A dedicated student crew at Washburn University captures and broadcasts every game, providing professional-level live streams of Washburn’s home sports events to fans across the region.

The crew, made up of students from various academic backgrounds, is led by Josh Cannon, the live stream production specialist who oversees their operations. According to Cannon, who has been managing the production team since 2020 after he graduated from Washburn with a mass media degree with an emphasis in film and video, the goal is to maintain high-quality broadcasts while giving students hands-on experience.

“Every Monday, I go through the previous week’s games and watch them on my own,” Cannon said. 

Re-watching the games is a way of ensuring that the consistency of quality and the high standards set for the crew are being achieved. Since it’s a lot of games and hours of video, Cannon also relies on his producers and the constant training offered to the team before each broadcast. 

“I put all the trust in the game quality on the producers and the students to get the job done, and if the students are happy with it, I’m happy with it, too,” Cannon said.

Reagan Petersen, freshman biochemistry major, joined the video production crew this semester, stepping into a new role. 

She stumbled upon the opportunity during a campus job fair where Cannon caught her attention asking if she liked sports and wanted to film for them, and that’s how it all started.

Despite being new, Petersen quickly found herself immersed in the fast-paced environment of live sports production. On her first day, she handled both audio operations and camera work for a volleyball game. 

“I was really impressed with how professional everything felt, even though we’re all students,” Petersen said. 

Petersen also reflected on her learning curve, explaining that the unpredictability of live sports presented unique challenges. 

“There is just so much going on, and being able to pick out what to film and what not, I think was just a learning curve that I hope to get better at,” Petersen said.

Lincoln Gibson, senior marketing major, has been part of the crew since his freshman year and has seen both the team and himself grow. 

“The first game I worked on was a basketball game and I was a camera operator. Learning how to set up the camera, what the different directions were during the game, and basically how the game works,” Gibson said. 

As time went by, Gibson began directing other games until he applied for a job as a producer, a position he currently holds. His experience spans multiple sports, from basketball and football to baseball and volleyball. As a producer, Gibson’s role is essential to the smooth operation of broadcasts. 

“My job is to be the problem-solver. Whether it’s fixing a camera or making sure everyone has what they need, I’m always putting out fires behind the scenes,” Gibson said.

One of the lesser-known aspects of the job according to Gibson is the time spent preparing for each event. 

“We arrive three hours before the game starts to set up. People don’t realize how much work goes into getting everything ready,” Gibson said.

For Gibson, one of the most rewarding parts of his role is knowing that their work enhances the experience for viewers. 

“We had Colorado School of Mines here a couple weeks ago. We play teams from Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri and then often travel out of the region, and people tune in to see our live streams, and if we put together a good show for them, they will see that Washburn has their act together,” Gibson said.

While live production can be intense, it also comes with its share of memorable moments. Gibson recalled a time when a basketball player’s shoelace got caught in a camera lens during a game. 

“The player was trying to get up, but his shoe was stuck to the camera. They had to stop the game to fix it. It was hilarious, but also one of those things that can happen in live video,” Gibson said.

Petersen on the other hand reflected on the excitement of seeing her work displayed on the jumbotron for the first time. 

“I was filming the student section doing the “Soulja Boy” dance, and it just felt so electrifying knowing that everyone was watching what I captured,” Petersen said.

For both Petersen and Gibson, even at different stages, one freshman and the other senior,  their time with the video production crew has had an impact on their journeys at college.

“I never thought this would be part of my college journey, but now I can see myself exploring sports media or production in the future,” Petersen said. 

Gibson echoed similar sentiments, noting how the experience has sharpened his problem-solving and leadership skills. 

“Definitely boosted my problem-solving skills, my interpersonal skills and my confidence. There are a lot of things that you deal with in live production that really test you, and I feel that it has set me up well for whatever job I end up in through making quick decisions in intense scenarios or working together as a team to solve a problem,” Gibson said.

As he prepares to graduate, Gibson remains open to pursuing a career in video production. 

In each broadcast, the video production crew continues to play an essential role in the Washburn athletics experience, bringing fans closer to the action and giving students valuable skills that could shape their future careers.

According to Josh Cannon, the video production crew covers over 120 home games each year, spanning sports like football, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, soccer and track and field. With every season the crew continues to evolve, embracing new challenges and opportunities. 

As the crew grows in numbers and experience, the quality of their productions keeps rising. Cannon is confident that the program will continue to improve. He also explained that every year they are incorporating new technology and enhancing their operations, whether it’s putting replay systems in more games or improving equipment.

For Cannon, being an organization run mostly by students is a reason to be proud. For Gibson, it’s an opportunity for growth.

“Have the confidence to give things a try, the humility to take constructive criticism, to build your skills and the work ethic, to stick with it long enough to see yourself succeed,” Gibson said.

Working in video production at Washburn University is not restricted to mass media students. If you’re interested in learning more, stay tuned for job openings every semester.

Edited by Jeremy Ford and Alijah McCracken