Table
of Contents
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ICTV
Statement of Purpose
To provide the 26,000 cable-subscribing households of Tompkins
County, NY with noncommercial information and entertainment
programming. This public includes residents of Ithaca, Trumansburg,
Lansing, Danby, Newfield, Groton, Dryden, Caroline, Candor and
Brooktondale, and the students of Cornell University and Ithaca
College
To provide an opportunity for Ithaca College students, particularly
those in the Park School of Communications, to participate in
television production and channel operation, and to create programming
that fosters ideas and creative expression.
ICTV aims for quality in both its product and the learning experience
it offers.
Organizational
values include:
- Sharing
- of knowledge and time
- Growth
of the individual
- Service
to the community, the organization, and each other
- Responsibility
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Background
and Activities
- Ithaca
College Television is owned by Ithaca College, a private,
residential college of 6000 students, and operated by the
Roy H. Park School of Communications (1300 full-time students.)
- Since
1958, IC students have produced television programs transmitted
from the College onto a channel of the Tompkins County cable
system. ICTV shared time on the Public Access channel until
1991, when it moved to Educational Access channel 54, and
then to channel 16 in 1999. The channel is noncommercial
and ICTV its main programmer. ICTV originates programming
directly from the Park School of Communications' Master
Control.
- Programming
typically constitutes two twelve-week seasons, Fall and
Spring. Programmed "airnights" are Sundays
through Thursdays, 6:30 - 11:00pm. Other times, including
intersessions, ICTV transmits a live view of Cayuga Lake
from a video camera atop the Park Building.
- ICTV
may be the largest college TV operation. The level of production
activity and access to facilities is unique. Typically,
15 or more units, including a news department, operate simultaneously.
Students develop program content and have access to studio,
ENG and editing facilities, professional engineering and
staff assistance, materials, videotapes, and a diverse audience.
Each semester, on average
Webstreaming
was launched in 2001
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Governance
ICTV
is governed by:
The
ICTV Executive Staff is comprised of the Station Manager, News
Director, Web Director,Technical Coordinator, Master Control/Programming
Operations Manager, and Promotion Manager. Executive Staff are
expected to hold their positions for two consecutive semesters.
Terms are staggered. Station manager is always for calendar
year. The Manager of TV Operations is a full-time position assigned
to ICTV as general manager responsible for the overall operation
of ICTV, and reports to the Dean of the Park School. Executive
Staff are selected by application to the Manager of TV Operations.
To assist in the selection of the TV student Station Manager
an ad hoc group of faculty, staff and students may interview
the candidates in a session open to the public then meets to
recommend an applicant.
Producers,
who head the program production units, report dually to the
Station Manager and the Manager of Television Operations. Producerships
may be one or two semesters and beyond. Each semester a new
proposal is required.
Throughout
its history, participating students have received neither academic
credit nor pay. (Airnight operators receive an hourly wage.)
Professional experience, creativity of expression, and working
as a team are the major attractions for participation. ICTV
is classified as student media, along with its sister radio
stations 92WICB-FM and 106VIC, The Ithacan newspaper, and Pro-Unit.
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Participation
Participation
is open to all IC students without prejudice as to major.
- ICTV
volunteers must be enrolled for a minimum twelve credits
as Undergraduate or Graduate students of Ithaca College,
with these exceptions: Cornell meteorology students (who
prepare the News' weather forecasts), performers, faculty,
experts.
- A
participant must be in good judicial and academic standing.
- Executive
staff and producers must have the background and expertise
to fulfill their responsibilities, and at least one semester
of active ICTV participation.
- Access
to field cameras and editing consoles may require passing
a test or attending a workshop. Equipment policies are implemented
by the Telecommunications Facilities dept.
How
to participate:
Volunteers apply directly to the producer(s). Producers determine
crew, reporters, and actors just prior to the start of the production
season but volunteers are welcome any time.
- A
recruitment night is held at the beginning of each semester.
Producers hold auditions for journalists and actors soon
after.
- All
positions are competitive.
- Producers
may need to replace individuals during the semester for
reason of a participant's failure to show up, or to adequately
fulfill the duties of their position. Discussion and an
opportunity to improve should precede such an action.
- Participation
in student media activities is a privilege. Depending on
the severity of an infraction, a student may be removed
from all or part of their ICTV duties for any of the following
reasons:
- Failure
to fulfill the duties of a given position.
- Violation
of College security and conduct codes.
- Unauthorized
possession or improper handling of College equipment.
- Behavior
on ICTV business in Park or in the field that is disruptive,
unbecoming and/or causes viewer, ICTV or College embarrassment.
- Misuse
of funds.
- Actions
detrimental to professional functioning of the organization;
violation of ICTV policy.
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Freedom
of Expression
ICTV
strives to establish and maintain professional standards appropriate
to a college student organization in program production and
content, and suitable to an educational access channel general
audience. Producers are expected to insure that the program
content remains within the generally accepted bounds of good
taste and fair play. If students are uncertain how to deal with
program content or treatment, discussion with the Manager of
TV Operations is suggested.
News
and public affairs on ICTV are free of censorship and advance
approval of copy, and the editors and managers are free to develop
editorial policies and news coverage that are consistent with
station goals and policies. Student editors have the authority
to make content decisions and consequently they bear the responsibility
for the decisions that they make. ICTV follows professional
best practices in its public affairs coverage, as found in the
Radio-Television News Directors Association's Code of Ethics
at www.rtnda.org. Ethics guidelines for specific coverage situations
may also be accessed at the RTNDA site.
Lewd, defamatory or shock material - Producers, who are responsible
for the content of their programming, are trusted to have the
judgment and maturity to recognize when material is questionable.
Consideration of context and hour of telecast should be made.
ICTV does not telecast:
- obscene
or indecent material - that which is patently offensive
applying contemporary community standards for family viewing
- defamatory
content - a malicious falsehood intended to ridicule or
degrade persons
Prior
permission to videotape may be necessary in circumstances such
as
-
permission of speakers at sponsored events
-
where an individual's privacy may be violated
-
on private property, certain municipal properties, the Commons,
IC Campus Center, Cayuga Medical Center, Cornell buildings,
etc.
Plagiarism is not permitted. This includes using copy from
the Ithaca Journal or other publication without attribution.
Quotes should be firsthand.
Copyright
Ithaca College Television retains copyright on programming
produced for ICTV. Final video should be: This a production
of Ithaca College Television (copyright) (year). Students
are free to copy ICTV programming for their personal resume
use. ICTV entries to competitions will be selected by the
Manager of Television Operations and submitted as station
entries. No copyrighted materials may be used within ICTV
shows without permission of owner except for review or commentary.
- Music
- Music library selections are available on CD from the
Portable Equipment Center.
Multi-system owner Time Warner has blanket agreements for
the access channels to use music licensed by BMI and ASCAP.
This includes ICTV on the educational access channel.
- News
- ICTV has permission to use CNN Newsource & CBS NewsPath
off satellite
- Sports
- ICTV may excerpt from ESPN sports events only, no audio
- Historical
footage - ICTV may use the Video Encyclopedia of the 20th
Century
Commercial
Content - By NYS regulation, ICTV may not include commercial
or promotional content on the educational access channel. Producers,
reporters and interviewers should exercise care not to promote
or endorse a business, such as giving a business's hours and
prices. A story about a type of business should include a sampling
of at least three establishments to avoid the appearance of
an infomercial.
Fundraising - Fundraising on cable access channels is
prohibited by New York State regulation. ICTV simulcasts VIC
Radio's annual 50-hour marathon for a local cause.
Public
service announcements on ICTV should represent reasonable
standards of integrity, public acceptance and appropriateness.
The project should be noncommercial, nondenominational, politically
nonpartisan and not designed to influence legislation. The project
will not be rejected because it is in the interest of one group
if the message has wide appeal, significance and local applicability.
Print
publicity - Program promotion flyers should be OK'd by the
Publicity Director or Station Manager or Mgr of TV Operations
and should contain the ICTV logo. Posting should be on bulletin
boards only.
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Programming
- Most
programming on ICTV is student initiated and produced. ICTV
program offerings include sports, news, public affairs,
comedies, childrens' show, variety, quiz, performance and
drama. Some programs may be initiated by the School of Communications
or Ithaca College, such as special events or issues coverage.
ICTV may, at the discretion of the Mgr. of TV Operations,
televise acquired programs or movies.
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A
program proposal is made to the Manager of TV Operations
and the Station Manager. Sometimes there are competing applications
for producership of an existing series. The Manager of Television
Operations may accept, reject or suggest modification of
the proposal on the basis of:
- the
experience and qualifications of the person who proposes
to produce
- creative,
artistic, educational, social or informational value of
the concept to the greater Ithaca community
(70% of ICTV's audience is over age 25.)
- feasibility,
including technical considerations
- uniqueness
of the idea - non-duplication with other programming
- availability
of facility time and student volunteers
- potential
for good experience by the volunteers
-
Proposal
Guidelines - Proposal guidelines and a sample proposal are
on the website under Staff Resources.. A proposal should
include:
- The
proposer's background and qualifications
- An
in-depth description of program content and treatment
- Rationale
for the program and the intended audience
- Estimated
number of programs, their length, projected air availabilities
- List
of tentative program subjects (if applicable)
- A
detailed sample format sheet for one program.
- Estimated
program development time and production time, including
editing and studio requirements
- Any
special costs beyond videotapes
- There
will be no commitments, purchases, production, or preselection
of volunteers prior to acceptance of a proposal by the Manager
of Television Operations.
- A
sample series proposal is available from the Mgr. of Television
Operations.
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Telecommunications
Facilities and IC Faculty
- There
are no formal relationships between members of the faculty
and ICTV or its production units. Professors may voluntarily
advise or conduct workshops. Producers and reporters are
encouraged to form an advisory relationship with faculty
members.
- ICTV's
relationship with Telecommunications Facilities staff is
formal, constant, and close. The Director supervises:
- the
Scheduling department, and Portable Equipment Center.
- the
engineers, studio technicians and the student engineering
assistants.
It
is important that ICTV volunteers, especially producers and
directors, forge good working relationships with Telecom. staff.
The
staff studio technicians are in charge of facilities usage weekends
and evenings, times when ICTV is most active. They are charged
with maintaining order and insuring a safe working environment.
A studio show's producer, director and lighting director should
meet with the studio technician at the start of the semester
to go over procedures. Because ICTV projects are not graded,
engineers and technicians may provide more technical assistance
to ICTV productions than to academic projects.
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Facilities
Ithaca
College Television is unusual among college stations because
facilities and equipment are fully shared with the academic
programs of the Park School. Thus, ICTV participates in the
equipment purchasing of the Park School, and does not have a
separate capital equipment budget. ICTV is housed in the $12
million Park School of Communications Building, opened in 1989.
Most Park School facilities are reserved through Scheduling.
Facilities
include:
- Master
Control, with Master 21 switcher, satellite downlink, nine
VTRs for studios and airnight operations, telecine, cable
signal electronics, routing, intercom.
- Two
television studios (A & B) and control rooms, identically
equipped with AP ENPS teleprompting and producer workstation,
Grass Valley 200 switcher, three cameras, (with capability
for fourth) character generator, still store, audio mixing
board, lights and Strand lighting controls.
- Portable
gear: many DVCAM camera units plus tripods, light kits,
audio recorders, monitors, headphones and microphones.
- Editing
stations: DVCAM. Final Cut Pro.
- Computer
facilities and audio production facilities, as available,
(on the second floor), the Stereo Production suites near
WICB-FM (especially for recording phone interviews) and
the radio newsroom.
- Scene
Shop - check with technician on duty before construction
work
- A
professional mobile production truck (Fall, 1997). A staff
engineer/technician always accompanies the remote truck.
ICTV's
own space:
- Workroom
124, which contains computers for AP ENPS rundowns &
scripting, connection to Internet and e-mail, producers'
mail boxes, ICTV telephone, radio scanners, playback decks.
- Green
Room 151 - a second workroom with ICTV's own Final Cut Pro
station.
- Tape
closet - ICTV's repository for recorded videotapes
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Operations
Information
A
member of Telecommunications Facilities is on duty when TV facilities
are open. During semesters, facility hours of operation are:
- Monday
- Thursday 9:00am - 11:00pm
- Friday
and Saturday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Sunday
- 1:30pm - 11:00pm
Students
are not permitted access to the facilities or equipment during
vacation times. Alumni are not permitted access to facilities
or equipment.
Scheduling hours are weekdays 10:00 - 4:00. Reservations must
be made in person. Cancellations may be made by phone, 274-1039.
Mailboxes: Memos, telephone messages and mail for producers
will be placed in producer's mailboxes in workroom 124. Office
telephones are for official ICTV use only. They are coded for
local area use.
- ICTV's
published number, in room 124, is 607-274-3226. It has voicemail.
- Green
room 151: 607-274-1044
- Manager
of Television Operations: 607-274-3244
- Park
School of Communications: 607-274-1021
- Master
Control: 607-274-1038
Letterhead
for Ithaca College Television use may be obtained, with envelopes,
from the Manager of TV Operations. Mail is used to confirm interviews/tape
times, thank guests, etc. Mail drop off is in third floor mailroom.
ICTV pays postage.
Faxes
for ICTV may be sent to 607-274-3996, the workroom fax machine.
They will be placed in the producer's mailbox.
E-mail
- important internal communications medium. Producers should
check their e-mail daily and use e-mail to communicate with
their crewmembers both individually and through e-mail distribution
list.
Photocopying
- All
promotion material copying for public display must be reviewed
in advance by the Publicity Manager or the Mgr. of TV Operations
before posting. It should contain the ICTV logo.
- For
under 15 copies, the Park first floor copier may be used.
- Larger
copying jobs are sent to the Print Shop. Two day turnaround.
Office
Organization and Neatness
- All
volunteers are expected to keep spaces neat, clean up after
themselves, and to use the garbage and recycling bins as
appropriate.
- No
food or drinks in studios. No smoking or alcohol anywhere
in building.
Safety:
Studio light grids present a potential hazard. Individuals must
exercise care when moving, tightening, focusing lights. A person
should be positioned at the bottom of lighting ladder.
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Budget
ICTV is assigned an annual operating budget for fiscal year
June 1 - May 31. It is allocated by the Mgr. of TV Operations
who approves and monitors expenditures. ICTV adheres to the
purchasing policies of Ithaca College.
Through
the operating budget, the School of Communications provides
ICTV with the materials basic to production, including videotapes.
Approval is on a per-item basis by the Mgr. of TV Operations
before any purchases are made.
- Volunteers
cannot expect reimbursement for purchases made without authorization.
Some items the budget may not be used for:
- -
wearing apparel and personal items
- -
food for meetings, parties, or as a general rule, during
local production, except for remotes. Exceptions will
be made on a case-by-case basis.
- -
prizes and gifts
- -
parking fines
- Volunteers
are to make no contractual arrangements without the approval
of the Mgr. of TV Operations.
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Underwriting
- Ithaca
College funds the basic operation of ICTV. Students are
NOT expected to put in their own money, or to find outside
funding for their basic ICTV production. Where additional
money is necessary to offset large travel costs for sports
programs, the Mgr. of TV Operations will conduct or direct
the solicitation.
- Donations,
called 'gratises,' are a way for producers to obtain extras
like special set materials, costuming, rental fees or food
for crew. These are contributions, not advertising. Producers
must be clear with vendors that this not buying airtime.
A copy of each donor agreement should be filed with the
Mgr. of TV Operations, who has forms available.
Format
for Underwriting Acknowledgment
- The
acknowledgment may be made at the beginning and must be
made at the end of the program as the first and/or last
elements of a program. For Bombers Football games, an additional
sponsor credit may be given at halftime. Standard acknowledgment:
- Audio:
"Additional support for (Panorama) provided by
(Franco's Italian Restaurant)"
- Video:
the business's logo, or character-generated name.
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Videotapes
Tape
Stock
- All
tapes, blank and recorded, remain the property of ICTV.
Tapes issued for ICTV use may not be used for class work.
- Standard
tape sizes used by ICTV are Sony DVCAM 32 minute (PDVM-32N)
and 64minute (PDVM-64N) and Mini-DV for fieldshooting.
- Based
on their estimated needs, producers receive videotapes at
the beginning of the semester. The producers are responsible
for their tape inventory and should immediately label the
tapes with Program name and a number.
- For
air tapes, program information should be entered in AP NewsCenter.
Tape
Library
- Access
to the tape library is by ID number and is available only
to current producers, Executive Staff and Master Control
operators.
- Programs
that cannot be re-aired will be retained for several years.
Programs
that are evergreen, such as music performances & comedy,
will be kept indefinitely.
Tape
Duplications
- By
crew members - Crew members should arrange with producers
to borrow master tapes for dubbing. Master tapes should
never leave the building. It is strongly advised that volunteers
make their duplications soon after the production.
- Requests
for dubs from guests - The producer may suggest the guest
arrange a home VCR recording off cable, or can provide a
thank-you copy.
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Travel
Local
Travel
- ICTV
will compensate drivers using their own autos on ICTV business.
- Cornell
University - Free parking to press on business, with letter
from Mgr. of TV Operations to show to Cornell traffic booths.
- Ithaca
College - Driver should call ahead to Traffic Bureau (274-3756)
with license plate number for fifteen minute loading/unloading
permission.
Distant
Travel
- The
Manager of TV Operations will determine the feasibility
of non-local travel for ICTV. Trips beyond a 50 mile radius
of Ithaca require filing a Travel Authorization completed
at least one week prior to travel.
- The
Producer is responsible for arranging the travel, if any,
for their program and for assuring the travelers follow
College travel rules.
- -
Professional deportment is expected.
- -
Money is authorized for specified expenses only. It
is NOT an expense account.
- -
Receipts must be turned in to Mgr. of TV Ops. within
five days of return, and an Expense Report filed.
- For
longer trips, the Mgr. of TV Operations may reserve a College
vehicle as an alternative to driving a student car. No other
rental cars.
- Conferences
- For student media conferences (especially CMA & CBI)
ICTV may cover registration fee and shared hotel accommodataions.
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