6/4/98
A five-minute feed of highlights of the Ohio University 1998 commencement with U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former hostage Terry Anderson will be at 16:30 EDT June 13. Satellite coordinates are SBS6, transponder 9. Trouble number during the uplink is (740) 593-4985.
A five-camera feed will be provided by Ohio University Media Productions and the Telecommunications Center, and 12 audio and video feeds will be available in a Convocation Center media room.
If using either the satellite feed or recording the feed on site, please give video courtesy to Ohio University.
If coming by chopper, land at the Ohio University Airport in Albany and make advance arrangements with University News Services for the 20-minute drive to the event.
Large JPEG photos suitable for newspaper reproduction of commencement highlights will be uploaded to the World Wide Web after the ceremonies Saturday. The JPEG file ID will be listed on a press release to be issued Saturday after Gingrich speaks. For priority delivery of press release, contact University News Services in advance.
Designated parking spaces will be provided within 500 feet of the Convo media room for up to five satellite trucks. Arrangements to run cable between satellite trucks and the media room must be approved by a contact listed above before June 12. Satellite truck parking spaces not filled by 8 a.m. will be relinquished for guest parking. Note that traffic to Athens is very heavy during commencement, so plan your trip time accordingly. News crew cars may not be parked next to satellite trucks, but a designated spot will be provided for all news media.
As in past years, reporters, photographers and videographers covering Ohio University commencement ceremonies June 12-13 will be restricted to designated areas inside the Convocation Center. Media representatives will not be permitted to circulate on the floor to conduct interviews and/or take pictures of graduates during the ceremonies.
Only photographers and television news crews will be allowed on the floor, and they must stay within the areas designated on the attached diagram. Shots also may be taken from the lower balcony, provided equipment does not interfere with guests' views of the proceedings.
Photographers and videographers may move to the front of the podium to shoot speakers and the honorary degree recipients, although we ask that you do so as quickly as possible. During the two commencement speeches, photos and video from in front of the podium may be taken only during the first five minutes.
Shots in front of the podium must be taken with hand-held cameras only. A space for photographers and television news crews with tripods will be designated along the side walls on each side of the stage. REMEMBER, GROUND FLOOR SPACE IS TIGHT AND PEOPLE MUST KEEP MOVING. NO INTERVIEWS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CONVOCATION CENTER, BUT FEEL FREE TO DO SO ANYWHERE OUTSIDE.
Processions of graduates to and from their seats may be shot only from the lower balcony and the designated floor areas on both sides of the stage. PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ROAM IN FRONT OF THE STAGE WHILE THE GRADUATES ARE RECEIVING THEIR DEGREES.
To gain access to the news media areas, media must have and wear press passes. The passes can be picked up from University News Services in 164 Scott Quad between noon Thursday June 11 and 5 p.m. Friday June 12, or on the day of commencement at the University News Services table at the Physical Therapy entrance to the Convocation Center. The media entrance has changed from the pass gate of previous years to the Physical Therapy entrance on the west side of the Convo. For more information on press passes, contact Paul Ladwig of University Media Productions (broadcast) at 593-9843 or Dwight Woodward of University News Services (general) at 593-1043.
The only people exempted from these general restrictions are the university photographers and videographers, and the two contracted studio photographers.
Appropriate attire is respectfully requested of all news media.
Please contact University News Services in advance of commencement if you have any special needs.