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Capitol, where they can tape chats, speeches and interviews for the voters back home-tapes that are then played by a dismaying number of stations around the country as bona fide news stories. That is using the media to communicate with the public, communicating, that is, what the Senator or Representative wants the public to hear, what he and his staff think will help his image.

"The media and the country at large could use a good deal less of that kind of use from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. We hope and trust that more of that is not what the Joint Committee has in mind."

One View of the Press is produced and written by Dale Minor.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Hon. LEE METCALF,

U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 7, 1974.

DEAR SENATOR METCALF: The questions you forwarded to me regarding Congress and the media were very interesting and evidence of the concern I know you have on the subject of access by the media to the legislative process. The Corporation staff has studied the questions and has consulted with the other national public broadcasting organizations to be assured that your committee will receive complete answers to all the questions.

Because the Corporation does not actually produce any programs, but instead provides funds to these other organizations for the production of programs, CPB has never been involved in the production details on which you have requested information. We are aware that the Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio and the National Public Affairs Center for Television have already replied or soon will be replying to the questions dealing with technical and production matters. Any information we could supply to you would of necessity be the same as the information they have provided.

I would like to comment generally, however, in response to question 6 on your list. As I emphasized in my testimony before your committee, it is imperative that Congress provide greater access to its deliberations for the electronic media. The most important step the Congress can take to improve the understanding of the legislative process by the American people is to allow coverage of a wide spectrum of Congressional operations and to guarantee that the broadcasters have complete editorial control over the material to be broadcast.

Public broadcasting is uniquely capable of providing extensive coverage of legislative proceedings and has a longstanding record of coverage at the local and state level. Our experience there has proven that with modern technology the normal proceedings are not interrupted by allowing cameras and microphones to record all the various Committee meetings and floor debates which may be of interest.

Recently the editorial pages of many newspapers have discussed some of the merits and potential dangers of opening the Congress, on a regular basis, to the mass media (in a manner similar to the coverage currently provided at the UN). I would like to emphasize again that responsible electronic journalism, especially the extensive coverage public broadcasting could provide, would in no way distort or disrupt the Congress, but would provide access for the American public to the information they require to understand the legislative process.

I hope these brief comments have helped to amplify the statements I made during the Committee's hearings, and if I can provide any further information please let me know. I trust that the answers provided by PBS, NPR, and NPACT will respond more fully to the technical questions you have asked.

Sincerely,

National Public Radio

Senator LEE METCALF,

HENRY LOOMIS.

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, Washington, D.C., May 17, 1974.

Chairman, Joint Committee on Congressional Operations, Congress of the United States, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR METCALF: Here are the responses on behalf of National Public Radio to the questions sent with your letter of May 8, 1974. I hope the information proves helpful to you and the committee as you consider legislation on this important matter.

29-801 0-74-App.- 2

I would use this occasion to raise one point that should not be overlooked. The requirements for radio broadcasting are different in some ways than those for television. Since radio is much less obtrusive and requires less equipment, there is a tendency to overlook it and its special requirements.

We appreciate the opportunity to make our views known on broadcasting the proceedings of Congress.

Sincerely yours,

LEE C. FRISCHKNECHT,

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS FOR NETWORK OFFICIALS

1. Attached is a list (Attachment 1) of the hearings NPR has transmitted since program services began in April 1971. [See p. 463.]

2. Most committees in both houses permit us to broadcast their hearings. The main exceptions are the full committee meetings of the Senate Judiciary Committee (although we have been permitted to broadcast subcommittee meetings) and the House Ways and Means Committee. We have not been permitted to broadcast markup sessions in the Senate, although the Government Operations and Interior Committees seem to be changing their attitudes on this. Although there still is some sensitivity on the House side, owing to its relatively recent decision to permit broadcasts of hearings, the House holds more open meetings than the Senate does and House committees are generally more cooperative.

3. We have requested and were granted permission to broadcast the energy emergency act conference. We plan to ask permission to broadcast the conference on No Fault Insurance, if there is one. And we hope to cover future conference meetings dealing with legislation of significance to our listeners.

4. Our general practice is to request permission of any committee holding open hearings we would like to broadcast. Some committees, such as those dealing with military affairs, hold few open meetings. We wonder if so many closed sessions are necessary and would be interested in broadcasting some. But we have not so far pressed to get into these committee meetings.

5. Our coverage of Congress as an institution and its legislative process has been extensive. In our earlier testimony we cited our "Biography of a Bill" coverage of the No Fault Insurance legislation. We have also followed a candidate from his campaign and election through the period leading up to his installation as a new Congressman, with all the preparation, orientation, learning involved for him. We occasionally go back to him for updating on the life of a first-term Congressman. We have given extensive coverage to various proposals for Congressional reform, including those before your committee and the Bolling committee. In covering the House Rules Committee, we explain the legislative process as well as the substance of the legislation.

6. One important step in improving understanding of proceedings on the floor (and also in committees) would be to establish a centralized system to provide information about forthcoming debates and hearings well in advance. Broadcasters, particularly networks, need time to inform listeners and stations about such events. Stations need time to work such coverage into their program schedules. Reporters need time to prepare for coverage, including time to tape interviews in advance for use before sessions begin or during recesses. A minimum of two weeks' notice would do much to improve coverage.

Of course, opening the floor sessions to broadcasting would itself do much to improve understanding, particularly if a radio commentator was stationed in the gallery to note who is speaking and explain rules and parliamentary procedure. 7. If pool coverage is provided, it is desirable for each network to have a unilateral microphone in order that the reporter or commentator from each network may provide the appropriate reportage indicated in the preceding paragraph and in item 9 below.

8. The major change, of course, would be to permit radio coverage from balconies of the two chambers. Beyond that we would urge that the recording of radio interviews be granted in the House Lobby. There has been talk of merging the print and broadcast galleries. While there would be advantages for us in the extra space, we fear that the difference in requirements in news conference situations might create difficulties. The print reporters need more secondary details for their stories and often get their complete stories from such news conferences. Radio reporters get the main details from such conferences but usually must supplement them with brief interviews. The interview format is much more successful in communicating by radio than is the news conference.

9. A booth with broadcast facilities and a closed-circuit televised feed of the floor proceedings would be an important supplement to a commentator in the chamber. It would permit reports to be made for newscasts during a debate on the floor.

10. For radio coverage, the main consideration should be to improve the sound system in the two chambers. The House has approximately ten stationary microphone positions to which members come when they wish to speak. This system should be improved or a parallel system set up to assure broadcast quality sound. In the Senate, each member has a microphone but their quality is far below broadcast quality. The entire system should be upgraded.

ATTACHMENT 1.-CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS AIRED BY NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO

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5 Senate Commerce Subcommittee. 17 Congressional Black Caucus

18 Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

29 Senate Select Committee on Aging (field hearings from Minneapolis, Minn.).

Dec. 7 Senate Select Committee on Nutrition......

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Freedom of the press.

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Financial disclosure legislation.
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