Jane Flottman, Super School News' first volunteer chairperson (1979-1980), wrote in to share her memories of the program. In her words:
I can't believe, after 30 years that the Super Six School News is still on Channel 6. That is wonderful and I know how much this has done for children who are in the program. It has given them a purpose and a career to dream about and make possible.
I am writing as an ex volunteer at the station who has spent the last 20 years in Orlando, Fl. working for Walt Disney World. Instead of the Rocky Mountains, I view Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy. My thoughts will be as clear as I can possibly make them.
I can't recall who thought of starting a school news program at KRMA. A similar newscast presented by PBS was on the air, if memory serves, in New Orleans. Sharon Wink the Volunteer Coordinator was brought on board and studied this idea. I was asked to head the show up with Sharon and we put together a format with other volunteers assistance and suggestions. Great ideas are perfected through the sharing of many good minds.
With our sponsors, The Johns Manville Corporation and The Denver Public Schools, we began. The schools were to pick out their 2 newscasters from as I can recall the 5th grade. Their selected teachers, and students met at Channel 6 where they received logo t-shirts and handbooks. They were given instructions on how to become TV newcasters. This was a totally different concept for most children, for they weren't suppose to just read a script, but provide visuals including drawings and slides. The newscasters were to interact with each other and keep eye contact with their TV audience, which to them was the eye of the camera. After a lunch break, a news anchor from one of the local TV stations shared with the students his experience.
The students were given dates for their news broadcasts and sent back to their prospective schools to create this wonderful program. Before their debuts, our group of volunteers would visit the students and teachers to rehearse and make suggestions, which were usually not needed. These students were fantastic.
Their day would arrive and they would present their news on a set built exactly like the real newscasters have, but on a smaller scale. Tom Dudzinski, then a producer at Channel 6 worked with the students on their broadcast and made it very professional. The news show was shown quite often during the week and I tried never to miss one. They were wonderful.
I worked with Super Six School News for 2 years. We volunteers heard stories from the schools about how this experience changed the lives of many students. I remember one boy had just lost both of his parents and this was a life changing moment for him. Others had dreams and the talent to really become newscasters. I hope some of their dreams came true.
Submit your story at
rmpbs.org/ssn.
