WYES Informed Sources Archive 5 Boxes Special Collections
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WYES Informed Sources Archive 5 boxes Special Collections & Archives J. Edgar & Louise S. Monroe Library Loyola University New Orleans Collection 29 WYES Informed Sources Archive Reference Code Collection 29 Name and Location of Repository Special Collections and Archives, J. Edgar & Louise S. Monroe Library, Loyola University New Orleans Title WYES Informed Sources Archive Date 1984 - Present Extent 5 boxes Subject Headings WYES-TV (Television station : New Orleans, La.) Administrative/Biographical History In 1984, WYES, New Orleans' public television station, began broadcasting Informed Sources, a program devoted to in-depth discussion of the news by local journalists. During that first show, a panel of journalists speculated about the reasons for the financial dilemmas of the Louisiana World Exposition, locally known as the World's Fair. Now more than two decades later, every Friday night at 7:00 p.m., Louisiana's newsmen and women continue to speculate, discuss and examine the news of the week. The idea for Informed Sources originated in 1971 on WYES with City Desk, a news and talk show, which featured the staff of the New Orleans States-Item and ran for seven seasons. The station had been without a news program for several years when Marcia Kavanaugh Radlauer, an experienced television reporter and independent producer, was asked to create a new show. Like City Desk, the format was a panel discussion of current news, but instead of featuring journalists from only one source, a variety of participants from television, radio, newspapers and eventually, online newsletters contributed their talents and expertise. Informed Sources originally included a "Newsmakers" interview to help fill the half-hour, but before long that segment was omitted. The panelists could (and did) talk for 30 minutes about newsworthy topics, limited only by the clock and Marcia Radlauer who doubled as producer and moderator. "The problem," she said in a 10th anniversary interview, "was getting them to shut up on time." Errol Laborde became the program's producer in 1985, and at about the same time Warren Bell began a two-year stint as moderator. A tape in 1987 shows auditions for a new moderator. Dr. Alfred P. "Larry" Lorenz, professor of Journalism at Loyola University, was chosen and since then has been a constant in the moderator's chair alongside Laborde. The list of panelists over the years tells the history of New Orleans and Louisiana media. In fact, watching Informed Sources is studying the modern history of New Orleans. The issues and personalities are explored before and after every election, and certain topics -- crime, education, business, sports, the Legislature -- are ongoing. During each year-end program, "the Saints will go to the playoffs," is predicted. For the first 15 years, only a few of all of the Informed Sources tapes were saved. The celebration of the show's 15th anniversary on March 12, 1999, must have impressed someone at WYES with its significance. From that date through the end of 2004, the run of shows is complete. Fortunately, the tapes were stored in the Loyola Library archives on August 29, 2005 when the high waters after Hurricane Katrina flooded the WYES facilities and its contents, including the 2005 Informed Sources. The show began broadcasting again in January 2006, taping shows in facilities at WLAE and Dillard University until repairs to WYES were completed a year later. Scope and Content The Informed Sources collection consists of DVDs, originally recorded in both VHS and Betacam formats. The tapes are fragile and becoming more unstable with each viewing. In order to preserve the shows for future researchers, the tapes have been transferred to DVDs. However, as recording technology progresses, DVDs themselves are expected to become obsolete. As each DVD was prepared, the data was saved onto a 1-terabyte hard drive which was, itself, backed up on another 1-terabyte hard drive, from which more DVDs (or other devices of the future) can be recorded and viewed. The size of the collection expands as the show continues to broadcast and the programs are transferred from WYES to the Loyola University Monroe Library Special Collections & Archives for cataloging and safekeeping. Just as there are no plans to discontinue Informed Sources, the cataloging process will be ongoing. System of Arrangement The collection is arranged chronologically by the episode air date. Conditions Governing Access The collection is open for research use. Digitized copies of the VHS tapes are available in the Louisiana Digital Library: http://cdm16313.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p16313coll96. The metadata for each digital file is publicly available but the digital videos themselves may only be viewed from Special Collections & Archives. Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use Physical rights are retained by the J. Edgar and Louis S. Monroe Library, Loyola University New Orleans. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. Copyright Laws. Language and Scripts of the Material Collection is in English. Notes The collection continues to expand as the show continues to air. Missing episodes and gaps in the collection are expected to be filled over time. Processing Information Finding aid written by Ann Sale, 2008. Revised by Katherine Kuhl Rivet, 2013. INFORMED SOURCES BOX 1 DATE PARTICIPANTS TOPICS DISCUSSED COMMENTS #1 Marcia Kavanaugh, American Eagle explosion Routine Palma Mintz March 3, 1984 moderator tank cleaning. Three died, two died Aaron Mintz Richard Angelico, during evacuation, and three Cmdr David Cole WDSU-TV evacuated. Towed to Galveston Emmett Elizabeth Curren where it broke up and sank in Bartholomew Taylor Henry, WWL- storm. Coast Guard investigation Renee Evans TV underway. Difficult story to cover. Ed Pistey Regina Hills, UPI Communications problems. Johnnie Taylor, Jr. Weather big factor. Pelican Homestead arrests Posed as headhunters, convinced employee they had a job for her. Forced her to open vault, etc. FBI found her in trunk of car. Bank robbery, probably kidnapping. Execution Electric chair seemed humane. After only one year at Angola, appeals exhausted. Mintz case Not a suicide. Husband charged. Inculpatory statements. Trace metal test negative. Avondale investigation Embezzlement/extortion/kickbacks #1 Marcia Kavanaugh Council President Joe Giarruso Petr Spurney June 14, 1984 Radlauer, moderator interview re investigation into Joe Giarruso (Taped) Elizabeth Curren World's Fair finances. June 15, 1984 Ron Ridenhour, Panel discussion: Why aren't (Aired) Gambit people attending? Pierre DeGruy, Waterford III -- NRC questions for WDSU-TV LP&L before moving toward full- John Powers, City power liscensing. Investigations Business into missing and forged records. #2 Warren Bell, moderator Special session: Bills proposed to Edwin Edwards December 19, 1986 Errol Laborde, allow governor to balance the Harry Lee producer budget though cuts. Gradual shift Warren Woodfork Clancy DuBos, of power from governor to Jim Singleton WDSU-TV legislative leaders. Sidney Barthelemy Lea Stevenson, Crime in NO: Shortage of police. WVUE-TV Increased judicial activity. Improve Pierre DeGruy, economy WDSU-TV Christmas #2 Warren Bell, moderator Year-end wrap up William Jefferson December 26, 1986 Errol Laborde, Economy: Not much to be happy Sidney Barthelemy producer about. Good things- Riverwalk, Edwin Edwards Gary Esolen, Gambit Macy's, passage of millage for Henson Moore Joe Duke, WWL-TV aquarium. Oil prices going up. Bob Livingston John Maginnis, Gris- N.O. Economy has bottomed out. J. Bennett Johnston Gris Weekly Problem made worse by political John Breaux system. Electorate doesn't believe Rudy Lombard the elected.. Politics: First mayoral runoff between two black candidates Jefferson vs. Barthelemy. Edwards no longer a strong governor. LA populism ends? Quality of life: suffering Behavior of media: Great attempts to cover Edwards trial; gambling; aquariums, poverty #3 Auditions guest hosts: July 16, 1987 Mike Kremetis Larry Lorenz Bill Roussel Lisa Trapani Lisa Barr Oliver Houck #3 Larry Lorenz, NOPSI Buyout: Council Buddy Roemer December 20, 1987 moderator negotiations. Mike Yenni Year-end wrap up Errol Laborde, Politics: Roemer surprise. Reaction Harry Lee producer to Edwards. Think Edwards is Gary Esolen, Crescent finally gone. Only reelected Magazine because of Treen's problems. Joe Duke, WWL-TV Voting for change, but Roemer John Maginnis, Gris- administration doesn't know how to Gris make the changes. Quality of life: Rough year; people leaving. New realism is positive. Finally beginning to promote tourism. Need economic stimuli and citizen participation. Housing: Badly needed. Economy: Starting back up. New oil development, fewer layoffs, retail is up. National image gets bigger. Saints in playoffs. Media: Papal coverage big moment; Edwards withdrawal from campaign; did not prepare us for Roemer. 1988 Predictions: Turning point year. #4 Oliver Houck, Tax Reform April 15, 1988 moderator Proposed plan: 1. Budget reform - Lawrence Chehardy, balance requirement, 2. Let Jefferson Parish business compete by decreasing Assessor emphasis on sales tax; increasing Mark Drennan, Public personal tax; 3. Economic Affairs Research development by repealing certain Council taxes. Give local governments Errol Laborde, ability to impose taxes to take care producer of local problems. James Gill, Times- Problem with tax shifting from Picayune small business to higher middle income individuals. About 50% of citizens will pay more.