The Madison Eagle from Madison, New Jersey • Page 13

FEBRUARY 17, 1983 MADISON EAGLE FLORHAM PARK EAGLE AND COMMUNITY NEWS CHATHAM COURIER Gloria Rojas; television does best is to make bureaucracy sit Gloria Rojas, New Jersey Correspondent for Eyewitness News (Photo by Marjorie Coard) BY MARJORIE COARD who relies solely on television news is both lazy and said Gloria Rojas, WABC- New Jersey correspondent for Eyewitness News. Speaking at a meeting sponsored by the Madison Branch of AAUW last week, the award winning newscaster pointed out that do justice to the state budget in two What those brief segments on the nightly news can do however that newspapers is to show how budget cuts affect real people. Figures and statistics which are an important newspapers analysis, can be translated into real life situations on television. Describing some of the most satisfying aspects of her work, Rojas said, we do best is to make the bureaucracy sit up and take She told of a young cerebral palsy victim who could not get to school because he lived on the eighth floor of a project whose vandalized elevators were out of order. When asked what he thought the solution was, he replied we could have a first floor apartment, 1 could go to Within one week, the family had been assigned a ground level apartment.

In another case in Chicago, the family of a child afflicted with a rare skin disease which prevented him from wearing clothing and caused the utility bills to soar was told the bills were not covered under normal medical coverage, their only recourse was to join the welfare roll. When the plight was aired on vision, there was such public outrage that the regulations regarding coverage of utility bills in such extreme cases were changed. such as these make you feel good about what you Rojas came to television in the sixties when were hired if they could walk and talk at the same There were two other women in news at the station, Jean Paar (a blonde) and Lucille Rich (a black). As a Puerto Rican female, Rojas rounded out the obligatory collection of women quite nicely. However, as the sixties pushed on women demanded more and more, and showed they could handle real news.

They proved they could do more than interview wives or visit the local day care centers. Gradually they overcame what the stations said was the credibility gap the audience had about female reporters. the audience might not believe them because their voices were to this Rojas quipped their I.Q.’s were Nowadays half the reporters are women, and many appear as producers, writers, camera men in all phases of the business she said. However, there are no women in positions of hiring and firing. we (women) Rojas asked.

she said. of the guys are, too. But we do have some special knowledge as women. done stories a man could not have she continued, telling of an abortion special to be aired soon. Young women were deliberately told they were pregnant on the basis of urine samples they submitted to selected abortion clinics.

Tests should not have been positive since the samples were from young men. The reaction of a male superior was to address consumer Rojas said, I reacted with indignation that unnecessary operations would be performed. is certainly a place for women in the industry. We are a significant part of the audience and our issues should be Commenting on the viewing audiences surprising lack of reaction to what she and other reporters consider insensitive material, Rojas urged viewers to be more responsive. should be a partnership between the reporter and the viewer.

In response to a question, she said, letters are Speaking personally, Rojas said, there are times when people in pain or personal anguish need and want to talk about it. For others, it is a time to shut out the world. Often, she must gauge the situation and decide whether it would be appropriate to bring in her crew. It is a responsibility she seemed not to take lightly. Regarding the coverage of New Jersey, she replied do it because we have to.

We are required to by F.C.C. Rojas, a Summit resident, asked to be the N.J. correspondent. Jersey was undercovered and suffering from the old sterotypes. a real convert.

I enjoy the diversity that the state offers from the Delaware Water Gap, to the Jersey Shore and everything in A typical day can find Rojas almost anywhere in the state. She never knows what her assignment will be until she hears from her editor in Hackensack, Judy Bishop. Cautioning aspiring female reporters, she described her day as long and taxing. choices you must make in your personal life such as missing your class play or celebrating your birthday a day late because you had to work are simply the kinds of dilemmas that working women will never be able to solve. very committed to my job.

that kind of she continued. the glamor business of the But later she said I had a daughter I encourage her to pursue this However for those young women in the audience with an incurable case of the want to be a television and who are diligently pursuing that goal, Rojas recommended large doses of writing courses. skill is most important in what we do. You need to be simple and direct in T.V. She also said they could call Harriet Crosby at WABC to arrange an internship.

Rojas mingles with the audience. Meteorologist Frank Field tells local audience: Television should present more scientificshows BY ROSEMARY HOWLETT certainly no question about weather being the main topic of conversation here these past few days. And when discussion turns to weather, especially big blizzard weather, got to talk about the weatherman and just how well he did in making his predictions. Meterologist Dr. Frank Field of NBC-television knows from experience that some folks will not hesitate to evaluate the performance quite bluntly.

People often come up to him with comments like, sure blew that forecast Speaking before an audience of 500 at the Morris Town Hall lecture series recently, Field told how he responded to that charge. A trick or treater came to his door one Halloween. adorable little was so precious that candy or gum was just not good He went to the kitchen in search of the treat and found a huge, red, juicy apple that he thought would be just right. He dropped it into the little bag. After staring into the bag she looked up at Field with a gigantic tear in her eye and said, broke every cookie in my Sometimes, he said, is the way I feel about the How well do other sources of weather predictions fare? In a lecture press conference the EAGLE- COURIER asked Field about the He called it a hype.

The accuracy of the Almanac is about about the same as flipping a he said, adding there is just no way to make such a long-range weather He offered an analogy: like a physician being able to forecast a case of the flu in three The highest rate of accuracy is on a day-to-day forecast and six days is about as long- range as you can get in scientifically predicting the weather conditions, Field explained, (so much for our groundhog question!) Just how well did the Almanac do in forecasting the big blizzard of Feb. 11-12 The Almanac predicted rain and then clearing the week of Feb. 10-26, but forecast a and cold weather for Feb. 17-19. Depending on your point of view that could either be very far off or just a few days off target! TV AND SCIENCE Science editor, as well as weatherman for NBC, Field spoke at length about what he views as a lack of science and health, programming on television and the apparent indifference to it.

He believes it may be possible to offer scientific information through popular shows such as Dukes of and Street Dr. Field emphasized that people need to be informed about important matters such as nuclear fusion, health, energy, if they are to make intelligent decisions. is where people form their Local students to appear in original FDU presentation BY LINDA KIMLER AREA Off-off Broadway is not exactly Great White but when a 20-year-old college student and playwright, having your work produced there is a very nice beginning indeed. is a one-act play written by Jon Reiner, a junior English- theatre major at the Florham- Madison Campus of Fairleigh- Dickinson University. The play is be-' ing produced and performed by members of the Florham-Madison Campus Performing Arts Center and can be seen at 8 p.m., Feb.

18, 19 and 20, at the Raft Theatre, 432 W. 42nd New York City. Reiner describes his play as a drama with some funny It takes place in a cabin in Maine and focuses on a small group of college students concerned about a future filled with uncertainties. The idea for the play came to Reiner last May when he and three friends visited his parents cabin in Maine, the play is not its author explains. The writing process has been a long one for Reiner.

He considered the work finished last September but revised it twice before it was presented at the local FDU campus last December. With each revision the piece has been quite different from its predecessor, Reiner commented. Among the performers in the production are two local residents, Marcus Dowd, a 21-year-old junior from Madison and Patricia Hoard, 19, a former Madison resident now living in Chatham Township. Patricia plays the part of a young woman who has recently attempted suicide. In the play, the cabin belongs to her parents and she and her friends are there about our futures and coping with Patricia explains.

The Township majoring in theatre and special education, says she has been than she is right now while working on the production. a realistic play and learned a lot about dealing with people and about suicide just from working on Patricia adds. For Marc Dowd, the part of is easy part to is a throwback to the a hippie in the nions on important scientific he said. have heard everything about Superbowl XVII on television in recent weeks and in the same amount of time, heard nothing about recent genetics developments, parap- sycology, or the death of a prominent The public makes its choices known cancellation of shows such as Omni and Universe due to poor he pointed out. Field views this as failure on the part of the Yet part of the blame also goes to the networks, who do not schedule high quality science and health due to what Field refers to as the large part advertising plays in such decisions.

Field was surprisingly positive about presentations such as soap operas, Quincy, MASH, Lou Grant, Trapper John, since they all serve as an educational tool for ing health and science in A majority of scientific knowledge is learned by the viewers in this door he commented. But Field cautioned about the accuracy and quality of information given on some "talk shows such as Phil Donahue and Merv Usually medical and scientific topics are presented in a sensational manner on that type of show. Field explained. A highly diversified man, Dr. Field received a degree in geology in 1944.

While in the Army Air Force during World War II, he developed his interest in meteorology. He also earned a Doctor of Optometry Degree but practiced for about a year after His television career was the result of a job he had training television weathermen in the early The president of NBC, tired of weathermen, wanted a weatherman on Enter Frank Field! His children appeared to be a favorite subject of the audience. Dr. Field and his wife of 36 years have three children all of whom have pursued careers in broadcasting. Dr.

Field competes daily with his son, Storm, on ABC-TV. He humorously told of people referring to him as Field revealed his real name Elliot David Field. He was dubbed by the physician that delivered him who referred to the active prenatal behavior. Field has been host to many highly acclaimed health and science TV specials. Included in this list was a Heimlich Manoeuvre demonstration credited with 8,000 testimonials from people whose lives were saved by someone who had seen the television demonstration.

In the audience that day, a woman stated gratefully she was number 8,001. As a direct result of another of Field specials showing a live kidney transplant, 5,000 people requested kidney donor cards. a dreamer. It the character closest to being disclosed Marc. Founded by Martin Zurla, a former FDU faculty member, the Raft Theatre has dedicated itself to providing a professional environment for the development of new American playwrights.

The theatre seats 60. production at the Raft Theatre is very much in keeping with the concept that students should have positive, exciting experiences to reinforce what they learn in said Dr. Charles Del Rosso, chairperson of fine arts department. Directing the play is Lee Bloomrosen a member of the FDU theatre department. Reiner is hopeful reviewers will see the play when it is performed in New York.

Ironically, one individual who won't be there is the playwright. Participating in an overseas study program, Reiner will be at Wroxton College in England. a big he agrees, but the New York production will be vide-taped for his own review when he returns home. Tickets are $5. For reservations, call Ticket Central, 212-279-4200.

IN REHEARSAL Students on the Florham-Madison Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University rehearse for the presentation of a one-act play, written by fellow student Jon Reiner, a junior, to be presented Feb. 18, 19 and 20 at the Raft Theatre, 432 West 42nd New York. Shown, from the left, are: James Victor, Alexa Kelly, director Lee Bloomrosen, a member of the theatre faculty; Patricia Hoard, of Chatham, (seated); and Marcus Dowd, of Madison. 4 I.