COMM 434: COMMLab

COMMCast

COMMCast is a student-led live broadcast produced by the COMM 434: COMMLab class. Airing each Wednesday throughout the semester, the show highlights stories, events, and people connected to both the Longwood and Farmville communities through guest interviews and student-produced segments.

The production is entirely collaborative and gives students hands-on experience in live television and media production. Each student in the course is responsible for hosting, producing, and directing an episode throughout the semester. As a producer, students coordinate nearly every aspect of the broadcast, including finding and booking guests, writing interview questions, gathering b-roll footage, planning trivia segments, and assigning production crew roles to classmates. As a director, students oversee the technical execution of the live show, helping coordinate camera, transitions, timing, and communication within the production crew during the broadcast.

Crew positions include camera operator, graphics operator, audio technician, social media coordinator, and other behind-the-scenes responsibilities essential to a live production.

Through COMMCast, students gain practical experience in leadership, storytelling, interviewing, teamwork, live broadcasting, and multimedia content creation in a professional-style production environment.

Season 7, Episode 2 - Host

In this episode of COMMCast, I served as the host for the broadcast that focused on food resources and community support efforts in the Farmville area. As host, I guided the live discussion and helped create an engaging and informative broadcast.

Season 7, Episode 5 - Producer

In this episode of COMMCast, I served as the producer for a broadcast featuring Makayla Whittaker. The episode highlighted the work behind Longwood Athletics’ game-day atmosphere and fan experience. As producer, I coordinated the episode, organized the guest appearance, and helped ensure a smooth broadcast.

Season 7, Episode 10 - Director

In this episode of COMMCast, I served as the director for a broadcast focused on first-generation college students at Longwood University. As director, I oversaw the technical execution of the live broadcast and coordinated communication between crew members to help ensure a smooth production.

Pre-production Documents

Documents I used to plan episode 5 of COMMCast.

COMMCastRundownTemplate26.docx

Episode 5 Rundown

Episode 5 COMMCastScript.docx

Episode 5 Script

Other Studio Roles

COMMCast Intro.mp4

Social Media Content

Camera Operator/Floor Director

Audio Board

Client Projects

Client projects are collaborative media productions in which students work in assigned groups to partner with real clients and create professional-quality video content while following industry-standard production timelines and communication standards.

Each project requires students to pitch ideas, meet with clients, develop production schedules, produce rough and final video cuts, and maintain consistent professional communication throughout the process. Every student serves as a lead producer for at least one project, taking responsibility for coordinating client communication, organizing production timelines, and ensuring the project meets client expectations.

These projects provide hands-on experience in client relations, teamwork, leadership, video production, editing, and professional communication while preparing students for real-world media and production environments.

73 Questions with Professor Pucket

For this client project, my production team created a Vogue “73 Questions”-style video introducing Professor Puckett, one of the newest professors in the Communication Studies department. The goal of the project was to help students get to know Professor Puckett beyond the classroom by highlighting her personality, teaching style, interests, and experiences through a conversational and engaging interview format.

Highlighing Independent Greeks

For this client project, my production team created a promotional video highlighting the independent Greek organizations at Longwood University. The goal of the project was to showcase organizations that contribute to campus life while also exploring efforts to incorporate independent organizations into Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL). As producer, I helped coordinate interviews, develop questions, organize production logistics, and guide the overall direction of the project to ensure the video effectively represented the organizations and their impact on campus.

2026 Longwood University Communication Studies: Senior Research Presentations

The Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry at Longwood University is the university’s annual Research Day, where students across different academic departments present their research and creative work. While many departments participate through traditional poster presentations, the Communication Studies department presents student research through a live broadcast produced entirely by the COMMLab class. The production team was responsible for capturing student presentations, transitions, and other event coverage in a professional environment. Students worked collaboratively in various production roles, including directing, camera operation, graphics, audio, technical directing, and production coordination, to ensure a smooth and engaging live broadcast.

During the second half of the broadcast, I served as both the floor director and graphics operator. As floor director, I communicated with presenters, guided students on which cameras to look into, and prepared them for going live on-air. In my graphics role, I managed on-screen visual elements, including lower thirds and transition graphics displaying upcoming presentations between segments. These responsibilities helped support the flow, organization, and professionalism of the live broadcast.

Me during my role as floor director.

Screen_Recording_20260427_022126_YouTube.mp4

Behind the scenes clip of the broadcast crew.

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