Bay News Now students get behind-the-scenes look at professional broadcasting from News 12 veteran
Student members of Oyster Bay Middle-High School's broadcasting team, Bay News Now (BNN), recently received a masterclass in television news production from an industry veteran. Phil Dowling, technical director at News 12 and a fixture at the station for more than 25 years, visited the school to observe a live taping of the BNN daily newscast before sitting down with students for an extended feedback session and Q&A.
BNN produces daily video announcements in the format of a professional newscast – a modern alternative to the traditional audio announcements of the past. Working out of OBMHS's state-of-the-art broadcasting studio, student newscasters gain hands-on experience across every aspect of a live production, from camera operation and control room work to performing as on-air personalities.
Mr. Dowling, who oversees the technical backbone of News 12's broadcasts – including camera switching and live feed management – shared his career journey from his early training through BOCES and Suffolk Community College to landing his first role at News 12 as a production assistant and steadily advancing to his current position. He offered students practical tips for strengthening their own newscast and spoke about evolving trends in television news, including the industry's shift away from stationary cameras toward more dynamic handheld shots.
The students were eager and engaged, bringing thoughtful questions to the table. They asked about pathways into the industry, the realities of working at a major regional news station, including the demands of the schedule, and why Mr. Dowling chose news over entertainment. His answer resonated: the opportunity to serve the community by keeping people informed is what drew him to news and has kept him there.
For students building real-world skills inside a working newscast studio every day, an afternoon with a 25-year industry professional was exactly the kind of future-ready learning that turns classroom experience into career possibility.
