Journalists discuss role of network news in society Brokaw, field leaders draw crowd of 200 By MADELINE BARO Hurricane Staff Writer more time is spent debating whether or NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Bro­ "I'm impressed that the not a story of questionable merit should kaw and a panel of broadcast journalists University brought such a be reported than in America. He said he discussed the role of network news in well-placed, well-connected group was shocked by some news broadcasts he society at "A Public Forum on Network saw in Miami. News" Saturday at the Ring Theatre. of journalists." Cramer received a round of applause The panel included Ed Turner, execu­ EDDIE DOMINGUEZ when he said he was worried about news tive vice-president of CNN; Barbara UM alumna that catered to the lowest common domi- Cochran, CBS News Washington Bureau nator. chief; Kathryn Christensen, senior pro­ Dominguez, a journalism student who ducer of ABC World News Tonight; Chris "I thought it was quite informative," graduated from UM in December. said broadcast student Melissa Viscount, Cramer, head of news gathering for BBC The hour-long discussion touched on news; and Brokaw. who said she enjoyed the discussion about topics like diversity in the newsroom, sensationalism in Miami news program­ Houston Chronicle television editor sensational news reporting, network ming. "It was amusing." Ann Hodges, Miami Herald television news personalities, the moral role of "It was a great opportunity to meet critic Hal Boedeker and Paul Steinle, news in society and media coverage. The head of the School of Communication's professionals or experts in the area of panel also answered questions submitted journalism," said Daniel French, a broad­ journalism program, questioned the by the audience before the discussion. panel. cast journalism student. Brokaw said network news allows peo­ Washington Week in Review Ken Bode "It's incredible to interact with the ple all over the country to receive the people that I've looked up to," said Tif­ was the moderator for the discussion, same information. He said diversity in which about 200 people attended. fany Sniegocki, a junior majoring in newsrooms is also important so different broadcast journalism. "I'm impressed that the University views can be expressed. brought such a well-placed, well-con­ C-SPAN will televise the forum, which SEAN HEMMERLE/Staff Photographer Cramer offered the British perspec­ was produced by the School of Communi­ nected group of journalists," said Eddie tive of television news. He said in Britain • PANEL DISCUSSION: NBC News Anchor Tom Brokaw was a member of a panel of cation's Television News Workshop journalists discussing network news Saturday afternoon at the Ring Theatre Station cuts specialty shows in half UM's oldest sorority By MADELINE BARO HurricaneStaff Writer This semester, WVUM (90.5 FM) cut several of its specialty to become inactive shows from three hours to an By JASON ZDANOWICZ hour and a half in order to play On April 30, all active sisters Managing Editor who have requested alumni status more alternative music, upsetting Alpha Epsilon Phi, the oldest some DJs in the process. will be made alumni and sisters sorority at the University of who plan on transferring to schools Program Director Jason Gor­ Miami, will temporarily close at with active AEPhi chapters will don said the shows were reduced UM, at the end of this semester. retain active status for the time in order to make room for more Ann Kowel, AEPhi president, being. alternative programming, which said she thinks the sorority will re­ The current pledge class will is WVUM's format. open at UM in three to six years. have the option of pledging another Gordon said the executive The closing is the result of many sorority in the fall. board of the radio station made a factors, Kowel said, including com­ "All members in good status decision on each show. petition caused by two new sorori­ with the chapter can be put on Nikki Tominac, WVUM gen­ ties, Zeta Tau Alpha and Gamma alumni status," Kowel said. Phi Beta, that have begun at UM eral manager, said that schedul­ Kowel said the University would ing problems also played a part in within the past three years and probably let the sorority return the derision to change the time ongoing problems within the soror­ after three years, but the national allotted for some shows. She said ity, which was reorganized by its organization has indicated to her in the spring, sports program­ national chapter last year. that they will probably wait four or The proposal to temporarily shut five years, anticipating a decrease ming takes up many of the sta­ down the chapter was approved by tion's prime time slots. in competition between the new the Panhellenic Council and the sororities and also to ensure that Some shows had to be resched­ sorority's national chapter. all current sisters have left the uled and about half of the shows "At a Panhellenic meeting University. thai had a three hour time slot before spring break it was brought were given a 90 minute time slot up for a motion to allow AEPhi to Kowel said no decisions have this semester. She also said that close and open again in three to six been made regarding AEPhi's suite new 90 minute shows, like a years," Kowel said. in the Panhellenic building. She techno show and a road music Kowel said ten sisters have said the suite may be reserved for asked for alumni status because of the sorority's return, or assigned show, were created this semes­ to another group for the interim. ter. a lack of national support. "We created as many new shows as we reduced the time on other shows," Tominac said. Tominac said the 12-member Assistant provost search WVUM executive board made a decision on each show as to whether to reschedule the show CHRIS BERNACCHI/Photo Editor or change the time allotted for begins and ends at UM • SPECIALTY SHOWS: Alex Tenta, left, and Jeff Spears host the metal specialt/show from 10 p.m. the show, Listenership was part of the decision, she said. to 1 a.m. Wednesday nights on WVUM (FM 90.5). Their show was not cut in half. By KIMBERLY WEISSMAN of athletes, so we knew that we had Tominac said listenership was 1 Hurricane Staff Writer a winner already without looking tions and criticisms from listen­ Robbins said he k in the pro- -'o* * WVUM and that it appeals further," Glaser said. gauged based on a survey con­ cess of getting a petition signed to P^P1*! who do not llke alterna- Anna Price, who is currently ers, she said. UM's assistant athletic director for Price said her experience as ducted by the Business School so that his show can be restored t,ve music. last spring and the number of Rob Robbins, who hosts "Specialty shows are there for Academic Support and Student assistant athletic director will help "Music With Meaning," a con­ to three hours. Services, has been named assistant her performance the new responsi­ phone calls a show received. Avivit Ashkenazi, who hosts a the diversity of the music," she The goal, Tominac said, was to temporary Christian music show said. provost of the University of Miami bilities of assistant provost. on Sunday mornings, said he did show that features contemporary by Executive Vice President and "My familiarity and knowledge get as much format programming Jewish and Israeli music, said that Gordon added that the large as possible this semester. She not like the fact that his show was part of the station's audience is Provost Luis Glaser. Price will hold of the various entities associated cut down to 90 minutes and that she was offended when her show both positions. with academic support will said the decisions for this semes­ was reduced to 90 minutes. not on the UM campus and said ter are on a "tentative trial basis" he did not like the way it was han­ students are not in an uproar over Glaser said the University was enhance what I do in the Provost dled. He said the people who "I felt it was a slap in my face," looking for someone who could suc­ office," Price said. "In addition to and the station's new manage­ Ashkenazi said. the decisions. ment in the summer or the fall made the decision were not the "It is not that big of a deal," he cessfully coordinate and administer working exclusively with student could change the schedule again. ones who informed him of the She said her show, which has the support services, primarily aca­ athletes, I will now provide ser­ been on for 12 vears, is a tradi- said. "It's being made out to be a The station is open to sugges- reduction of his show. horrible huge thing and it's not." demic, that UM provides for vices for all students." undergraduate students. Price said her specific emphasis However, Glaser said, he did not will be targeted towards disabled, think a national search for an assis­ honors and international students. tant provost was necessary During her 22 years of experi­ because he felt the person best ence in the area of academic sup­ Pro-life inserts destroyed in UC suited to fill the position was port, Price taught welfare mothers already here at UM. and high school dropouts at 'Pissed off Wimmin' claims responsibility "Anna Price has been extremely successful in academic counseling Seepage _-7 PRICE By DARIN KLAHR and JENNIFER RAMACH the fax used Respect Life's name and num­ Of the Staff ber.