Wakeland’s broadcast team enters their final competition of the year with the annual Frisco ISD District Broadcast Competition this April. The returning team of senior lead producers prepare all year to prove that preparation, creativity, and teamwork produce results.
The Frisco ISD Broadcast Competition, held at the Career and Technical Education Center, brings together high school journalism students from across the district for a two-day event featuring both on-site and pre-submitted contests.
WINTV director Ms. Aguilar said the program’s approach centers on broad coverage and shared responsibility among students.
“If you were to ask my students, they would say they’re better at covering everything all at once.
“Everyone is everything,” said lead producers, known as “Veterans.”
“Some programs focus on a few ‘beats’ or media platforms, and we focus on as much coverage of the Land as possible and share roles, responsibilities, and Baja Blast,” said Ms. Aguilar.
Aguilar said the class operates more like a professional newsroom than a traditional classroom, giving students experience with expectations they may encounter in media careers.
“ H101 runs like a real newsroom or a real job, not a classroom. Before I became a teacher, I was a communications project manager, and I run my classroom like I would my media team. Students get to set goals, receive evaluations, and access opportunities for professional development. To level up, they can certify their skills in TV broadcast and ‘apply’ for roles, etc.”
The program also emphasizes accountability and continuous improvement as students rotate through different newsroom roles.
“WINTV really is student-led; everyone learns different roles, but most importantly, they learn accountability. We say ‘our job is to be 1% better every day,’ which we borrow from James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits.’ If something isn’t ready, it doesn’t air. If a story lacks a clear angle, it gets rewritten.”
We say ‘our job is to be 1% better every day,’
Aguilar said that expectation shapes how students approach their work and how they measure success.
“My standard is always, ‘Would this hold up in a professional environment?’ And that mindset changes everything. It gets us away from ‘good enough’ and towards winning district and regional contests, and this weekend we’re even competing in the state BPA (Business Professionals of America) for a title in broadcast news. I’m really excited and proud of those students.”
For Wakeland’s broadcast students, the competition represents more than a single event. It reflects a larger goal: learning how preparation, responsibility, and high standards shape the stories that reach an audience.
