Panelists:
- Doneen Arquines, Executive Producer/Showrunner at Magical Elves, Inc.
- Jaymee Sire, Freelance Host, Journalist & Content Creator
Length of Lesson: 75-90 minutes
- 10 minute warm-up
- 50 minute panel
- 15-20 minute discussion
- Optional classroom activities:
- Platform Strategy Challenge
- Behind the Camera
- Reflection assignment
Learning Objectives
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
- Explain how digital media has transformed storytelling in the food industry.
- Analyze how audience expectations influence television, podcasts, streaming, and social media content.
- Evaluate the role of authenticity, creativity, and audience engagement in modern media.
- Recognize the importance of networking, adaptability, and lifelong learning in media careers.
- Identify how journalism, entertainment, and digital content increasingly overlap.
- Reflect on how communication professionals continually adapt to emerging technologies and platforms.
1: Pre-Video Warm-Up
Activity: “Where Do You Discover Food?”
Ask students:
Think about the last new restaurant, recipe, or food trend you tried.
Where did you first hear about it?
- TikTok?
- Instagram?
- YouTube?
- Television?
- A friend?
- A podcast?
- A news story?
Then ask:
- Which source influenced you the most?
- Why did you trust it?
Transition:
Today’s panel explores how media professionals shape the way we discover food – and how the industry continues to evolve as audiences change.
2: Watch the Presentation
Teacher Note
Ask students to listen for examples of:
- storytelling
- audience engagement
- digital media
- content creation
- networking
- career development
- innovation
- social media
- changing technology
3. Post-Viewing Discussion Questions
- Both speakers described career paths that were not originally planned.
What role did curiosity, networking, and unexpected opportunities play in their success? - Doneen Arquines discussed how networking with Murrow alumni led to her first television job.
Why do professional relationships often matter as much as technical skills? - Jaymee Sire began creating food content simply because she enjoyed it – not because she expected it to become a career.
What can this teach us about developing personal interests alongside professional goals? - The panelists explained how audience preferences have shifted from traditional cooking shows toward competition programs, podcasts, streaming, and short-form social media.
Why do you think audiences’ viewing habits have changed? - Doneen explained that Top Chef now places greater emphasis on culinary excellence and authentic storytelling than interpersonal drama.
Why might audiences value authenticity over manufactured conflict? - Social media producers now work alongside television crews to create additional content during filming.
How has social media changed the responsibilities of communication professionals? - The panelists described how podcasts, YouTube, streaming services, and social media now complement traditional television.
How does producing content for multiple platforms help organizations reach different audiences? - Several audience questions focused on creating original content in an increasingly crowded digital environment.
What qualities help creators stand out while remaining authentic? - The panelists encouraged students to continue developing diverse communication skills – even if they eventually specialize.
Why might versatility become even more valuable as media technology continues to evolve? - Both speakers emphasized storytelling rather than simply delivering information.
How does effective storytelling help audiences connect with people, brands, and experiences?
Optional Activity 1: Platform Strategy Challenge
Time: 20 minutes
Divide students into small groups.
Assign each group a fictional restaurant, food festival, cookbook, or cooking competition.
Each team must create a communication strategy for four different platforms:
- Television
- Instagram or TikTok
- Podcast
- YouTube
For each platform, students should determine:
- Target audience
- Type of content
- Tone
- Length
- Why that platform is effective
Groups present their strategies and compare how storytelling changes across platforms.
Optional Activity 2: Behind the Camera
Students often see the host but not the production team.
Working in pairs, students create a production plan for a five-minute food segment.
They should identify the responsibilities of:
- Host
- Producer
- Social media producer
- Camera operator
- Editor
- Photographer
- Graphic designer
Finally, discuss why successful media production depends on collaboration rather than any single individual.
Reflection Assignment
Prompt
Doneen Arquines and Jaymee Sire both demonstrated that successful media careers often develop through curiosity, persistence, and continuous learning.
Write one page discussing:
- Which career journey you found most inspiring.
- How media careers are changing because of technology and digital platforms.
- Which communication skills you believe will become most valuable during the next decade.
Support your reflection with examples from the panel discussion.
Key Takeaways
Students should leave understanding that:
- Successful media professionals continuously adapt to new technologies and audience behaviors.
- Strong storytelling remains valuable regardless of platform.
- Networking and professional relationships frequently open unexpected career opportunities.
- Modern communication careers often require skills across television, podcasts, streaming, social media, and digital production.
- Authenticity and credibility help creators build long-term audiences.
- Behind every successful media production is a collaborative team of specialists working together.
- Lifelong curiosity and adaptability are essential in an evolving media landscape.
Teacher Notes
Media Literacy Connections
This panel offers students a behind-the-scenes look at how modern media is created and distributed, helping them become more informed media consumers as well as future communicators.
Several important media literacy themes emerge:
- Media Is Built for Audiences: Television shows, podcasts, streaming platforms, and social media all adapt their content based on changing audience interests, viewing habits, and feedback. Understanding these decisions helps students recognize that media is intentionally designed—not created by accident.
- Storytelling Extends Across Platforms: A single brand or program may produce television episodes, podcasts, YouTube videos, Instagram posts, TikTok clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Each platform serves different audiences while reinforcing a consistent message.
- Algorithms Influence Visibility: Although not discussed extensively, the panel highlights how creators increasingly develop content for digital platforms where algorithms and audience engagement determine what people see. This creates both opportunities and challenges for communicators seeking to reach broad audiences.
- Authenticity Builds Loyalty: The panelists emphasize that long-term success comes from genuine storytelling, professional credibility, and meaningful audience relationships rather than chasing trends alone.
- Communication Careers Continue to Evolve: New roles—including podcast producers, digital content creators, social media producers, and multimedia storytellers—illustrate how communication professionals increasingly combine creativity, journalism, marketing, and technology.
By examining how food media has evolved alongside digital platforms, students gain a broader understanding of today’s media ecosystem and the importance of thinking critically about both the content they consume and the processes used to create it.