By: Oliver Musters and Sam Burleigh

   A school’s sense of community could not be complete without its traditions, and MRHS is no exception. In particular, the weekly MRTV livestreams, also known as the Ridge Report, stand out as an excellent medium for communicating school-wide news and involvement opportunities. Every Friday, a livestream airs during third period: featuring a weekly news recap, announcements of upcoming events, and student-created segments.  

   While some students choose to ignore and look away, others actively watch the broadcast, taking in the vital information contained within the livestream.

   “Last week I had accidentally forgotten to put on the live stream, which was a bummer because everyone watches [the livestream] when I do,” Math Teacher Ms. Angell stated.

   Setting up for the livestream may sound simple at face value, but in reality, the process presents itself with more logistical complications than one might initially assume. The process is especially prone to technical problems. Additionally, engaging with the audience during all parts of the livestream can be challenging.

   “Video production is not as easy as people think, because the editing takes a really long time. You want to engage the audience, and you have to surround [them]. On [livestream day], there’s a tricaster, and that’s kind of complicated to use and understand. There are a lot of technical difficulties that sometimes happen with live streaming because [the] livestream is not pre-recorded, so you never know what happens,” senior Adhithya Kasiviswanathan mentioned. 

   The success of the livestreams is undoubtedly credited to the diligent work of the video production students, some of whom must be prepared to show up to the recording booth near the end of the second period on Fridays in case of issues.

   “For preparing the livestream, we all have to show up six or seven minutes early. I do the video portion of it, where you set up the stream on YouTube with the name, then you press a stream button and click through the slides for each video while the people in front of the camera read a script that we have on the projector,” senior Lincoln Watson explained. 

   A handful of students appreciate the effort invested into making each video presentation unique, and enjoy the MRTV Ridge Report’s balanced formatting.

   “The [MRTV Ridge Report] is very insightful, and it’s also very funny. Last year, we didn’t have a lot of humor, so I’m really glad that the people who are creating this year’s ridge report are incorporating more humor. I also really like the football edit that they had on there. I think there’s a good mix between clubs, like school information and also sports, which I really like,” junior Akshan Ranasinghe contended. 

   Overall, the weekly MRTV streams serve as not only an essential source of information but also a communal entertainment source. MRHS needs to keep its students constantly informed. For carrying out this purpose, the livestreams are indispensable. Hopefully, the MRTV Ridge Report will continue its mission of providing the student body with enjoyment and knowledge.