Oregon daily emerald., January 30, 1963, Page Eight, Image 8

'News Dimensions"
Every Thursday evening shortly before 9 p m. assistant professor
of speech John R. Shepherd walks into the fourth floor studios of
KOAC-TV in Villard Hall, puts on a pair of earphones, and becomes
director of a unique interview program known as “News Dimen
sions.”
Director Shepherd administers the minute by-minute activities of
a 9-man crew of students who operate television cameras, the control
board and interview guests who have been invited to appear on the
show.
THURSDAY NIGHT'S “Dimensions” show dealt with the question
of abolition of capital punishment in Oregon. For the program
student interviewers Dale Leach. Cliff Johnson and Don Porter had
prepared questions dealing with the specialty of the guest whom
they were to interview.
Leach was to interview State Sen. Ed Fadeley, D-Lane, who had
recently introduced a bill to abolish the death penalty in the legis
lature. Johnson’s interview was with Joel V. Berreman, professor
of sociology, and Porter was to interview University junior George
Neavoll, who has conducted a one-man campaign to save convicted
child-slayer Jeannace Freeman from the death penalty.
THE HALF-HOUR program starts at 9 p.m. By 8, the interviewers
were waiting for the interviewees. When they arrived, interviewer
and interviewee huddled to determine, in a general manner, what
questions would be asked and what the answers would be.
The unique format of "Dimensions” allows for three eight-minute
interviews and for introductory and closing statements by program
moderator Karl V. Nestvold, assistant professor of journalism.
Inside the brightly lighted studio, the three desks at which
moderator Nestvold and two interviewers sit are set up. each with
a sign with the name of the interviewee. The third set of panelists
dodges cameras and wires to take their places after the end of the
first interview.
NESTVOLD, WHO introduces the topic at the beginning of the
program, also introduces each guest and his interviewer He senes
as the “cover” for movements of one of the two television cameras,
which must get into position in front of the desk
For director Shepherd—sitting, with his student “audio man" and
“switcher” in a small room crammed with electronic gear and
"monitor” TV sets and lighted only by the glow from the small
receivers in the panels—the program is a series of commands in
the language of television. As Shepherd watches the preceeding pro
gram. broadcast from KOAC's Corvallis studio, the clock draws
within a minute of 9 p.m. and he speaks into his microphone:
“STAND BY in the studio.”
The words are carried to everyone in the studio through headsets
each of them wears. The program participants are warned by the
"floor man” who raises a finger to the moderator.
With Shepherd’s next orders—
Stand by announcer—ready audio—ready to fade up on three”
—the program is about to begin. When the second hand on the wall
clock comes up to the hour Shepherd tells his audio man and
switcher to “roll the tape—fade up on three” bringing onto the
screen a slide with the program title and the announcer’s voice
introducing the show.
IN THE STUDIO, the floor man points to Nestvold on the order
Cameraman Bill Thompson frames interviewer Don Porter, left, and guest George
N'eavoli, right. during the live KOAC-TV production "News Dimensions."
Interviews: Dale Leach, right, and State Sen. Ed Fadeley, D Lane, discuss the Sena
tor's bill to abolish capital punishment.
Writing, Production and Photography: Dave Sands
"cue him" from the 'director The switcher has already been told
to "give him his mike" and at the cue. Neatvold, moderator of tin
program since its beginning in October 1962. introduces the topic
Alter the introduction of the topic which has included discus
sions of DeGaulle, the Cuban crisis, and the Meredith "Ole Mi s”
case—Shepherd tells student cameramen BUI Thompson "ready to
take two" and with Ncstvold's introduction of the first interviewer
ami his guest, the order "take two” to the switchman brings up
• News Dimension Desk One."
Interviewer Cl ff Johnson and professor Berreman had decided
before the program that they would deal with the sociologist's
view of the death D-nalty Berreman pointed out that empirical
findings show “really no relationship" between the homicide rate
and use of the death penalty.
INTERVIEWER PORTER' and guest Neavoli had decided to dis
cuss Neavoll’s reasons for feeling the death penalty should ire re
pealed, and his particular interest in the Jeannace Freeman care.
Sen Fadeley and interviewer Leach dealt with the Senator’s bill
to abolish the death penalty in Oregon.
Prior to the program, interviewer CHIT
Johnson and sociology professor Joel P.erre
man discuss questions and answers.