scenes, now I’m going on live. I was definitely nervous. This experience would change my whole world of broadcasting and communications as I picked up the headset and went live with fellow seniors Chris Carrino and Ryan Ragan.
I loved commentating: the adrenaline coursing through my body and the fast-paced analysis and conversations with my partner was an experience beyond words.
It just came naturally and I left each game with an even bigger smile on my face. I could continue bouncing around each role as I worked the computer, camera, and commentated on a few games throughout my senior year. Learning each position and how each role is essential in its own way to the overall livestream was truly the best way for me to learn even more about broadcasting.
As fast as it came, the winter broadcasting season came to an end. It was a bittersweet moment between the crew and Mr. Lutz, who has been the man behind it all and the reason I have experienced something so incredible. I’ll never forget all the laughs we have had setting up games and all the work we put in to make each broadcast something special.
This experience over the course of my time here at CBA has given me the chance to do something I would have never imagined heading into high school. I was introduced to everything with media: every facet of broadcasting, writing, camera work, and most importantly building relationships that I’ll carry forever into my future.
As I reminisce over the past few years, I’ve realized that it is really not the end. In fact, it’s really only just the beginning. I was given direction and hands-on experience in a field of study I know I want to pursue in the near future, and I am beyond thankful for the chance to work at something that I love.
The CBADN and Mr. Lutz gave me something that I’ll always hold onto. Making unforgettable memories and taking the opportunities to try something incredible, I’ve not only learned so much about myself but also what’s to come later on.
