UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When the Penn State Homecoming Parade steps off Friday, Oct. 10, on the University Park campus, a group of students from the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications will be ready to capture the action and livestream the event to people around the world.
The parade ranks as an all-ages tradition at the University, and the livestream produced by communications students has its own rich history.
This year, the livestream, which begins at 5:30 p.m., comes with enhanced technology and typical energy and enthusiasm from the students in charge.
Students in "COMM 383 Advanced Multicamera Production" annually produce the livestream. Assistant Teaching Professor Bill Hallman teaches the class. He also leads the livestream division of 46 Live, the student group that streams the Penn State Dance Marathon each year.
Updated equipment for THON will be used for the Homecoming parade. The broadcast-standard production kit — three large black rolling cases that connect to each other — includes audio over IP, a graphics computer, monitors, a router, a signal converter, a switcher, a soundboard and more. It’s everything necessary to bring the four-camera broadcast to life at the hands of the students.
“We’ve moved to a more professional model all the way around,” Hallman said. “It’s always a challenging, hands-on event — you never know what could happen — but the students have embraced that and are excited to bring the parade to life for people who can’t see it in person.”
Students in the 10-member class have been focused on the livestream since the start of the semester. They’ve put together a preshow with feature segments, selected on-camera hosts and conducted several practice sessions with the equipment.
This year’s broadcast will originate from along Bigler Road outside the Bank of America Building. The equipment and part of the production team will be inside the building while the camera operators and hosts will be along the parade route outside the building.
Student leaders for the effort include producer Murtaza Jalali, a journalism major from Afghanistan; associate producer Bella Mikelonis, a telecommunications major from Pittsburgh; and Jake McGlinchey, a telecommunications major from Montgomery County.
“It’s a little nerve wracking, but I’m excited,” said McGlinchey, who volunteered to help with the livestream last year. “I really enjoy live production, probably more than scripted, and I’ve really wanted to do this parade. I can’t wait for us to get started.”
On-air hosts for the parade are Jack Rachinsky, a journalism major from Rahway, New Jersey, and Jennae Overton, a journalism major from Smyrna, Delaware.