Going into her sophomore year at the Mount, Niki Lippert '27 is thriving in the Communication and New Media Studies program, where she is honing her broadcasting skills in the Mount's campus-focused LIVE news program, The MSJ Morning Minute.
The MSJ Morning Minute News Program is delivered by the Mount's Peak Productions students, a hands-on video production experience where class members complete projects both on and off campus to provide video services to the greater Mount Community.
Peak Productions provides students with the opportunity to work on video projects in areas of their expertise and interest be it field recording, live video streaming technical support, post production editing or motion graphic design, or podcast audio recording. Enrollment in the group is open to all MSJ students by instructor approval, and students will receive a $500 scholarship each semester they are a member of Peak Productions.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the Peak Productions class, as it gave me real-life experiences getting in front of the camera and behind," says Niki.
A friend's recommendation sparked her interest, and the promise of both enjoyment and practical skills convinced Niki to join. The class didn't assign specific roles, so Niki gravitated towards anchoring and interviewing subject matter experts.
“My favorite aspect was interviewing people,” she says. “I enjoyed the creative aspect of this role, as you could make it what you wanted. You could have some fun with the interview if appropriate or keep it more informative.”
Overcoming nerves was a challenge Niki faced. During her first time anchoring, she feared she'd mess up the words or be glued to the script. But with each week, her confidence grew, and she started feeling comfortable on camera.
The supportive community within Peak Productions immediately stood out to her, and their talent inspired her to delve deeper into the technical aspects of production. “I think the overall sense of community within Peak Productions was a very inclusive group of students. They are all very talented at what they do and inspired me to push myself on the technology portion of our production.”
While Balancing Peak Productions with her studies wasn't always easy, Niki has advice for students considering extracurricular activities. “Create a well-organized schedule with dedicated time for both classes and activities,” she says. “Using calendars or planner apps and effective time management are key. Prioritize tasks and devote appropriate time to each activity, while remembering to include self-care.”
Interested in Communication & New Media Studies?_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Our Communications & New Media Studies major offers a vast range of courses and opportunities—all aiding in gaining experience in speaking, writing, and collaborating to prepare them for success in careers, communities, and personal lives.
To learn more, visit our Communication & New Media Studies page here!