Delta Force students recently participated in the last session of this year’s Delta Force series, focused on Media and Communications. They gained valuable insights into the challenges faced by reporters and the importance of social media and artificial intelligence in the media industry.
In the morning, the students attended a breakfast sponsored by The Daily Press and Radio Results Network (RRN) at the Delta County Commerce Center. They were welcomed by Daily Press Publisher Sarah Greenlund, RRN General Manager Jesse Huff, RRN Director of Sales Jay Fisher, and on-air personality Mindy Wills. Jay Fisher spoke about digital marketing, effective use of social media in business, and RRN’s community focus.
Next, WJMN TV 3 Meteorologist Tom Kippen gave a presentation on weather forecasting using radar and other technology. The students had the opportunity to ask questions about predicting the weather and the role of artificial intelligence in weather forecasting.
After lunch at Hereford & Hops, the students went to the Daily Press to practice writing a news story under the pressure of a deadline. Daily Press Editor Brian Rowell, a veteran in the news business, facilitated the exercise by holding a humorous mock press conference. The students were given 15 minutes to research and write their stories on the Daily Press computers, experiencing the typical interruptions of a working newsroom. Rowell also provided valuable advice on writing effective press releases for the media.
The students then visited RRN’s studio/offices, where they received a tour and had a discussion about the radio stations with RRN’s Business Manager Amy Mathieson. She highlighted the community-driven nature of RRN and their annual food drive called “Stuff the Studio” to support local food pantries. The students also met veteran RRN D.J./Program Manager T.J. Ryan and had the opportunity to record their voices as he showed them how to cue music and create voice-overs and ads.
Lastly, the students met with WZMQ (Channel 19) Reporter Lily Simmons at the Escanaba WLUC TV6/Fox UP office. They conducted on-the-spot interviews, discussing what they had learned throughout the day. The Delta Force students expressed excitement about the opportunity to gain insights into the inner workings of their community.
Overall, the Media and Communications Day of the Delta Force series provided the students with a hands-on understanding of the challenges faced by reporters and the importance of social media and artificial intelligence in the media industry. The students praised Delta Force as an amazing program and encouraged others to join and explore their community through this opportunity.
