MCJ Student talks all things Fresno State Focus
By Carissa Guzman
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State Focus is the university’s student-run newscast, airing live every Wednesday at 4 p.m. on YouTube. The show covers a wide range of topics related to Fresno State and the Central Valley. It consists of two classes: Crew and Editorial.
The Crew class is responsible for the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the newscast running smoothly, while the Editorial class includes the reporters who appear on camera, whether at the anchor desk, green screen for weather, monitor for stories, or on location for live shots.
Ricky Oaks, a senior majoring in mass communication and broadcast journalism, has taken both classes during his four semesters at Fresno State. In the first two, he was part of Crew, where he learned a variety of skills.
“I was doing behind-the-scenes stuff. So, I am learning how to be both a floor and main director. Also, I’m learning tech director, audio, camera, and all that,” Oaks said.
In his last two semesters, Oaks took on roles in the Editorial class.
“So being an anchor, weather was really fun. I suggest trying it out. Also, just being a reporter. Producing stories,” Oaks said.
During his last semester, Oaks became known for his humorous catchphrase, often introducing himself with “What’s poppin’.” He also co-anchored a special episode with fellow student Alexis Breen, in which they wore pink to celebrate the release of the “Barbie” movie. They even said “Hi Barbie!… Hi Ken!” to each other.
“When we came up with that original idea, it was just something of a whim. But, oh my gosh, that was probably the most fun I had on the show. Probably one of the best ad-lib segments we had on Focus,” Oaks recalled.
Oaks noted that the most challenging part of the program was time management, with the Editorial class running nearly six hours long. However, the best part, he said, was the practical experience.
“The amount of experience you get, the amount that you put into your digital reel, to put out for a job, it’s monumental. And it gives us a step above anyone else that’s going out into the field,” Oaks said.
He advised students with limited on-camera material to still build their reels with other strong work.
“If you produced fantastic VOs, phenomenal packages, still put that in your reel because that’s what people are looking at right now,” he explained.
Oaks credited Professor Kim Stephens for helping him slow down his speech while on camera.
“I’ve tended to slow down a lot. Which means I get to emphasize my words. And that makes such a difference in being able to change your voice tone,” Oaks said.
After graduation, Oaks hopes to pursue a career in sports radio or sports reporting, possibly doing play-by-play commentary.
“I already put my resume out, and I’m just waiting for responses,” he said.
Oaks reflected on a memorable moment from last semester. When the power went out in the Speech Arts building, and some of the Crew and Editorial students relocated to the Lynda & Stewart Resnick Student Union just hours before the last show was to air.
“We know we could prepare for anything that happens, and we know we can do our stuff,” Oaks said.
Before we wrapped up the interview, Oaks gave a shout-out to a classmate.
“Shout out to my boy, Mr. Al Scott. The number one Padres fan and also the number one Giants hater. Appreciate him for that,” Oaks added.
For more content from Fresno State Focus, follow them on Instagram and X at @FSFocusTV, and on YouTube at “Fresno State Focus TV.” If you prefer sports coverage, where you can see more of Ricky Oaks, check out “Fresno State Focus on Sports,” which airs live on YouTube every Monday at 4 p.m.