WGBH Journal; Bakke Case; Asbestos

Good afternoon and welcome to GBH Journal. I don't have much. On today's show we'll have a look at cable television in Somerville. And report on and Action for Children's Television conference held in Washington D.C. a feature concerning a play being performed by inmates at Framingham State Prison and commentary on the news from the airlines. Cable television is a closed circuit TV system which was developed in the 1950s. It consists of a main antenna set up to capture a broadcast signal sent through the air which are then sent through cables into people's homes. A byproduct of cable

technology has been the opening up of many broadcast channels. A number of these channels can be set aside for community use. So the television for a specific community can be designed. Somerville is one community which has a cable television system in operation which Erica funky profiled in this report. Somerville has been famous among people who follow cable television for a long time. Both people in the industry and people who follow the industry it has the reputation for having one of the strongest franchise agreements anywhere. Somerville Massachusetts is indeed a cable community to watch as North Callahan coordinator of local programming for Warner Cable and some other has noted some of those franchise agreement is the key. The franchise is a privilege of a public nature conferred upon an individual or group by a governmental Grant. In this case it refers to the privilege to build and operate a cable system in a community. A cable

franchise agreement was signed by the city of Somerville and the Warner Cable corporation. One of the country's largest cable operators in 1973. That franchise is considered. Particularly because of provisions written into the agreement which relate to the development of local community based programming by and for the people of Somerville. When I spoke with Callahan I asked him why people in Somerville choose to subscribe to the cable. What it is that Somerville Cable offers its viewers. This particular one here offers 24 channels and some of those channels are very specialized and other ones are not specialized at all. About 15 of them are regular broadcast on air stations that are picked up off the airwaves and piped through our cable system through wires that literally lead right into each house who hooks up to the cable television. There are two channels from New York City their microwaved in Channel 9 and channel 11. They carry a lot of movies and sports and in fact that's one of the major attractions for the cable. Now other than that we also carry local channels and we we

have channel 3 and 13 here in Somerville. Those are both local stations that carry material and programs there that are actually covering the city itself. We have our own channel 13 which is a local commercial channel. We have a news program goes on Monday Wednesday and Friday. OK that's that's exciting in itself we've been trying to develop that for the last two or three months we feel that's the most important program we do. We also have a lot of ethnic programming. We have a Portuguese news and variety show we have an Italian news program and that's one of the nice things about cable television and it has the potential to direct its programming toward specialized audiences such as ethnic groups or people having special interests as Callahan pointed out. A majority of subscribers are drawn to cable by the promise of more commercial TV fare. Yet one of the most important features of cable television is the potential for local programming programming which caters to the particular needs of the community. This esteemed serves mystic live is an example of how cable is just beginning to realize this

potential in Summerville. It's a live program produced by young people from the mystic housing project which is a low income area of about 600 hundred residents. The young people run cameras direct write scripts contact the guests in short produce the program Barry McQuiggan supervises the production and talk with me about the significance of that programming effort. One thing that I thought was extremely successful is we made a documentary report on a rate hike in the mystic health clinic and the Health Association had a meeting the night of the program of Arkansas it's 6:30 that I think the meeting was at 7:30. Forty five persons showed up at that meeting. There was also a lot of outreach going on at the time so I can't I can't say the program but everybody there I think the fact of the program was on and raise the issues how to bring people out. I think that's one important aspect of the program. It's not that the program will end itself of any kind of change but it will give people information so that they can do what they feel is necessary. You know no matter what they say positive or negative

they're watching and it's generating dialogue. We've had a glimpse of the potential of cable television. But now we begin to see some of the problems in realizing that promise. There's a current controversy surrounding a proposed rate increase by Warner and questions have arisen as to whether the issue should be dealt with at the state or local level. Warner has applied to the state cable commission for an across the board rate increase in what it refers to as its consolidated system including the cable communities of Everett Medford Malden Melrose Winthrop Chelsea and some of the some of the cable advisory board and executive committee and the mare is a group which feels that the question of a rate increase should be dealt with on a local level. The board has outlined a number of points where it feels that Warner is not living up to its franchise agreement such as completion of wiring all public and private schools in the city and believes that a rate increase in Summerville is unwarranted until Warner fulfills its original contract obligations. The board therefore has recommended that Somerville introduced the Home Rule petition into the legislature to

allow these cable issues to be dealt with at the local level. Howard Horton a member of the Advisory Board explains. We don't feel like the state should have control over something which is such a local issue cable is a very very you know local kind of thing. It's it's can it concerns people in a given community and we think that the power to decide on rates and to enforce the contract between the cable company and the city should lie in the community itself not at a state level. There's no need for that Horton explained some economic reasons the advisory board feels that an across the board rate increase in all of Warner's cable communities is not justified in following his argument may help to keep in mind that much of the cost involved in initiating a cable system is a result of physically setting up the system laying cable and so forth. One of the reasons that we feel strongly about this in Somerville is that Somerville is one of the most densely populated cities in Massachusetts in fact in the United States.

Somerville also has the largest number of cable subscribers among all of the seven systems that they're talking about we have 10000 subscribers now because it's densely populated there. The cable plant that is the construction of the system the amount of cable needed to reach the number same number of subscribers is a lot less because subscribers live closer together. In addition there are a large number of subscribers in some of those so we feel that Somerville is probably giving Warner and we don't have the exact figures on this but we feel that some of it is giving one or a different rate of return than other cities and perhaps a more favorable rate of return. Now each city has a different financial status. So we feel that the Summerhill rates should be based on the financial status of the Warner cable system and the level of services in Summerville itself not based on for instance supporting a deficit situation in another one of the cities that exist in the consolidated the so-called consolidated system. A certain measure of public education seems necessary if people are to become aware of the potential of

cable and serving community needs. North Callahan discusses the slowly growing awareness of local programming in some of them. People realize yes there is a there is a channel down there where you know I'm not quite sure exactly what it is you know some people know a lot about it some people don't know much about it but I think we're at a point right now where on their little cable converter box at home they see a button there and they say well last time I hit that button I saw something and I swear I thought I recognized that guy from down the street in the punch again and yeah it was that guy you know so it's the potential is just fantastic. And it's yet to be realized for GBH Journal. This is Erica funky. Action for Children's Television is an organization which lobbies nationwide for

quality children's programming. They have focused on getting the young children and have recently been working towards the elimination of certain commercials during the traditional children's viewing hours. At the end of April Action for Children's Television sponsor the conference in Washington D.C. The theme of which was a televised role models and young adolescent. Reporter Karen Kaiser spoke with Deborah first the executive director of act. States that in fact there are very few realistic role. Let's watch and listen. I think it's a difficult question to ask what are the role models I think there's an absence of role models I think that's what this conference was all about. I think that. It is difficult for youngsters to find role models because they fall down a lot insofar as children. As far as the television put trails that they see they're not very representative of the real world and in terms of the the young teens today are watching a lot of programming that is dated back to the 50s.

And though it's kind of hip and fun it doesn't really relate to the kinds of problems that they're faced with all the time. One situation that I think is this is a Sad One is that programs such as the ABC Afterschool Special which often does present a pretty positive role models in presenting the diversity of possibilities for young people today showing how other youngsters have succeeded against odds such his physical handicaps or minority handicaps. These are the programs that are are really watched in large number by young teens because they look at them as really more appropriate for their younger siblings. And this is unfortunate because probably they represent the best and role models for youngsters today. So you feel that more role model should be presented in prime time television characters that are the age of the adolescents and who face the same kinds of problems.

Yes I think that that's a fair statement I think that one of the things we saw at this conference was a performance by a group of teenagers from New York called The Family Life Theater and these are teens who have had not your candy coated lives and they're dealing with sexuality they're dealing with the problems of drugs that either are problems to themselves or those around them problems of abortions in terms of pregnancy wanted pregnancies and though these are delicate subjects. These are really where children at this age are thinking I mean they have got to have some way to see television as more realistic to the problems that they face day to day. Do you really feel that children relate most of what they see on television to their own experience. Do they try to incorporate what they see into their own life or are they able to divorce themselves from what they see on television and realize that it's an entertainment medium and then go about their other business.

I think there's more of an attempt today to make youngsters aware that television is an entertaining medium but I think that when you recognize the amount of television that many students are watching and have watched from the time that they were old enough to sit in front of the set. I think that it becomes obvious that it's difficult to divorce television from reality. And I think that obviously this is not something that is relevant to every person in the audience but for too many youngsters television is their world. And that's why it seems more reasonable to recognize this right recognized this and to make programming that's more meaningful I think that you know not only youngsters but the adults who are watching these programs also are insulted and I think even the people who are producing them as it came out in our conference feel the need in the end the ability to do better. But when they're being told that they have to have titillation and they have to be gearing it

towards the mind of a 9 year old then I think that nobody profits. How do you think parents would feel about issues on television dealing with adolescent concerns like sexuality drugs abortion and pregnancy that type of thing. I think if they're done in a meaningful and constructive way I think that that parents would applaud them. Obviously you can't please everybody at all times and but I think at this point to use the airwaves to present a society that doesn't exist isn't serving anybody. And so the point I'm trying to make is that television is dealing with some of these subjects it's a question of to whose end what kind of reaction have you gotten from networks. And I have to see people and general people that you've been speaking to about adolescence and television. I think that the reaction to this conference was one of we are just beginning. In other words act has been in existence for 10 years now.

And our primary concern has been for programs directed to the two to 11 year old which is the way the broadcast industry refers to children. And I think that an awareness of teenagers is something that is just at its infancy. And in fact my Dan who has been a consultant who is a consultant to many. Broadcast groups right now and has been involved with two of the major networks in his history points out very honestly that teenagers aren't really considered in terms of program design and that this is something that if it is important to enough people that it is now that the push should be made. But this conference in Washington was just the beginning of that. Inmates said Framingham prison are in the last two weeks of rehearsals for their play

insert job written directed and acted by the inmates. The play will be open to members of the public calling their names to the prison in advance. This week. Amy sands visited MCI Framingham and asked inmates Deborah Tenn law I'm crazy Lozano to share their feelings about the play. Tell me what this play is about. It's about a young girl who gets raped by her five. She ends up in a form school because she ran away from home after she got raped and while in reform school she meets up with another girl and I guess they fall in love and she gets into trouble. She's a very young woman. But towards the end she. She starts realizing what's happening too. And she tries to do something about it. She gets into computer programs keep function and when she goes out after she gets

parole to try and get a job or places where she goes they don't care as she has. But the problem is in education. All we're looking at is that she has a prison like it. What happens in the end do you want to tell people what happens in the end. She does she does go back to crime I guess because she tried all she could. And you still don't want to give her a chance because it just proves that. Teenagers or whatever in this play I mean I listen to and the parents I believed. Who were you the person that you're playing the girl you're playing I'm Beverly Katrine's girlfriend in person and I get in trouble frequently. What are you trying to tell people in the audience by who you play in the pool in this play. That it is possible to fall in love

in prison with someone of your own sex. And no it's not right. Why you are there because you need some money and you don't have any money but you're in mates. Maybe Who are you in the play. China. So you're like the main character right. And who are you like who you who are you telling the audience about him being Katrina. Well I'm trying to tell and I like and the power when she gets raped by a fiver and she runs away from her. She ends up going to reform school because she ran away. No because she got raped and that's not fair. I think that something else should happen you know instead of sending her away to reform school you know we she's gonna learn all the bad things you know and it's just not right. And I say a poem and

I tell her you know how I really feel inside about. Prison institution and what it does to me mentally. You know I say it with a real lot of famine because that's really how I feel inside and like when I'm walking around institution I find myself you know coming out with the lines of the poem saying it to people you know because it just really touches me. Do you remember the lines. You know what I say in my head I envision dance and rhythmical musical dance and I feel the beat in my skin in my mind's imagination sobbing head shaking freaks educe and self-made musical dance and I laugh. Hollo tone was on her tears fall smashing against my hat leave me to myself. Why must you try to destroy my inner peace with your meaningless intrusions. Do you delude even yourself about who what I

am. Prison time for me difficult to adjust my thoughts to a process of stagnation. I am here 24 hours a day. Hour after minutes from seconds I hear Stop asking me these asinine questions. What seems to be the problem. Are you normal or do you have a love of the same sex. You say I act bitter. Me as you sit behind your desk of authority and judge me. You have the nerve to interfere to ask insincere personal questions that you have no god given right to ask. I want to scream cry out in rage weep until my eyes can no longer focus on my absurd situation letting you see I am weary of fighting your intrusions. Sick of your stereotyping my my my actions. Let me be let go of me. I am here. I have been here. Let me be like. Go me. That's the plain search job will be presented at Framingham prison

Friday of next week June 2nd. Members of the public wishing to attend must call in their names by this Friday May 26 at Framingham present. And 3. Discuss this in today's commentary. Some of our commencement for Jones seems out of sync with tradition and with the season not only before but before most planning. By late May brings campuses abroad to bestow a spring like confirmation on that happy euphemism of commencement for the conclusion of college.

Cynics suggest that the foreshortening of the college professors have taught them all they know but it harks back to the anguished tradition of shorter times and longer periods between terms. Our students increasingly have been spacing themselves. A large number taking a year off midway in the college course or between college and graduate school as college becomes almost the norm as high school used to be smaller people are joining the college ranks. Commencement headlines featured the grandmothers graduating the proliferation of colleges abets this commencement news is dotted with names of colleges we never heard of a few years ago. The launching of the community college the upgrading of the junior college spreads the opportunity and brings it from many closer home. It's the graduates day they tell us but he's submerged in the day's ritual that focuses on honorary degrees. An American institution and on the commencement address that confers a distinguished name. And so some new

space upon the college. Some major colleges feel an obligation to seek out public figures or leaders in the arts for their honorary degrees. So the speaker of the National House the new chairman of the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Communications Commission are inevitable choices as commencement speakers and lead the lists of honorary degrees. Smaller colleges choose to one of their own most distinguished graduates to keep it in the family so to speak. Goddard College found its commencement speaker an apparent Warren Weaver of the New York Times whose daughter was graduating the University of Maine at his commencement speaker the teacher who had been chosen distinguished Maine professor of 1978. Charles Smith a physicist at distinguishing mainframe who has contributed to the exercise it Carano had already know by the college forestry was just reputed white pine seedlings under the chairs of the Graduate for the big names because commencement

provides a platform to present his view of the problems of the time. The more urgent the more disturbing the message the bigger the headlines so at Boston University where Federal Reserve chairman William Miller told the seniors continuing inflation at its current rate would reduce today's dollar to a dime by their time a tough kid its choice for commencement speaker to the times with a band. Black South African editor he want of a ghastly confrontation in southern Africa unless they're racist governments can be brought to a rational course. But peace reigned on the campuses. James Reston in Chapel Hill noted the contrast with the turmoil of nineteen sixty eight. That made his Sunday column A columnist can get double duty from a commencement speech. There was contrast too in the reporting of commencement Take-Two in the Globe yesterday. The report from the University of Vermont mentions that J K Galbraith was their speaker.

Nothing of what he said but half a column has given to the commencement speech or child's Culson against materialism at Gordon College. He himself gives the explanation the fact that we born again Christians are reported in the media does not necessarily reflect our influence he said merely that we are a new phenomenon and therefore newsworthy and not so new either. Evangelism has exploited sensationalism since Billy Sunday to follow a much earlier tradition. Francis Faron Hall from Texas political battles describes the changed life style of women in 20 years as she urges Bay path women graduates to plan their lives for a society of equality. Judge John Fenton told the women graduating at the liberal college that they don't need to qualify for a new degree every five years to keep up with the pace of advancing knowledge and new technology. Their work in the world of laser beams and microwaves. Their research measured by computers.

Already they have to have mastered statistics and Khattala g to read the charts and maps in the New York Times. The Nowhere ness of the environment has created a whole new vocabulary. The new president of the University of Massachusetts was dean of the College of human ecology at Cornell. What's that. I asked the old grad ecology he finds defined as one's relation to his environment sometimes called bio nomics explains the Heritage Dictionary. Having to interview an author on ecology last week I told him I couldn't find his word biased in my Oxford Dictionary. It must be an old dictionary he said. He was right. So no ignorance is inflicted on us that even the dictionary can correct. Increasingly colleges are meeting Judge Benton's requirement to help professionals keep up with the pace of change by bringing them back in special programs. Retread the Harvard Business School cause doctors teachers journalists

administrators return to learn what's new in their line. For a vastly larger number adult education can extend commencement indefinitely. The mail brings a brush over the Boston Center for Adult Education announcing its forty fifth year with thirteen thousand six hundred enrolled aged 18 to 90 and offers reduced fee program for people over 65. At half price. That's GBH journal for Monday the 22nd of May 1978 because the editor of the program is my guards today the engineer of the Gobi and I don't have MS.. Don't forget this is the Mon day and as of the small hours of this morning the moon was at

the fore so don't be a lunatic.