What does it mean to broadcast in today’s world? At the School District of Lancaster, it means empowering our students to tell powerful stories using modern tools, authentic experiences, and the mentorship of professionals who’ve turned their passion for media into a lifelong career.
For the past three years, students in our WMCC Broadcast Journalism program at McCaskey have participated in the Broadcast NOW! competition, a statewide initiative sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB). This program pairs high school communications teams with local media outlets to produce a portfolio of high-quality content that highlights the current state, and future, of the broadcasting industry.
It’s an authentic, student-led experience that places our students in professional broadcast studios, working side-by-side with industry experts, using real equipment, tackling real challenges, and answering one big question: What does it mean to broadcast NOW?
A Partnership Rooted in Opportunity
Thanks to our ongoing partnership with WGAL, one of the region’s most respected broadcast stations, our students don’t just study broadcasting, they live it. Since the beginning of our collaboration three years ago, WGAL has played a vital role in helping shape our program. In fact, they helped write grants to fund the studio cameras our students now use daily. Their investment in our students’ futures is both practical and personal.
Each year, our students visit WGAL multiple times to interview professionals across a range of roles, anchors, producers, news directors, technical staff, and gather insights into how the broadcasting landscape has shifted in the digital age. The result: five original videos submitted to Broadcast NOW!, including one 2.5-minute video exploring modern media and four 30-second testimonial clips from WGAL employees. Students are then required to distribute these videos online and analyze viewer engagement, a critical skill in today’s media world.
As Media Studies and Communications teacher Natalie Nolt describes, “Broadcasting isn’t just about the 6 o’clock news anymore. Every anchor is also a content creator. They’re engaging with their communities on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, every platform. Our students are learning that storytelling today happens across many screens.”
Click here to watch their videos
Student Voices, Real Impact
For 11th grader Keira Koser Martin, this program sparked a career path. “Coming into this program as a freshman, I had no idea this is what I’d want to do,” Keira said. “But the moment I started producing content for our morning show, I fell in love with it. I want to pursue telecommunications, and this competition has helped me see what that could look like in the real world.”
Keira’s passion is echoed by 12th grader Lily Ferguson, who hopes to become a sports producer. “It was so eye-opening to walk into WGAL and see how many roles exist behind the scenes. There’s so much happening that you never see on screen. I’ve always been into sports, and now I can see a path for myself in live production.”
Logan Fleetman, also in 11th grade, found his niche in digital design. He created dynamic motion graphics for the team’s videos that showcased likes, comments, and shares flying across the screen, an artistic representation of how content travels in today’s media environment. “I’ve always loved video editing,” Logan said. “But this gave me a real-world chance to push my skills and create something professional.”
Through these projects, our students aren’t just learning how to produce media. They’re building networks. They’re meeting mentors who share their college experiences, offer career guidance, and model what’s possible. They’re creating portfolio-ready work that can open doors to internships, scholarships, and careers.
More Than a Competition
Yes, Broadcast NOW! is a competition. A panel of judges, including members of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and an Emmy® Award-winning producer, reviews submissions based on content quality, creativity, polish, and effectiveness in reaching audiences. But at SDoL, we see something more than rankings or trophies.
We see growth.
We see students walking into a professional newsroom for the first time, nervous but excited, and walking out with a new sense of purpose. We see confidence rising, creativity ignited, and collaboration taken to new heights.
Natalie Nolt reflects on what it means for her students: “What they’re doing right now, with their shows, their graphics, their interviews, it’s on par with what professionals are doing. This isn’t just preparation. This is participation.”
Why It Matters for SDoL and Beyond
Broadcast NOW! connects perfectly with our district’s mission to equip students with 21st-century skills and career readiness. In a world where communication is instant and stories unfold in real time, our students are not just watching from the sidelines, they’re contributing.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. April Hershey, a lifelong educator and champion for student empowerment, put it best: “When students feel loved, valued, and respected, they thrive. This program makes them feel seen, and gives them a platform to be heard.”
In a media landscape that’s constantly evolving, one thing remains true: storytelling matters. And through Broadcast NOW!, our students are learning to tell stories that matter to their peers, their communities, and themselves.
To our incredible partners at WGAL: thank you. To our dedicated teacher-leaders: thank you. And to our talented, determined students: keep telling your stories. The world is watching.
It’s time to Broadcast NOW and the future of broadcasting is already sitting in our classrooms.
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The overview final is the important one*