It looks so easy and relaxed when the morning news “anchors” deliver the breaking stories of the day, tell the viewers about the weather and do the special features on camera for WSIL-TV channel three. What few people know that it takes a beehive of activity from a big crew working half the night to coordinate it to the point when the director indicates “action,” and the viewers watch the familiar faces on camera bring it home.
Members of the West Frankfort Lions Club International are a little more familiar with the process after their regular luncheon meeting Thursday at the Franklin County Senior Services Center. Michael Roth, a producer for News Three, was the guest speaker and he gave an articulate, insightful picture of the degree of work and professionalism it takes to make it all happen.
Roth said he always wanted to work in television, as far back as grade school. “I would take my dad's cam-recorder and do little commercials. Then when I went to high school I learned filming and basic editing.” After graduation, he worked in a video store and that, too, whetted his appetite for filming.
It would be a while though, before he became professionally intense. After a tour with the U. S. Navy and work in construction, his sister urged him to attend SIU, where he honed his craft and got a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in radio and TV, with a minor in Philosophy. As a Saluki he learned video production, lighting, news writing and video photography.
A month after graduation he went to work for News Three as an associate producer.
That meant he had the privilege of getting up at 1 a.m. to go to work.
For more on this story, pick up a print copy of the Friday edition of the Daily American.
