The Denmark High School Multimedia Class creates the Denmark Dispatch News show and the Yearbook where they capture and celebrate the history and memories that are made throughout the school year. On Tuesday, February 25 they had the opportunity to learn about real life applications of their skills through a field trip to Green Bay. The first stop was Notre Dame Academy High School where students observed a technology course, taught by Jennie Laaksonen and Jake Gerlikovski, where students produce live video announcements for their school. Denmark students interacted with the NDA students and learned about the process to produce a live show. There are many skills all students need to be able to learn and do, but the most important skills are communication and accountability. "If we created live announcements at Denmark High School I would want to be a scriptwriter." reflected Alex Fredrickson.
Next the staff visited the WLUK Fox 11 studio where they watched the news anchors produce the Good Day Wisconsin morning show. Denmark students learned how to use the green screen from Meteorologist Pete Petoniak and then were able to film an introduction to the show which aired on Friday, February 28 at 4:30am, 6am, and 8am. Students watched the anchors practice their scripts. Hannah Kittell stated, "I learned that reporters have to present information in the time they are given, so word choice and tone is important." News anchor Rachel Manek talked to the students about the importance of presenting information clearly to the viewers. Gabe Noth learned, "Thinking on your feet and telling the whole true story and making a story with what little information you get on the scene is important."
Finally, the staff visited the Packers Hall of Fame, which is like walking through a yearbook. Packers' Senior Reporter Wes Hodkiewicz explained his background in Journalism at the Green Bay Press Gazette before becoming a writer for the Packers. He pointed out the importance of asking the right kind of questions in the locker room to make the story interesting while still reporting on the 5W's (who, what, when, where, why). As students walked through the Hall of Fame and listened to the stories of the famous players they realized there are so many stories to tell and memories to share back home at Denmark High School.