At Enloe High School, mornings always start with the LoeDown, a student-run news show that has undeniably become a staple in the everyday lives of students at Enloe. This program is produced as part of the “Magnet TV Production 1-3 honors” classes taught by Mr. Hedgepeth, Production Arts Teacher and an Enloe Alum. The show not only informs students of the daily events and activities here at Enloe, but also showcases the creativity of its crew and anchors. The LoeDown also serves as a quick break for students between first and second period.
Without further ado, it’s finally time to peel back the curtain of this iconic show and find out how Enloe’s morning news is really made. We sat down with a number of the most important people in the LoeDown and heard what they had to say about the program.
A Journey to the Promethean Boards
Every LoeDown broadcast starts with the anchors. To become an anchor on the LoeDown, any student is going to need a mix of boldness, charisma, and heavy-hitting social etiquette. Justin Jones, one of the first anchors on air, explains, “You’re the face of the school, one of the first things people see in the morning, and even for co-anchors, you wanna make sure you have good chemistry.”
Co-Anchor Nailah Daley adds, “I also think it’s important to show more diversity in the LoeDown, and that Justin and I show a great connection on screen.” Daley emphasizes showcasing a broader spectrum of experiences and voices within the LoeDown. By prioritizing diverse voices, the LoeDown not only reflects the real world but also resonates more deeply with viewers, enhancing the authenticity and relatability of the show’s mission.
Another critical skill needed to be the face of the school is to put the nerves behind you as you perform. Justin explains the importance of taking deep breaths and remembering how much he enjoys being on camera. He says,“Today I was nervous because I didn’t want people to think the show was bad or anything. I do deep breaths in and deep breaths out, and just think back because I’ve always loved to be on camera, and it just gets easier.”
Of course, as every LoeDown enjoyer knows, there are new anchors every week. So, what do they do when they’re not on air? “I write the scripts for my fellow co-anchors and make sure everything is placed in the correct place within it. Like, if there was a report, I would make sure it’s in the correct place and then we would go on and say our announcements,” Justin rattled off. It’s clear that even those who aren’t on air have crucial roles to play during filming, so it’s about time we give them some credit!
A Collaborative Effort Behind the Scenes
Behind every Sports, Weather, Headline News, or Special Segment, a wide array of people are working hard to create these daily parts of the show. Perryn Jones and Mr. Hedgepeth both play a crucial part in the team who pulls the strings behind the curtain.
We asked Executive Producer Perryn Jones what part she plays in the broadcast. “[An Executive Producer is] someone who works even more than the usual members of the LoeDown whether it comes to scripts, little skits, and even just overall storytelling of the show… I work with the rest of the team to fix any issues and just help everyone with their job,” explains Perryn.
Mr. Hedgepeth, who advises the LoeDown, says it’s completely student-run. All he does is some behind-the-scenes stuff like working with student leadership and helping to plan the big ideas. He says, “My job is not to determine what goes on air, but to help the students figure out how to bring their visions to the screen.”
When we asked him how the LoeDown had changed since he took over, he talked about how the LoeDown’s broadcasting capabilities have improved. “I remember a teacher in the East building saying, ‘Man, I love the LoeDown but it’s in black and white.’ One of our main goals was to bring us into full HD. We can actually do 4k, but it makes streaming slower,”
With a bigger crew and the guidance of Mr. Hedgepeth, this year looks to be another successful year for Enloe’s most beloved news program. The LoeDown has certainly changed a lot in the past few years, but it still holds a place in the hearts of every Enloe student. Tune in at 9 AM EST every school day to catch the live HD broadcast of the LoeDown and while you’re at it, make sure to show the students in it some love!
