University of Detroit - Tower Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

Page 27 text:

Mr. W. J. Murphy, chairman of the Radio-TV area of Communications Arts. Thanks to the remarkable work done by Mr. Mur¬ phy, chairman, and his capable staff, the television studios have presented to viewers a valuable type of televiewing. With the emphasis on cultural and educational programs the work has provided a perfect training spot for U. of D.’s communication arts program students. Ron Renaud, chief engineer, television studio. Helen M. Flanagan is the studio’s receptionist.

Page 26 text:

el 56--WTVS-TV Freshman Liberal Arts WTVS-TV, Channel 56, represents the University’s membership in the Detroit Educational Television Foundation. Working along with eighteen other civic, cultural and educational member groups in the metropolitan area, U. of D. has made great steps in the past year to put the electronic medium to the use it can fill in a modern- day community. The transmitter for the television station is located at WDTR, the Detroit Public Schools’ radio station. The Univer¬ sity’s broadcasting studios are in the Elmer J. and Annie U. Smith Radio-TV Center on Puritan Avenue only a short block from cam¬ pus. Studio equipment includes two complete studios with control rooms, a master control room, several cameras, motion picture and slide facilities, a construction shop, photographic dark room and studio and a large music library. Mr. William J. Murphy is chair¬ man of the Radio-TV area of the Communication Arts department. Program Offered by WTVS Perhaps the major development that took place at the WTVS-TV Center this year was the introduction in September of a complete academic schedule via TV. This is an outstanding milestone in television for it is the very first complete freshman liberal arts course offered via TV. WTVS is an UHF station and freshmen were given reduction rates in tuition so as to be able to purchase a special set with an adapter so that they could receive the academic telecasts in their own homes. This not only helped ease the crowded classroom conditions on campus but it also saved students the troublesome daily transit problem. At least one weekly, on-campus attendance was required of the students; they were furnished social and co-currfcular information via a short news broadcast from the station. The program was also extended throughout the second semester this year because of its success.

Page 28 text:

I Elaborate Preparation Precedes Every Program of Telecasting Overhead spots need focusing and readjustment before programs. Patching and cleaning occupy time for two members of the staff. In the television studio there is a construction shop that can usually be found occupied by a group of people working on one of the many phases of television preparation. Because of the continuous nature of the medium once a telecast has begun, everything must be immediately at hand before time. Props, lights, scripts, cameras, personnel: a broad category of necessities. This training in the always important phase of pre-telecast prepara¬ tion is one thing that for sure is not missed by the staff of WTVS, for each small endeavor aimed towards a perfect telecast is important, from director to lens cleaner. A prop crew works to prepare a background setting. 24