Since September, Sacramento County public and scholastic media program funding has been gradually decreasing. Just in the 2025-2026 school year, different public access programs have been completely defunded.
As a student who’s been in the media program at Franklin High School for three years, and as a current co-producer for the broadcasting program, it’s absolutely disheartening knowing that this opportunity will now be denied for many students.
The program at Franklin, Wildcat TV, broadcasts live morning shows. There is a significant number of students who rely on the morning announcements to keep up with many school events and news. Without the morning show, students would have to rely on trying to read through emails and texts – and many students don’t want to check their emails or social media.
So far, multiple students and staff have come up to me explaining how much easier it is to take in and remember important information through our entertaining student-planned shows, much more so than reading an email.
In addition, the media students broadcast multiple segments including “takeovers,” where clubs and organizations can essentially “take over” a segment to spread important information that highlights the different ways students can be connected to the school.
All these segments allow for not just students who are a part of Wildcat TV to participate, but also students from all around the school. Especially with our “Lunchtime Chats with a Wildcat,” where we essentially have a question of the day and students are able to answer and give their full opinion (school appropriate, of course).
We put on shows four out of five days of the week, and our student studio remains stacked with a wide variety of cameras, computers and basically anything that we need to succeed and put on an informational, yet fun show for everyone in school to watch.
For just one show, media students use four cameras, four teleprompters, as many as six computers, six microphones and a huge audiobox. In total that’s tens of thousands of dollars of equipment, all to put on a consistent morning show.
Outside of studio programming, Franklin media students also record games and events and produce interactive videos. We plan, record and edit on a variety of cameras and computers to make this all possible.
Watching new students join the media program, especially underclassmen, I’ve noticed how much of an impact it’s had on most students who join. From seniors all the way down to freshmen, I’ve worked with many talented students and built so many memorable bonds with them.
Just within a couple months, people new to the program have quickly felt like they belong. Their initial nervous attitude changes over time to be more outgoing and talkative, which says a lot since we meet at 7:30 a.m. before school most days of the week to produce shows. This says a lot about the environment we’ve built.
Countless inside jokes, planned hangouts, deep talks, pictures and memories have all been made within our school’s TV studio that a lot of us will never be able to forget. Multiple students, especially freshmen and sophomores, have talked to me about how joining Wildcat TV has been a highlight of their year.
Outside of building friendships and memories, the amount of training and media help is limitless. Students are able to learn how to edit, record videos, direct shows, be an enthusiastic anchor and so much more.
We’re given access to high-technology cameras and get training from experienced specialists. We are allowed to record school events for free and create interesting and appealing videos from it.
And overall, Wildcat TV has personally been one of my greatest and favorite accomplishments in my high school career. As someone who’s always been an emotional person it’s safe to say that Wildcat TV has genuinely changed my life.
As a co-producer, I’ve worked with two main people – my fellow co-producer and our teacher. They both have taught me so much, as a student and as a person.
There are simply no better people I could’ve imagined to work with in this program, and I’ll never forget the longlasting effect they’ve had on me. There’s been countless days where I would feel completely down but they would always try to give me a shoulder to cry on – and sometimes some snacks to make me feel better!
Refusing to fund these types of programs not only denies future students high tech and media experiences, but it strips students of creativity.
