.. A . (INTRODUCTION in spite of, or perhaps more accurately, because of the economic basis of mass media in America today, people are becoming compartmeotalized in their information inputs, selecting oot_those sources which reinforce their beliefs. Vice President Agnew has effectively articulated the suspicions of many about network television and mass print publications; to many young media represent the quintessence of a value system they strongly reject. The possibility of objectivity, for years an unquestioned ideal of journalism, is seriously questioned by both sides. There are decreasing sources of information in which diverse peoples have faith. Public broadcasting should emerge as one of those'sources. in the absence of any agreed upon objective truth, there are/growing [v rumors and fears. There is an increase in non verbal (hon re ional) forms understandings. The increased display of the flag is almost a substitute for of communication which, though personal statements do not contribute to shared thoughtful discussion about the ideals of America and how we as a people can make a more perfect union. In the same way students marching down the main street, groomed and dressed in a manner which is blatantly offensive to many, chanting, ?One, two, three, tour, we don't want your fucking war?, are issuing an open invitation to meaningful dialogue. Both sides are saying in effe?t, ?If you don?t agree with me, you are a (commie slob) (fascist pig); it is easy to hate you berause your (degenerate, hedonistic) (immoral, materialistic, hypocritical) life style. You can see where I stand; I don't want to even talk to you." Discourse would modify, or in the eyes of some, weaken or compromise a position which has all the righteousness of a fundamentalist religion. In the insect world, some have protective coloring to escape detection, but others are colored with morning coloration which the predator associates with a bad taste; the predator II would not like this insect; .in like manne_r excessive displays of the flag and repu?nent pereonal appearance are warnings. (On- another level, this color?ul .display is a form of ecumenication because an individual feels his views don?t have access tn the mass me?iar;;? Between these poles are nany neraens searching for new life styles which are mere humen, personal, netutal These new groupings may eel; prove a valued antidote to the technolegicai strain noon the human spirit. There is a danger that an theSe new value greens atop out of society, their new knowledge will go unshare?- The reader of Businees week an& American Legionnaire will not tead Seed Or The Village Voice, or hear the voices of groups who have no access t9 ?nrint nedia. There is a ten?eney for some young people to reject conventional Jenniety to the degree that the Amish have; but the survival of a people depends anon a certain degree of sharing of accumulated divergencies. All groups need :A,eore ditect access to media for this fruitful diffusion of ideas. we are describing here the_ need for a- programming concept, not a thirteen series. Translated into an on the air product, the Concept would nave the fellowing elements as the nettixzi 'lt Direct access to the medium by distinct different value oriented groups ef? a context which al1ews for an exchange of ideas and points of View. An opportunity for people to learn more about their institutions and make - ?the institutiona- more reaponsive to the people. Sharing of knowledge of'the university in a context which will be vneaningful to the people '2 A programming format which will be engaging, flexible, and unique lenough to hold the inte_rest and maintain the credibility of a significant 'jnambet of diverae peoples. warm i: . Ill 1 During the campus disorders, WBFO learned about radio, listeners sad credibility. In spite of e3teme1y high emotions, as long as listeners heard . ?51; some guests oh the air expressing views close to their own at some time, QBFO had high credibility, sad they scold also listen to opposing views (u sually preseate? in Same program). This was in marked contrast to the traditional journalistic filtering of ideas which many feel results in distortion. As responsible broad? '.easters, we di?n? just access to the airwaves for broad range of VieWpoints, but also clarifies issues by selecting articulate spokesmen, providing a -quiet seitting, and through. gee? discussion leader techniques of defining problems, qee_stioniag, restatement, sue summation. Fundamental to our approach was an attitude Carl Rogers describes as "unconditional positive regard" toward the guests. .We assumed they had a respectable point of view; our attitude was more -like that 0353 counselor trying to have an individual share his perception of reality ;thea.en interrogating journalist. IRE-also discovere? that radio is best when it is true to the nature of the ?ediem, when it has immediacy, variety, spontaneity, respects people and ideas. Atter the disorders, for. four hours each day, instead of the regular programs, ?we simply said THIS IS and had intervieWS (recorded and live) press Iconferences, talks, news reports and a mixture of musical styles. With this experience behind us, we prepose to expand and improve this concept with a . g?a?t of from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.. PROPOSAL .. 2- We propose to develop an crganic programing cancept growing out of the seed for cross-cultural and capitalizing on the unique characteristics of public radio. This program, called THIS IS will initially occupy four hours, from 4 p.m. Headay through Friday with excerpts reprocessed for 3 a half heur ?ewscast at 6:00 aad longer portions rebroadcast at an evening hour. -- .-. . term}.- v? The content would consi?t of reports of events.as they happen; intervieWS'with peogle in the news; a bringing together of persous end their institutions and of differing political life style patterns with discuseion of points of tension, and music. THIS IS RADIO staff will meet twice a day for planning and evaluation. The '?irst meeting will form.the dey' 3 Sohedule of committed segments and times, always allowing for the flexibility to change as events change. The afternoon bloc is chosen becauee that is the time period when most news develops-end alloes for the collection of other segments in the morning. The second meeting will plan the events of the following With priorities established and techniqcee of ,coverage (live in studio, recorded on location, related follow-up materiel etc.) eed: evelnetion of the da?e program elements. There will be an awareness of the total of this_tihe bloc and of the interrelationship of the elements. 83 Frank- .Lloyd Wright said of the organic house, every part should be a "thing of beauty in iteelf as related to the ehole;" Emphasis would be pleCed upon immediacy, _comprehensiveness, relevence, effective, as well as cognitive esnects of daily events. In addition to the usual techniques of reporters aesigned to cover public events, we propose to establish at least one permanent end one portable listening post, as well as our satellite facility in the Black community as a vehicle for for greater citizen access to the medium. One. of these Listening Posts will be located in the Broadway Market, an tenolosed Series of independently operated fruit, meat and bakery stands in the heert of the Polish- -American community. We propose to have an area consisting of a colorful painted sound shell with a round table, chairs, and some park benches. There would be a box with instructions on how to request an opportunity to meet there with some city, government, or university person. In addition to this input, ~3?meene living in thet community will be employed part time to learn of community . -u line up appropriate goests, and conduct the discussion.- Local musical groups could also perform in this area. When there was a controversial speech or discussion on-the air, there could be a group listening in this location, and whee it was concluded, go there for a reaction. The informal.naturel setting will also be conducive to conversation when net on the air. The programming from this location would not be purely ethnic; and for a limited audience, but would be on ekchange of differing-points of View at pivitol areas of difference, The people from this community, for example, talking with en urban renewal commissioner, a director of a controversial university program, a representetive of an alien youth culture. ?The interest for a broader audience would be this interchange. In the effective area, someone trained in counselling might join the group to help both parties (and the listeners) develop greater sensitivity to interpersonal relationships. The portable listening post would be used to go to other locations in the city where there were specific issues of a general interst. WBFO would work with the eitizens Advisory Committee to help identifyrwome of the locations for this portable unit. Mo?ic would be so important part of_the total programming period. One might think of it as mortar holding the blocs (blocks) in piece; mortar must be A cerefhl miXtore of cement, send and water. This music must be a careful blend of different mcsical typee.(cleseicel, folk, rock, jazz) to hold the interest of a diverse sodieoce. Attention would be paid to the tatal tempo of the different segments and commentary around the music would lead people to listen to-e different musical formrgii;%4 ndniversities are on a front of turbulent air masses; they can not avoid this I position, and must be actively engeged in sharing its resources with that ecomunity and listening closely to what_that outside community is saying. Other institgtions must also show greater responsiveness to the people and that includes the institution of public radio.