Taking in ‘First Take’
Carolina students got a close-up view of the inner-workings of a major network broadcast when ESPN's First Take came to campus.
Despite winter weather shutting down the campus Tuesday morning, nearly 300 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students trudged through the snow and ice to the Student Union for a live broadcast of ESPN’s First Take.
As the University community — dressed in Carolina blue — surrounded the talk show’s set, five students from Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication were behind the scenes working alongside ESPN’s broadcast professionals.
“It’s what you come to UNC for, this journalism school has a lot of opportunities,” said senior Louis Fernandez. “It’s very important to get the experience whenever we can.”
First Take’s Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith and Cari Champion were at UNC-Chapel Hill as a lead-up to Wednesday’s Carolina-Duke men’s basketball game. Crews set up the stage on Monday and students began streaming into the Great Hall at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday — two-and-a-half hours before the show’s broadcast.
Prior to the two-hour broadcast, the quintet of journalism students created signs for audience members to hold during the show. They also got a close-up view of the inner-workings of a major network broadcast.
“The main thing that we hope students get out of any experience like this is the realization of what we’re saying is actually what happens in the real world,” said Charlie Tuggle, a professor at Carolina’s journalism school. “For us to say it is one thing, but for them to see it is another. When the lessons in the classroom are reinforced in what they see in the real world, it is really helpful.
“It’s a different feel when they’re doing along side professionals as opposed to doing it in the classroom or lab situation.”
The five students – all members of the University’s Sports Xtra show — said the opportunity gave them a chance to analyze their own show and learn what they could do differently during their broadcasts.
“There’s a lot more attention to detail,” said sophomore Brett Thompson. “The attention to detail is pretty amazing.”
And even with classes canceled, all said it would have taken much more than snow and ice to keep them away from the First Take set.
“It’s one thing to watch a show, it’s different to be here and being a part of it,” said senior Molly Oak. “This is way worth it. We weren’t missing this.”
