For students looking for an outlet to air a documentary or to display their musical talents, look no further than WHOO Television, a station that could appear on Grounds this fall.
Rising third-year College students Nicholas Holden and Sarah Jennings began discussing the possibility of a student television station at the end of fall semester. With the help of faculty adviser Johanna Drucker, an English and media studies professor, and other students, their dream may soon come become a reality if they can secure adequate funding.
Holden, the programs manager, and Jennings, the station manager, plan to air an as-yet-untitled weekly news magazine program. The show will consist of several news stories and an in-depth feature story focusing on events on Grounds. Holden and Jennings also hope to cover happenings outside the University community as well.
Hoping to begin broadcasting sometime in September, producers still are in search of more funding for their project. Although the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs has allocated $300, Holden said in a funding proposal that he estimates needing more than $5,000 for equipment.
Producers also hope to rent a cable channel from Adelphia in the future, whereupon local businesses and organizations could buy advertising time.
"I know that it is going to be a lot of work, but this is something that the University really needs to bring it up to speed with many other universities in the country," Jennings said. "It will be a great new creative outlet for the students and will showcase some of the really interesting things that go on around Grounds that we don't all get to see."
Producers currently are working with Andy Krouse of the College Foundation. Krouse will be sending a funding proposal to Timothy Robertson, who endowed the Robertson Media Library in Clemons Library and used to run the cable channel, The Family Channel before it became Fox Family.
The show also will include four monthly segments, aired on a rotating weekly basis. Producers plan to feature segments on music, interesting aspects in the Charlottesville and University communities, an independent filmmaker series and documentaries highlighting a day in the life of a student.
Although WHOO Television will be self-governing and have set broadcasting guidelines, "we will be liberal, lenient and will support the ideas of the University students," Holden said in his project proposal.
Other programming will include "The Grover Cleveland Dance Party," a half-hour comedy/drama sketch, as well as informational broadcasts of Charlottesville and University events.
After speaking with Adelphia Cable Public Access in addition to University Information Technology and Communication staff, Holden and Jennings knew they would be able to broadcast through both University and Charlottesville cable systems.
"We discovered that with the usage of digital video cameras, professional editing equipment and a passion to produce a show, we could in fact provide the University with a student-run television show," Holden said.
With their recent Contracted Independent Organization status, WHOO TV producers can apply for Student Council allocations to get the station started, with the hopes that it eventually will become a self-supporting organization, Student Council President Abby Fifer said.
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