Program gives California chance to add its 2 cents

  ASUCLA Photography Sheriff Leroy Baca
and Chancellor Albert Carnesale discuss issues on
the first episode of "World in Focus," which aired last
Thursday.

By Kenny Chang
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Much of the nation’s news comes from the East Coast. Be it
New York, Washington, D.C., Boston or any of the United
States’ news resources, America is greatly influenced by the
eastern region. Until now.

UCLA and Adelphia Communications have teamed to create a
television series called “World in Focus,” airing every
Thursday on the Adelphia Southern California Cable System, that
brings a West Coast voice to key issues in global affairs. Though
there were already initial ideas in planning such a program prior
to Sept. 11, the events that transpired on that day brought the
importance of such a show to immediate attention.

“This is a show that we think is critical for American
television viewers to have,” said Bill Rosendahl, Vice
President of Political Affairs for Adelphia Communications, who is
also moderator of the show. “It’s a show on world
events, on America’s role within the world. Americans know
very little about the other countries on the planet, and this is a
show that will focus on the world and give Americans some insight
into it’s position on the planet.”

“World in Focus” will be filmed in California, and
will draw on resources from the West Coast like UCLA Chancellor
Albert Carnesale and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca to present
the analyzation of post-Sept. 11 events.

Other guests scheduled to appear include several U.S.
Representatives, journalists, political analysts, and UCLA faculty
specializing in national security, bioterrorism, public health, the
global economy, communications and international law. Avraham Burg,
Speaker of the Knesset (the Israeli parliament), will also be
present and interviewed on today’s episode, “The War
Against Terrorism.”

The criteria for guests comes under four general categories, one
being UCLA faculty, from departments in the college and also the
professional schools. The other categories include organizations in
Los Angeles like think tanks, elected officials and community
leaders of various types.

“The idea was to have an active and ongoing dialogue
between UCLA faculty and community leaders of various types on
important issues of the day,” said Geoffrey Garrett, vice
provost of international studies, who also plays a key role in
coordinating the UCLA efforts. “That was the whole idea of
the program and the execution is turning out that way. We have a
very broad mix of people of high quality.”

The show will have a panel format, and depending on the guest
being interviewed, will fluctuate from a direct interview to a
roundtable discussion. There are currently four pilot episodes
which will be shown initially. Each episode will have a separate
theme, and upcoming themes include “The War Against
Terrorism” (today), “9/11 and the Global Economy”
(Jan. 24) and “Hollywood and the Media Post-9/11″ (Jan.
31).

Aside from the normal “talking heads” that take up
most of every news show, “World in Focus” aims to bring
the world in focus.

“Each show is to be a learning experience for the
viewer,” said Rosendahl. “Each show is to give people
information and insight in connecting to the issues of the planet,
so that we all as Americans can get to appreciate the world we live
in and understand the dynamic among the 190-plus nations, and all
the variety of languages and cultures and religions that the world
has.”

Integral to the show is the fact that it is located in
California. Allowing the producers to draw on the resources like
the Rand and Milken Institutes, or the several universities here,
means a West Coast perspective will be presented. In addition to
this, California is the perfect epicenter for such programming.

“We know that Southern California, which is where
we’re launching this show, is truly the microcosm of the
Earth,” said Rosendahl. “We have every language, every
ethnic group, every nationality on the face of the Earth here in
large numbers and we see ourselves as a model for how the world can
become a harmonious community. And if we can draw among ourselves
the talent and expertise so Americans can understand the great
earth we’re on, we’re all going to be better
off.”

The intention of the program is to inform the viewers of the
world’s happenings and to elaborate on fundamental guiding
principles. The producers simply want to help Americans, and
hopefully, the world.

“The direct target audience are people who want to know
what the world is about and want to make a difference with their
lives. It’s all age groups, it’s all ethnicities,
it’s all religions, it’s all nationalities, our target
audience are people who want to know how to be part of and what the
world it’s all about ““ it’s everybody,”
said Rosendahl.