Any student in Journalism and Electronic Media should know by now the importance of getting relevant field experience before looking for a job.

Professors preach about how important an internship is and students are required to complete a practicum before graduating. We all know that experience is crucial to any graduate who is even thinking about getting a job in the ever-expanding world of media.

Students at UT are offered several "learning labs" to develop and perfect their skills before creating important resume tapes or portfolios. The Daily Beacon, Scoop magazine and TNJN.com are all excellent ways for students to take leadership roles and actually work within their medium.

Interested in television instead of print? There is also a way for broadcast students or those interested in videography to prepare for life after graduation as well.

The Volunteer Channel started in 1998 with a group of a few Journalism 275 students and now 10 years later it is appearing on Comcast Cable. The Volunteer Channel was recently purchased by Comcast and is now broadcast on channel 194.

TVC/UTTV has a potential viewing audience of 200,000 in nine counties not to mention those students eating in any campus dining hall or watching in any dorm on campus channel 12.

Josh Queener was one of the founding students and now he works as a staff member of TVC. He says that "it offers students a chance to actually make the shows instead of just reading about it." TVC sees about 100 students come through each year and it is those students that create all the content that is aired on TVC/UTTV.

TVC relies on funds from the student activities fees and grants to operate. "About every other year we get money for equipment," Queener says. "Sometimes it's enough and sometimes it's nothing." One studio camera costs about $100,000 and that is only a single camera. Also needed are microphones, cables, lighting, sets and editing equipment.

Also needed to run the station are student volunteers who are willing to devote a significant amount of time to writing and producing.

Junior in Journalism and staff member Lauran San Roman says she wishes "there were more people who would commit themselves to producing or directing shows. We want people who want to see TVC do well."

Although the station has come a long way from its beginning 10 years ago, Queener would still like to see some improvements. "We need space. I would like to see a better office for the students to use because they are the ones that are suffering. I would also like to be able to have student employees instead of everyone have to volunteer."

What does the future hold for TVC? Queener says he would like to have the manpower and money to produce a daily newscast instead of a weekly one. "We put out just as much programming as other SEC schools and we receive less money. They also have enough people to do things like soap operas, sitcoms and morning talk shows."

Junior in Journalism Patrick Fox says he definitely wants to see TVC put out a sitcom. "I've already written the pilot. My roommate and I have been working on it for the past week but we are not sure what to call it yet. We would need at least two cameras and some lighting people and then the cast, which would be about 4 characters and extras."