Students work in the new media production facility at Toledo Central Catholic High School. (Photo courtesy of Central Catholic High School)

Central Catholic is using this new technology to broadcast daily announcements live on its Web site via the Irish News Network (INN). The studio includes a full set of theatrical lighting mounted on the ceiling, lighting on the floor, a teleprompter for each camera, multiple monitors that show the view from each camera, and live monitors to show what goes out through the Internet.

The media technology students at CCHS handle all the behind-the-scenes production work for the Irish News Network, and there are four anchors who do the live broadcasts in two-week stints. Members of the production team are Aaron Douglas-Moore, Lauren Downey, Jacob Drees, Brian Hanley, Julia Haupricht, Carissa Kwiatkowski, Jay Marquette, Erick Meyer, Jeremy Obee, Lewis Petty, Margaret Schneider, Andrew Smith, Charles Stein III and Nycholas Young.  The news anchors are Devon Desmond, Joslynn Smallwood, Adam Snyder and Sara Stotz.

The INN goes beyond the traditional closed circuit set-up. The announcements are streamed within the building as well as live on the Internet so parents and others can view the broadcasts at home or from anywhere they can get an Internet connection.

Aside from the live streaming of daily announcements on the INN, Central Catholic has also used the system to stream the first all-school Mass of the year live from the Sullivan Center and varsity football games live from Gallagher Stadium. The football game against St. Francis de Sales drew 387 viewers from 26 different states, as well as Ireland and China.

In addition to the television-broadcasting studio, the newly remodeled classroom features an instructional area for classes on computer applications and design and a professionally designed, full multi-track recording studio.