June 4, 2007
Cox Foundation Provides Grant for College

The College of Communications has received a $25,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation for instructional equipment for the College’s television studio.

The foundation approved the grant at its April meeting. Earlier this decade, the foundation made a similar $25,000 grant.

Cox Television owns two stations in Pennsylvania: WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh and WJAC-TV in Johnstown. Both long have enjoyed fruitful relationships with the College. During the past six years, 41 College of Communications students have served for-credit internships at WPXI or WJAC.

As a result of the gift, the College's control-room facility will be named the WJAC-TV Control Room.

“We are grateful for the consistent support we have received from the James M. Cox Foundation and from Cox television properties in Pennsylvania,” said Dean Doug Anderson. “And we count Dick Schrott, vice president and general manager of WJAC, among our best friends. We are particularly grateful to him for his advice and support through the years.”

Schrott serves on the College’s Board of Visitors, a group of media professionals from across the country who provide advice and support to the administration, faculty and students. Ray Carter, vice president and general manager of WPXI, also is familiar with and supportive of the relationship that the College has carved with Cox properties.

The College’s television studio serves as the laboratory for as many as 12 sections of basic production each year. The studio also is home to the College’s public-affairs broadcasting course and the advanced course in television production.

The College’s award-winning weekly 30-minute television student newscast is produced in the studio and control room. That show, “Centre County Report,” airs on WPSU-TV, Penn State’s Public Broadcasting station, and it can be seen in 29 Pennsylvania and New York counties. It also is streamed online at wpsu.org.ccr.psu.edu and ccrpodcast.blogspot.com.

The College recently upgraded its television studio. With the most recent Cox Foundation grant, the College will purchase additional equipment that will enable its broadcast facilities to be all-digital.

“This will help to position us to offer one of the best teaching and learning educational environments in the country,” said Thor Wasbotten, a former network affiliate news director who serves as general manager of television operations in the College’s Division of Broadcasting.

Contact information:
Steve Sampsell
Coordinator of College Relations
Phone: (814) 865-8801
Email:sws102@psu.edu