When I heard that the University was acquiring WNEG-TV, I nearly crashed my car.

This would be a landmark opportunity for us to have a voice in televised digital media in Northeast Georgia.

It would give students real hands-on experience in the professional field of television.

ADAM WYNN

Plus, it would give me some really cool toys to play with.

Apparently, none of these dreams will be coming true.

Now, it seems that WNEG will not make it to that golden anniversary, or even the wooden one for that matter.

Sure, the University tossed them a short-term lifeline.

But in this era of failing economies and ever higher student fees, it’s probably the last straw this camel can carry.

So how have they failed so exuberantly when their success seemed so certain?

When WNEG relocated to Athens, they made some big changes. And they were not for the better.

Where they were once a CBS affiliate, airing funny sitcoms and popular reality programs, they now predominately feature Star Trek reruns and useless infomercials.

Yes, they have news and occasional special interest pieces, but these are hardly reliable tent-poles.

So with this last gasp of breath for the station, is there any hope for survival? How can WNEG stay afloat?

By paying attention.

WNEG is failing to use the most abundant resource they have available — and no, I don’t mean the money the University keeps throwing at them.

I am talking about the student body here in Athens.

These students would love nothing more than to be involved in some kind of original, local programming.

Given the opportunity, plenty of them would jump to be involved in the production of a television show or a news program.

What fine arts major hasn’t said to their friends, “Dude, we should totally make a TV show?”

How many of us have stood in line in mid-January to get our supplies so we could make our own short-film for Campus MovieFest?

Who hasn’t dreamed of being in a movie?

Who doesn’t want immediate undeserved fame in a reality show?

If WNEG needs further proof of student willingness, they need look no further than University Housing’s small-market station, Georgia Television on Housing 12.

GTV has been around for over ten years, and they are currently experiencing their most productive season yet.

They have a regularly scheduled news program and an Oprah-worthy talk show.

And they are always looking for innovative ways to entertain their market — which just happens to be every one of the five thousand students who live on campus.

And how do they fund this?

With an annual budget that probably wouldn’t adequately pay a volunteer at WNEG.

They are able to succeed because of the developing talents involved and the passion of every single participant.

Do they need more proof?

We’re college students.

We’re just itching for a way to display our creative talents.

We yearn to prove that we have readily available, marketable skills more advanced than keg-stands.

WNEG could simply hold their own short-film contest, or even create a low-budget sitcom aimed at students.

Just as I began reading the paper more religiously when I started writing for it, students will tune in to see their own shows.

So, WNEG — do you really want to see another season?

Do you want to make all that money spent on your survival count?

Make students a part of the production process.

The key to any network’s survival is the presence of original content and consistent viewership.

Put students on both sides of the camera, and WNEG achieves both  goals.

— Adam Wynn is a designer for The Red & Black and a senior from Dacula majoring in English