14 North Shore Towers Courier n January 2017 BEST WESTIN Legendary TV Newsman Reports to NST BY VICKI MAZEL Photo by Stephen Vrattos University Club members scored big time with the guest for the December meeting, Av Westin. One of the top creative behindthe scenes television journalists, Westin created and developed more award winning news broadcasts than can be listed here, among them “CBS Morning News with Mike Wallace,” ABC’s “Nightline,” and “20/20,” and “PBL (Public Broadcast Lab).” Westin started out as copy boy for Edward R. Murrow, and worked his way up from desk assistant to executive producer, director and writer, and has had a major influence on newscasting for decades. Working with such luminaries as Howard K. Smith, Walter Cronkite, Eric Severaid, and others, he presented a program for University Club members on the issue of how newscasting has changed through the years. “What happened to our news from Murrow to MSNBC?” he queried. In describing news leaders of the past, he cited the strict standards that were set for factual reporting, spotlighting Paley and Sarnoff. Setting the bar high, these titans of the industry epitomized integrity in the field. Years ago, news broadcasts were considered a “Public Service” and not a money maker with profits caming from entertainment shows. Local station owners lived in the area and believed in giving back to the community. But as the media industry grew, distant owners took over and commercial ads became more profitable. Non-profit news programs were cut back, because their ratings didn’t bring in much revenue. “That led to the ‘Tabloidization’ of News; If it bleeds, it leads.” The result is what we have today: less fact-checking and a disregard for “fairness and balance,” particularly on the part of the cable news operations, where there are no regulations. Westin mentioned Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes as examples of what has morphed into newscasting today. News is no longer watched to learn, but too re-enforce one’s own political attitude and prejudices. When reporting news, Westin suggests reporting “not what people want to hear, but what they have to hear.” Westin called it a “Corruption of the system. Young people now get training in producing a slick form of entertainment.” The expression “Dumbing down” was mentioned by University Club member Belle Dicker, and a spirited discussion with the audience led to a series of observations, such as emphasis of style over substance. The issue of fact-checking also held much interest for the audience. According to Westin, checking has now become a big industry. Emerging as trusted sources are the Center for Public Integrity, Pro Publica and Marshall Project, a Bloomberg company. Recently, Facebook announced its intention of cracking down on fake news, using a method of policing by members, who can alert the site to any dubious news stories, which are posted on it. Westin welcomes this interest and mentioned the fact that WikiLeaks never verifies any of its information. “Ratings equal dollars, and 44% of people get their news from YouTube and Facebook,” Westin said in summation. “The elements of news, which are the most successful in today’s world are sex and murder, and factual news is under serious attack. Our population needs to be much more educated to interpret and filter news coverage properly.” Don’t miss the University Club’s next enlightened discussion with New York Regional Director of the Anti- Defamation League, Evan Bernstein New York Regional Director of the Anti- Defamation League, Evan Bernstein, is responsible for all initiatives, related to civil rights, BDS against Israel and anti-Semitism, across New York state. Regularly quoted in local and national news, Bernstein sits on the New York City Public Advocate’s Hate Crime Task Force and has forged partnerships with senior law enforcement, education and intergroup leaders across the state. Thursday, January 26, in the downstairs card room at 7:30 p.m. Christmas 1947 BY ROBERT LEVINE I was a seven-year-old Jewish boy with severe orthopedic problems, and for eight months in 1947, I was confined to The House of St. Giles the Cripple, located on President Street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Since 1891—despite its politically incorrect name and regardless of gender, race, religion, or a family’s ability to pay—St. Giles—run by a Catholic charity— never turned a child away. During the Christmas season in 1947, trees glittered on each of the hospital’s four floors, and red and green holiday lights glowed in all the wards. Patients who could get around in wheelchairs or on crutches visited sicker, less mobile kids in their rooms and wards. Every one of more than 100 patients, as well as the nuns and nurses who took care of us at St. Giles, was happy to be celebrating the joyful holiday. This was my first Christmas celebration, and like the other Jewish patients, I learned about the meaning, importance and joy of this special holiday. Santa Claus distributed toys and games donated by the community. Sister Agatha formed a band in our ward, and a piano was moved in because one of the kids knew how to play. Sister Agatha conducted our band and made sure that every child was included. I played the triangle, which required very little skill. All I had to do was bang it on cue. She also taught us Christmas carols. To this day, I can remember the words. Playing in the band and singing the season’s songs made all us shut-ins very happy. We watched Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” everyone’s favorite film. I identified with Tiny Tim the youngest child in the Cratchit family. He inspired me, and, like him, I looked forward to the day I would be able to walk, even if I needed crutches. There were children who had been patients at St. Giles for more than a year. Some of them had no families and very few visitors, but during the Christmas season they forgot that they were different— couldn’t walk, run, or play ball. Christmas 1947 made all of us believe that some day we would run around the bases or catch a touchdown pass. In spite of our afflictions, this was the time to be happy, hopeful and to love life. Robert Levine and his wife Karen live in Building #3. A retired CPA, he devotes four hours daily to writing short prose inspired by his life experience, and diverse interests. He is currently writing a play based on the only documented “Blood Libel” incident that has taken place in this country. WRITE ON, Robert! University Club President Shirley Wershba and Legendary TV Newsman Av Westin 14 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ December 2016
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