Charger Bulletin News, “CBN”, is a student-run news broadcast at the University of New Haven. Students are given the opportunity to brainstorm, write and anchor the show. Since the spring of 2024, Emily Lavoie has been at the head of the table as producer of CBN.
“I never expected to produce,” Lavoie said. “It wasn’t something I wasn’t expecting, but it wasn’t out of the blue.”
For Lavoie, producing CBN each week seemed fun. She held meetings to gather stories and had a script ready to go before each show every Thursday. With the responsibility she held, Lavoie wanted more.
“I want to make a difference .I don’t just want to show up, record it, put it on YouTube, and carry on,” said Lavoie. “I want to make an impact. I want to fight for something.”
To make an impact on CBN, Lavoie knew that the show needed live broadcasts. This past semester, Lavoie has been extremely proud of what she’s been able to produce every Thursday.
The National Student Production Awards recognizes outstanding student achievements in television and media. The awards specifically honor student productions, often highlighting the work of students in fields like broadcast journalism, film and media production.
“Usually, UNH kind of cleans up, but [CBN] hasn’t been able to submit to the Student Emmys for a couple years now,” said Lavoie.
Before Lavoie stepped in as producer of CBN, she joined as a student attending the class. But with commuting to school, having a job to attend and having a work-study job on campus, joining CBN was just another thing she couldn’t add to her schedule.
“Spring of 2023 I took the CBN practicum and since I was listed as a student it meant I was able to earn credits,” she said.
When Lavoie joined CBN in 2023 it was nowhere near where it is now. The show had not been live since the pandemic hit and has been fighting an uphill battle to gain traction ever since.
“I have never anchored a live show,” Lavoie said, “because it never happened when I was just a regular crew member.”
Natalie Chavoya, the advisor of CBN, said, “One of Emily’s most admirable traits is her constant drive to learn, even when CBN is running like clockwork.”
Lavoie plans to submit to the Student Production Award (SPA) Newscast Category in hopes of receiving first place.
The SPA awards category criteria said, “For outstanding achievement in a traditional, studio-style newscast, produced daily or less than daily, but broadcast, streamed, or otherwise distributed as a live or recorded live program. Newscasts may include pre-recorded packages or reports as well as in-studio or on-location live reports.” SPA does not permit post edits except for the removal of breaks. “All entries are judged on overall content, presentation, writing, format, teases, etc.”
Now in her last semester at the University of New Haven, Lavoie only has a few more episodes left that she will produce.
“Emily has elevated the quality of our broadcast,” Chavoya said. “She’s always evolving and raising the stakes, all signs of a great leader.”
Lavoie said, “For anybody that aspires to work in media, my best advice is to just go after it. What’s the worst that can go wrong?”
