The radio program is built around Saddleback College’s 650 watt radio station - 88.5FM KSBR. Students are eligible to audition for an airshift after completing two classes (CA110 and CA113). No other college in the area offers students on-air shifts after one semester. You’ll learn digital audio editing using the latest software, and programming and production with an emphasis on hands-on experience. An internship will also provide students with positions at Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego market radio stations, like: KFI, Cool 93.4, and XTRA Sports 690.

In addition to training Saddleback’s Communication Arts students, KSBR is a community service station focusing its attention on Orange County news, traffic, weather, and entertainment. KSBR has received the Associated Press “Instant News” citation, AP’s Certificate of Excellence for overall coverage, and is the only California Station to be a 3-time winner of the American Heart Association’s C. Everett Koop, M.D. Award.

KSBR’s primary format is contemporary jazz, but it also has weekend specialty shows featuring other musical styles like reggae, folk, ragtime, rock, Latin jazz, blues, and hip-hop music.

The Communication Arts department provides you with hands-on experience and a strong foundation upon which to build your artistic talent. Video production has expanded incredibly in the last few years, providing opportunities in digitalproduction, cd-rom and dvd authoring, and video streaming for the internet. Our goal is to help you take the best elements of your talent and apply them to work in the industry. 

The television courses offer you studies in basic and advanced production, producing, shooting and editing for Channel 39 and the opportunity to work in many formats of programming. Very few colleges will offer students an opportunity to produce on-air programming and receive broadcast credits.

At Saddleback’s Communication Arts program, we encourage you to participate in the creation of the channel’s programming.

Internships are also available as you become familiar with the program and find a specialty you enjoy working in. Mentoring, networking and interning are all basic elements of success you’ll discover within the program. Our alumni list is a great example of how these elements, along with our core classes will help you become a success in your field and someone who will contribute your own creativity to the industry - a new addition to the talent pool!

Our Basic Television Production class starts you off with an introduction to equipment operation, crew positions, and aesthetics, dealing with pre-production, production and post-production. 

Our 4-camera studio configuration allows you to shoot a variety of formats and the curriculum allows you to experience each crew position so you can find what works for you and where your talent lies.

Within the television program, you’ll have opportunities to learn about pitching project ideas, producing, lighting, shooting, directing and much more. Our goal is to give our students access to state-of-the-art equipment, solid academics, a strong sense of aesthetics and interaction with industry people. 

For more than 20 years, the Communication Arts Department has been known for giving students hands on experience. This means that you design your film, you shoot it, and you edit it. We’ve always put the concept of bringing the “real world” into the classroom as a priority.

Recently, George Lucas said, “ I’ll probably never shoot a movie on film again.” (Film and Video, June 2001) He is currently shooting “Star Wars Episode II” on high-definition video instead of 35mm or 70mm film. Why would a top filmmaker make this statement? Because digital video is now the preferred shooting format for many filmmakers who formerly shot in Super 8, 16mm or 35mm film. For the past several years, all network sitcoms and hour dramas were shot on film and transferred to video for editing and broadcasting. Starting this year, it’s estimated that at least half of those shows will be shooting on digital video starting for the fall season 2001. 

Learn how to make films the way they’ll be made from now on! Saddleback’s Communication Arts Department will be offering digital courses designed to help you succeed in the field, including outstanding 1 to 2 day workshops for students who want to specialize in a specific area of filmmaking. 
We’ll continue to teach the traditional approach of concept to final edit in terms of visual storytelling, aesthetics, composition, directing, producing, cinematography, lighting, audio and editing.
But now all of the film classes are being taught on digital video. Both the beginning and advanced film production courses are taught using 3-chip digital video technology. You’ll also learn state-of-the-art editing software like Adobe Premiere 6, Final-Cut Pro, and Media 100.