Nathan Ladehoff

Year 2 is starting for our online community of digital media and broadcasting teachers. I’m so excited to help inspire and serve our community members. Why? I started making videos when I was 12 (11 years ago) and have only gotten more involved in digital media. And I started broadcasting as a sophomore in high school (7 years ago). I found that students who are a part of digital media and broadcasting programs learn more than just the technical skills. They learn communication, teamwork, and responsibility. But they need a teacher to guide them to success. At @Striv_Education we work with over 60 teachers. Building out multi-year program plans, developing student technical skills, and creating future-ready student leaders. If you are a teacher of a high school broadcast or digital media program, I’d love to connect and hear your story. DM me and join our community at the link below ⬇️ futurereadyeducators.com/join?invitatio…

Ran a 10-day basketball tournament with over 100 students, and it was the least stressed we've ever been! The secret? Months of preparation and adding structure to operations.

Those taillights mean we’re going home! Another great @nsaahome Basketball State Championship tournament covered 💪🏻 I get to do what I love thanks to @Striv_Education

Quick tip: Broadcast teachers build an escalation path for problem-solving. Train students to troubleshoot with peers, then student leaders, before coming to you. This saves you time and empowers them. Watch the full episode here: youtu.be/iCCazw_qZnU

Absolute cinema 🔥👏🏻

Bergan Digital Media is at the NSAA D1 quarterfinals this morning bringing you the broadcast on NFHS Network. 8 guys running cameras, replay, pbp and color commentary! Real world experiences! #strivschools

🏀 Sutton advances to the next round over Amherst in the D1 Girls State Basketball bracket! #50YearsOfChampions | #nebpreps

Putting a student on a broadcast crew isn't the same as preparing them for one. 100+ students. 40+ games. 2 weeks. State Basketball in Nebraska. Every crew member walked in knowing their role, their checklist, and what to do before tip-off. That's Broadcast Ops.

Don't ask how to motivate students who don't show up. Ask if your program means something. Do they own their roles? Train them to run the gear—spread the knowledge and lighten your load. Watch the full episode here: youtu.be/S8Sn9O2kf1k

Yesterday I was helping a student put together a hype video, and we talked about something that instantly made editing feel less overwhelming: When you’re editing to a certain length of time, you’re not trying to make something perfect. You’re just solving a puzzle. You take the best clips… Move them around… Try a new order… Swap one piece for another… Eventually the story clicks into place. When students realize editing can be as simple as rearranging pieces, not chasing perfection, they relax and their creativity shows up fast. It was fun watching that happen in real time yesterday. (An example of the timeline for a recent hype video I was able to work on for @jccstriv)

Every position on a broadcast crew teaches a different leadership skill: Director → decision-making + communication Camera Operator → focus + anticipation Producer → time management + calm under pressure Announcer → clarity + audience awareness When students take on real roles, they don’t just learn how to run a show. They learn how to lead. This is why structured roles and responsibilities matter. Not for the broadcast, but for the students running it. @Striv_Education

Then because I’m in the area, a visit to my favorite control room was necessary! @jccstriv | @marcus_scheer

Had the opportunity to present my journey through broadcasting today! The @JB_Broadcasting class had great questions and showed me some of the great things they are doing! Both sides left inspired and with new ideas 🔥

One issue I see in a lot of student-led broadcasts: Students don’t always know exactly what their job is. That’s why we’ve built out structured role sheets for every position on a crew: Producer, Director, Camera Ops, Graphics, and Announcers. Each sheet breaks responsibilities into four simple phases: Classroom Prep What students should understand before they ever touch equipment. Pre-Game The checks, setup steps, and communication habits that set the tone for the broadcast. In-Game Clear, role-specific responsibilities during the broadcast. Post-Game Clean shutdown, file management, and quick reflection. When students have structure, three things happen fast: 1️⃣ Confusion drops 2️⃣ Confidence rises 3️⃣ Broadcast quality skyrockets This is part of our Student Broadcasting Playbook we’ve built for teachers. The goal: make every student feel like they know exactly what to do in the moment! Below is an example of what a crew role sheet could look like ⬇️

As I was preparing this presentation, I just kept wanting to add things. If you have a livestream and want it to serve your community and school this is the webinar for you!

One of the fastest ways to level up a student-led broadcast: Teach students to think in sequences, not shots. When you switch from: ❌ Random cuts to ✅ Wide for the play → Tight on player who made the play → Crowd Reaction everything gets smoother. Sequences help students: Stay ahead instead of chasing the play Communicate clearly Tell a cleaner story Build confidence faster If your broadcast feels chaotic, try this one change with your students today.

One of my favorite parts of my job is watching a student suddenly “get it.” At our Sports Media workshop, it was students who stepped into the director’s chair for the first time. At the start: quiet, unsure, hesitant. Midway through: calling shots confidently, communicating clearly, building sequences. It’s a reminder that students grow fast when you give them real responsibility and let them run with it. These moments are why student-led media matters. @Striv_Education

Not sure if other states have the comprehensive coverage of HS volleyball, but NE has several outlets that do an excellent job: @Striv_Education, @harvestsportsNE, @HurrdatSports, and @THEnebpreps. Thanks to these orgs as well as the traditional formats! Who am I missing?

@JamesReedHD @HoldregeDusters The timing of going to State Volleyball capturing content and then speaking to the class is elite 🔥 I’m sure there is a lot of that camera roll that will stay visible to your eyes only. Well, I guess now a select group of 5th graders have seen it as well!

Was invited to speak to a class of 5th graders this morning about some of my responsibilities as a content creator and social media manager for the @HoldregeDusters. It was a blast showing them what makes the cut to be posted as well as the vast amount of content that doesn’t.

Giving students real-world opportunities! Our mission at @Striv_Education is being visibly fulfilled this week. The kids are crushing it, can’t wait to join the crews tomorrow!

I was making a comment to a family member yesterday about how the only time I’ll think about turning on YouTube TV is for Husker games, and the occasional NASCAR race. So I’m paying how much, to watch only a little. So now without ESPN and others, is it worth what you are paying for. At least with regular YouTube Premium you get to skip ads and early access and cool features. Plus, you chose the content you want to consume. Seems like the hype of YouTube TV might be wearing off. Not if they can’t keep contracts.

Doesn't matter who is arguing that they are fighting for customers the most... it is the customers who are the ones feeling the pain on this ESPN & YouTubeTV disagreement.