This originally appeared on the Asbury College website on January 28th. See the original article (with photos)

More than 40 media communications students to work in paid broadcasting positions; 2 students will report for Lexington NBC affiliate

WILMORE, KY-More than 40 students and four faculty members from Asbury College’s School of Communication Arts are headed to Vancouver, British Columbia for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 12-28. This is the ninth consecutive Olympics that Asbury College media communications students have worked in paid broadcasting positions.

This year, a few students will be broadcasting about their experiences on the Lexington news station, WLEX-channel 18. Junior Janelle Gore is heading to the Olympics on Feb. 11 and will sending stories to the Lexington television station. Gore’s task is to “bring the Olympics back to Lexington” by finding ties between Vancouver and Kentucky.

Last fall, WLEX-channel 18 sought correspondents to represent Asbury College and send reports back to Kentucky. Gore and fellow student, Natalie Clements, earned the opportunity as performance majors. Alumnus and WLEX employee Taylor Vinson ‘07 helped facilitate venture between the station and college. Vinson worked at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, and had a vested interesting in seeing both his alma mater and employer represented well on air. Vinson held a teaching session to help the new broadcasters learn the station’s expectations for videography, editing and writing.

“My hope is that the Olympic correspondents will be able to tell the story of what it’s like to be at the games,” Vinson said. “It’s wonderful that while telling those stories, they’ll also be getting invaluable experience in the field of television news.”

This will be Gore’s first experience with news broadcasting. Her previous experience has been with theatre and film. “Having a broad education in so many subjects will be helpful also having public relations as well as media writing experience will benefit me in piecing together stories for WLEX.”

Gore and all Asbury Colleges are well-prepared for their endeavors before reaching the Olympic village. Asbury College students were originally only offered 30 slots in broadcasting positions, but due to their experience and knowledge their allotment was increased in the days prior to the games to allow more than 40 students to go. “All of the professors really care about each student getting these opportunities and help us all prepare as much as we can,” Gore said.

When she isn’t broadcasting, Gore is looking forward to watching short track speed skating and her favorite athlete, Apolo Ohno. “I am most excited about seeing all of the different countries come together for one purpose, and celebrating athleticism, competition and having fun together.”

Since 1984, more than 350 Asbury College students have worked in paid broadcasting positions at almost every Olympic Games. Asbury College was the only school outside of the host country that was invited to send media students to work for pay in Vancouver, Beijing, Torino, Athens, Salt Lake, Sydney and Atlanta. Students have worked in such positions as camera operators, camera assistants, liaison officers, audio assistants, and loggers for a variety of broadcasters including NBC, CBC, BBC, European Broadcast Union and others. Students must apply and be accepted by professors as well as the broadcaster in order to work for the Olympics.