Title: Av Westin Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1945-circa 1982

Creator:

• Westin, Av, 1929-2022

Call Number: U.S. Mss 116AF; Micro 932; Audio 509A; PH 4054

Quantity: 3.6 cubic feet (9 archives boxes), 3 reels of microfilm (35 mm), 81 tape recordings, 10 disc recordings, and 20 photographs

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of Av Westin, a prominent news producer and executive, including his years with CBS, public television, and ABC. The collection includes correspondence and memoranda, program proposals, scrapbooks and clippings, speeches and articles, personal files, photographs, and disc recordings.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0116af

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Av Westin was involved in the production of news broadcasts for two of the three major commercial television networks and for educational television. He rose from copy boy in CBS radio news to executive producer for CBS television news (1947-1967), became executive producer of the Public Broadcast Laboratory Division of NET (1967-1969), and an executive producer of ABC news (1969-1989).

1929 July 29	Avram Robert Westin, born in New York city, son of Elliot and Harriet (Radin) Westin.
1947	Summer school vacation, worked for CBS as a copy boy in Shortwave News.
1948	Summer school vacation, returned to CBS as an Editorial Desk Assistant in CBS News.
1949 June	B.A., New York University.
1949 June-1950 June	Apprentice news writer, CBS Radio News.
1950 June-1951 August	Senior news writer, tape reporter assigned to The Nation's Nightmare, and stringer reporter for Hear It Now.
1951 September-1952 March	Chief field tape reporter for The People Act.
1952 April-1954 February	Assistant Director Special Events CBS Radio. Produced World News with Robert Trout, The World Today, and Listen to Korea. cted as New York regional reporter for CBS News.
1954 February-1955 January	News Editor of The Morning Show, CBS Television.
1955 January-1957	Director-Producer, CBS Television.
1955 April 24	Married Sandra Lillian Glick.
1957 June-1958 June	Earned M.A. in Russian and East European Studies at Columbia University on CBS Foundation Fellowship.
1958	Birth of son, Mark Eric Westin.
1958-1961	Producer and Director, CBS Television.
1959	Produced and directed The Population Explosion for CBS Television.
1961 June-1963 August	CBS News Producer and Director in Europe.
1963 September-1965 March	Producer, CBS Morning News with Mike Wallace.
1965 April-1967	Executive Producer for CBS News Special Events and Election Units.
1967	Executive Producer, Executive Director, Columbia University Broadcast Laboratory.
1967-1969	Executive Director, Public Broadcast Laboratory Division of NET.
1969-1989	Executive Producer of Television News, ABC.
2022 March 12	Av Westin died in New York, New York.

The above Chronology does not agree exactly with the biographical information in Who's Who 1970-1971. Much of the above information on Westin's early years with CBS was taken from his fellowship application, box 5, folder 2. See also box 1, folder 1.

Papers of a prominent news producer and executive arranged by the various periods of his career: early years, CBS (1947-1967), public television (1967-1969), and ABC (1969-1970). Both the early and later materials are fragmentary, consisting of scrapbooks of his student years and some material related to ABC's coverage of the 1970 election, but documentation is substantial for the other two phases. Relating to CBS are files of correspondence and office memoranda to and from Fred W. Friendly, Richard S. Salant, and others; news scripts; program ideas; and clippings and news releases about Westin, programs he produced, and CBS in general. There are two scrapbooks pertaining to radio programs on which he worked as field reporter: The People Act and Nation's Nightmare The former program, which was funded by the Ford Foundation, is also represented by recordings of 20 episodes. For Westin's two years with PBL, the experimental news program produced by the Public Television Laboratory, there are memoranda, program proposals, general correspondence, speeches, articles, and news clippings.

The collection has been chronologically arranged into six main series: 1) EARLY LIFE, roughly up to 1949; 2) CBS YEARS, 1949-1967; 3) PBL YEARS, 1967-1969; 4) ABC YEARS, 1969-1970; 5) VISUAL MATERIALS, 1972; and 6) AUDIO RECORDINGS.

Early Life

Consists of the contents of one scrapbook including photographs, clippings, and other material relating to Westin's activities and experiences as a student at New York University, particularly during 1949.

CBS Years

Two scrapbooks, designated as scrapbooks #2 and #3, contain letters, CBS staff memoranda, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, postcards, interview transcripts, and other material relating to Westin's employment with CBS Radio, 1951-1952. Scrapbook #2 includes material on two radio series for which Westin worked as a field reporter: The People Act and the Nation's Nightmare. Scrapbook #3 includes photographs of the arrival of the Aircraft Carrier Wasp after its collision with the USS Hobson and coverage photographs of the 1952 political conventions with some explanatory material.

Scrapbook #2 is complemented by recordings on discs of 20 of the 26 shows in the series The People Act. These recordings represent an effort sponsored by the Ford Foundation and produced by CBS Radio to report the positive achievements of average citizens in geographically diverse American communities.

Additional material concerning Westin's employment with CBS has been arranged into the following categories: correspondence and office communication; writings and ideas; personal files; clippings; and news releases. Within each of these categories the material has in general been arranged chronologically.

The bulk of the correspondence and office communication consists of office memoranda. Westin's own designation of “confidential” office communication from 1963 to 1966 has been retained. Office communication for 1966 includes memoranda from Westin to Richard Salant concerning the organization of CBS News, particularly the public affairs aspect.

The writings and program ideas include radio scripts, a draft of an article comparing radio and television news coverage, program ideas and proposals, a transcript of an interview with Westin on election coverage, and two drafts of his masters essay. The program ideas and proposals are arranged chronologically with the exception of the materials on Newshunters, First Person/Today's Heroes, and Television around the World for which Westin's original arrangement has been retained.

The Earlier news releases (1952-1961) are selective but those of 1965 and 1966 appear to be the entire “bundle” released by CBS.

PBL Years

This material dealing with Westin's years of employment with the Public Broadcast Laboratory Division of National Educational Television has been arranged in six categories: correspondence and memoranda; Editorial Policy Board Minutes and correspondence; programming; speeches and articles; personal files; and clippings.

The general correspondence includes a few letters from Westin to Richard Salant, President, CBS News. For extracts from the PBL memoranda see the “Processor's Note: at the end of this inventory. Included with the Editorial Policy Board minutes and correspondence is a complete list of the members of the board with their addresses and occupations.

The programming category includes a program rundown complete through May 5, 1968. Program proposals for February-May 1968 were arranged alphabetically by the name of the producer in charge. Westin's original arrangement was retained for the June-October 1968 projects. Documentation of the East European project seems to be rather complete since Westin participated personally. Included is correspondence with Paul Zinner who worked as a consultant for the project.

ABC Years

This section of the collection is as yet only fragmentary. There is some material on ABC election coverage.

Visual Materials

A small set of photographs relating to his book on heroin, Heroes and Heroin, and from Nixon's trip to China in 1972.

Audio Recordings

Acquisition Information

Placed on deposit by Avram R. Westin, New York, New York, August 31, 1970 and February 2, 1971. Accession Number: MCHC70-096; MCHC71-008

Processing Information

Processed by RS, March 27, 1972.

U.S. Mss 116AF Box   1 Folder   1	Series: Biographical Information
	Series: Early Life	⇧
Box   1 Folder   2-3	Scrapbook #1 - contents
Box   1 Folder   4	Class night and commencement photos
Box   1 Folder   5	Selected New York University newspapers, 1949 February-April
	Series: CBS Years	⇧
Box   2	Scrapbook #2, 1951
Box   3	Scrapbook #3, 1952
Audio 509A	Disc recordings of The People Act Note: Narrated by: Robert Trout. Produced by: The People Act Center, State College Pennsylvania Broadcast nationally on the CBS Radio Network. Formerly Disc 115A.
Audio   509A/82	Program 1: Gary, Indiana—“Women Unite to Attack the Problem of Crime” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/1.
Audio   509A/82 (continued)	Program 2: Arlington, Virginia—“Citizens Organize to Reform Their Schools” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/1 (continued).
Audio   509A/83	Program 3: Blairsville, Georgia—“Farmers Rebuild Land and Lives by Working Together” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/2.
Audio   509A/83 (continued)	Program 4: Kansas City, Missouri—“Mexican-Americans Integrate into Life of Their City” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/2 (continued).
Audio   509A/84	Program 7: Tupelo, Mississippi—“Townspeople and Farmers Unite to Revive Area” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/3.
Audio   509A/84 (continued)	Program 8: New Sharon, Maine—“Citizens Finance and Rebuild Burned-out School” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/3 (continued).
Audio   509A/85	Program 11: Syracuse, New York—“A Community Acts to Meet the Needs of Older People” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/4.
Audio   509A/85 (continued)	Program 12: Belleville, Illinois—“An Airbase and a Community Work Out Their Common Problems” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/4 (continued).
Audio   509A/86	Program 13: King County, Washington—“Citizens Reorganized Their Juvenile Court System” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/5.
Audio   509A/86 (continued)	Program 14: Binghamton, New York—“A Community Provides New Life for the Handicapped” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/5 (continued).
Audio   509A/87	Program 15: Scranton, Pennsylvania—“A City Unites to Reduce Mass Unemployment” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/6.
Audio   509A/87 (continued)	Program 16: Seattle, Washington—“A Racially Mixed Area Learns the Power of Teamwork” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/6 (continued).
Audio   509A/88	Program 19: Carrol County, Georgia—“A Farm Community Receives a Visitor from India” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/7.
Audio   509A/88 (continued)	Program 20: Owatonna, Minnesota—“Displaced Persons Are Welcomed as New Americans” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/7 (continued).
Audio   509A/89	Program 21: East Harlem, New York—“Citizens of an Overcrowded Area Face Their Problems” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/8.
Audio   509A/89 (continued)	Program 22: Santa Barbara, California—“A Community Confronts Alcoholism” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/8 (continued).
Audio   509A/90	Program 23: Alexandria, Minnesota—“Young People Organize and a Town Unites” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/9.
Audio   509A/90 (continued)	Program 24: Jerome County, Idaho—“Neighbors Unite to Remake a Farm in a Day” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/9 (continued).
Audio   509A/91	Program 25: Delaware, Ohio—“A College Town Becomes a School of Practical Politics” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/10.
Audio   509A/91 (continued)	Program 26: “The People Act Throughout the Nation” Note: Formerly Disc 115A/10 (continued).
U.S. Mss 116AF	Correspondence and office communication
Box   4 Folder   1	General correspondence, 1951 May-1960 March
	Office communication
Box   4 Folder   2	1953 April-1957 July
Box   4 Folder   3	1961 May-1966 May
Box   4 Folder   4	Confidential
	1963 October-1964 February
Box   4 Folder   5	1965 June-1965 December
Box   4 Folder   6	1966
Box   4 Folder   7	Letters to Fred Friendly, 1966 August-December
Box   4 Folder   8	Personnel records with related office communication
Box   4 Folder   9	Miscellaneous office communication
	Writings and program ideas
Box   4 Folder   10	Scripts -- CBS radio, 1949 December-1951 August
Box   4 Folder   11	Article draft, circa 1954-1955
	Program ideas
Box   4 Folder   12	1953-1956
Box   4 Folder   13	1957-1963
Box   4 Folder   14	1964-1965
Box   4 Folder   15	1966
Box   4 Folder   16	Newshunters, 1956-1966
Box   4 Folder   17	First Person/Today's Heroes, 1957-1967
Box   4 Folder   18	Television Around the World, 1966
Box   5 Folder   1	Interview transcript, 1966 November 29
	CBS fellowship
Box   5 Folder   2	Correspondence
Box   5 Folder   3	Master's essay, first draft
Box   5 Folder   4	Master's essay, rough draft
	Personal files
Box   5 Folder   5	CBS contracts and correspondence, 1955-1965
Box   5 Folder   6	Legal documents, 1955-1961
Box   3 Folder   1	Certificates and awards, 1958-1965
Box   5 Folder   7	Appointment book, 1961 June-December
Box   5 Folder   8	Material on appointment as CBS News producer and director in Europe
Box   5 Folder   9	Photos of Westin at work, circa 1961
Box   5 Folder   10	Correspondence - personal bills, 1965
Box   5 Folder   11	“Early Bird” information, 1965 April-May
U.S. Mss 116AF/Micro 932	Clippings
Box/Folder   6/1 Reel/Frame   1/1	1952-1957
Box/Folder   6/2 Reel/Frame   1/25	1958-1960
Box/Folder   6/3 Reel/Frame   1/56	1961-1962
Box/Folder   6/4 Reel/Frame   1/70	1965-1966
	News releases
Box/Folder   6/5 Reel/Frame   1/94	1952-1955
Box/Folder   6/6 Reel/Frame   1/114	1959-1961
Box/Folder   6/7 Reel/Frame   1/122	1965
Box/Folder   6/8 Reel/Frame   1/195	“Early Bird,” 1965 April-June
Box/Folder   6/9 Reel/Frame   1/232	1966
Box/Folder   3/2 Reel/Frame	Miscellaneous -- CBS
	Series: PBL Years	⇧
Box/Folder   6/10 Reel/Frame   1/323	Explanatory documents
	Correspondence and memoranda
Box/Folder   6/11 Reel/Frame   1/365	General correspondence
	Memoranda
Box/Folder   6/12 Reel/Frame   1/385	1967 February-August
Box/Folder   6/13 Reel/Frame   1/478	1967 August-December
Box/Folder   6/14 Reel/Frame   1/539	1968 January-October
Box/Folder   6/15 Reel/Frame   1/618	Saratoga meeting, 1968 May
Box/Folder   6/16 Reel/Frame   1/626	Editorial Policy Board minutes and correspondence, 1967 May-1968 February
	Programming
Box/Folder   7/1 Reel/Frame   1/685	Broadcasts - program rundown, programs 1-24, 1967 November-1968 April
	Program proposals, 1968 May
Box/Folder   7/2 Reel/Frame   1/806	Avram Westin
Box/Folder   7/3 Reel/Frame   1/891	Bill Anderson
Box/Folder   7/4 Reel/Frame   1/1015	David Oppenheim
Box/Folder   7/5 Reel/Frame   2/1	Joe Russin
Box/Folder   7/6 Reel/Frame   2/57	John Wicklein
Box/Folder   7/7 Reel/Frame   2/82	Miscellaneous program proposals, 1968 May
Box/Folder   7/8 Reel/Frame   2/98	Projects, 1968 June-October
Box/Folder   7/9 Reel/Frame   2/243	Paper on “The Middle East,” 1968 September
	Eastern Europe project
Box/Folder   7/10 Reel/Frame   2/294	Correspondence
Box/Folder   7/11 Reel/Frame   2/377	Correspondence and budget material
Box/Folder   7/12 Reel/Frame   2/493	Transcripts--“Czechoslovakia, the Wayward Satellite,” and “News in Perspective”
Box/Folder   7/13 Reel/Frame   2/550	Conventions and elections - election preview, 1968
	Speeches and articles
Box/Folder   8/1 Reel/Frame   2/559	Speeches, 1966 December-1968 June
Box/Folder   8/2 Reel/Frame   2/760	Interview transcript, 1967 June 27
Box/Folder   8/3 Reel/Frame   2/781	Article copies and abstracts
	Personal files
Box/Folder   8/4 Reel/Frame   2/821	Telephone call and appointment book, 1967 May-1969 February
Box/Folder   8/5 Reel/Frame   2/917	Expense reports, 1967 March-1969 February
Box/Folder   8/6 Reel/Frame   3/1	Trip details, 1967
Box/Folder   8/7 Reel/Frame   3/25	Pension plan, insurance, 1967-1968
Box/Folder   8/8 Reel/Frame   3/31	National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - copies of nomination plaques, congratulations, 1968-1969
Box/Folder   8/9 Reel/Frame   3/43	Television jury, Albert Lasker Medical Journalism Award
	Clippings
Box/Folder   8/10 Reel/Frame   3/51	1966 December-1967
Box/Folder   8/11 Reel/Frame   3/71	1968
Box/Folder   8/12 Reel/Frame   3/134	1969
Box/Folder   8/13 Reel/Frame   3/167	Miscellaneous - PBL
	Series: ABC Years	⇧
Box/Folder   8/14 Reel/Frame   3/171	Proceedings, ABC Affiliate General Managers meeting
Box/Folder   8/15 Reel/Frame   3/210	Telephone call record book, 1969 March-1970 January
Box/Folder   9/1 Reel/Frame	Interdepartment correspondence, election coverage, 1970
Box/Folder   9/2 Reel/Frame	Errata sheets and update for ABC News political fact book, 1970
Box/Folder   9/2a Reel/Frame	ABC News Political Fact book, 1970
Box/Folder   9/3 Reel/Frame	Article on TV Evening News, about Westin as ABC producer, 1970
Audio   509A/1	Tape-recorded interview of Westin and Wallace Westfield, executive producer of NBC News, on their reactions to a speech by Vice President Agnew, 1969 November 26
PH 4054	Series: Visual Materials	⇧
Folder   1	Photographs for Heroes and Heroin and from Nixon's trip to China
Audio 509A	Series: Audio Recordings	⇧
Audio   509A/1	David Schoenbrun commenting on network news programs, 1973
Audio   509A/2	Av Westin telephone interview conducted by Syracuse University, 1975 April 17
Audio   509A/3	Sermon, Rev. Albert B. Cleage Jr. Central United Church of Christ Detroit, Michigan, 1967 July 23, 30
Audio   509A/4	Sermon, Rev. Albert B. Cleage Jr. Central United Church of Christ Detroit, Michigan, 1967 August 6, 13
Audio   509A/5-12	P.B.L. [Public Broadcast Laboratory] show #1 - Dress Part 1-5, 1967 November 5 Note: Part 1 (506A/6), part 4 (506A/10), and part 5 (506A/12) are duplicates.
Audio   509A/13-16	P.B.L. show #2 - Dress Part 1, 4-5, 1967 November 12 Note: Part 2 and/or 3 may be on 509A/14.
Audio   509A/17	Defectors Austin Texas Feed, 1967 November 17
Audio   509A/18-22	Police and minority relations Part 1-5, 1967 December 17
Audio   509A/23	Mai Kai Production on location Master music, 1968 January 10
Audio   509A/24	PBL from Channel 2, 1968 January 28
Audio   509A/25-28	PBL University of Illinois Reel 3-6, 1968 February 18
Audio   509A/29	Complete Tracks for PBL, 1968 December 12
Audio   509A/30	Public Education Lindsay Tape 161, 1969 January 29
Audio   509A/31	PBL "European Tsasiness," 1969 February 20
Audio   509A/32-33	PBL New York Audio-Part 1-2 Miller WPU, 1969 February 20
Audio   509A/34-35	London Audio Part 1-2, 1969 February 20
Audio   509A/36-37	Thomas Jefferson Symposium, 1972 April 10, 11
Audio   509A/38	Speaking of Everything, 1973 December 14
Audio   509A/39	Av Westin WGST with Forrest Sawyer, 1979 December 24
Audio   509A/40	Astronomy American Version Final mix reel 7/8
Audio   509A/41	Send to Av Westin
Audio   509A/42	Conversation between Forrest Sawyer (Host/Producer of MIDDAY, WGST Newsradio 92, Atlanta) and Bob Freeman, ABC cameraman between 1979-1981
Audio   509A/43	PBL Show music (dupe) open theme station break close theme
Audio   509A/44	PBL hear us o fool - Reel #3
Audio   509A/45	Astronomy American Reel 2-3
Audio   509A/46	R #3 Pt 2 Dean Acheson Interview
Audio   509A/47	Astronomy American RL 6
Audio   509A/48	Astronomy American Reel 4-5
Audio   509A/49	Unmarked 1
Audio   509A/50	Roberts show 3
Audio   509A/51	Dapss 3
Audio   509A/52	R #3 pt. 1 Dean Acheson Interview
Audio   509A/53	Big PBL with Pings/ Energy PBL with Pings PBL interconnects master
Audio   509A/54	Crisis # 3
Audio   509A/55	Generation Gap Rolls #86-88, 64-66
Audio   509A/56	R # 2 Pt 2 dean Acheson Interview
Audio   509A/57	Unmarked 2
Audio   509A/58	# 6 (45 minutes of wire tapping)
Audio   509A/59	PBL John W. Gardner show Cornwall U.
Audio   509A/60	80 PBL Univ. Parker Cont RIP 92
Audio   509A/61	Reel # 1 Pt 1 Dean Acheson Interview
Audio   509A/62	Public Ed. Trans R #45-48
Audio   509A/63	PBL Hear us o fool Reel #1
Audio   509A/64	81 Packer (continued) RIP 93 mis slated on tape as
Audio   509A/65	PBL Univ. 78 outside Gen studies RIP: 89 Packer Int. RIP 90 Transfer at usual settings
Audio   509A/66	Roll # 1 Gordon Parks Takes 1-5
Audio   509A/67	PBL Views on TV's impact on the new Bill Anderson
Audio   509A/68	PBL can man survive
Audio   509A/69	79 PBL-Univ Packer RIP: 91
Audio   509A/70	Radio and TU Reports 41 and 42 Vermont 80 PBL Univ Packer (continued) RIP 92
Audio   509A/71	993-90 Public Ed. Trans 34 and 35
Audio   509A/72	Av Westin PBL TV News Charleston
Audio   509A/73	PBL Jan 12 Show # 7 announce copy
Audio   509A/74	Special Assistance was provided by waid and chicogs
Audio   509A/75	Music for Pei Intro if needed
Audio   509A/76	Unmarked 4
Audio   509A/77	M.L. King 2
Audio   509A/78	M.L. King 4
Audio   509A/79	Unmarked 5
Audio   509A/80	Unmarked 6
Audio   509A/81	PBL Hear us o fool reel # 2
Audio   509A/82-91	The People Act Note: See full list under Series: CBS Years.

Memoranda of the Public Broadcast Laboratory and the Ford Foundation found in this collection unfold much of the intriguing story of PBL. Extracts which are presented below from a selection of these memoranda are intended to be used as a guide to facilitate usage of these documents and other portions of this collection which deal with the Public Broadcast Laboratory. Since the memoranda have in some instances been paraphased, the material itself should be consulted for the wording of exact quotations and for complete detail.

March 13, 1967 --Av Westin

Has been confusion over what is to be the ultimate role of the highly skilled professionals of the Broadcast Laboratory. Rivalry with NET could easily develop. Simple fact, NET has no capable news and public affairs staff. No one who has come to work for the Broadcast Laboratory would have done so if it were a part of NET as presently organized and answerable to the current NET executives. Recommend an Editorial Board be formed.

April 4, 1967 --Av Westin

Essential difference in operating philosophy of PBL and NET; “PBL charged with producing live interconnected broadcasts with stations whereas NET... is producing air-mailed taped broadcasts for stations.”

My understanding, both PBL and NET may approach Ford Foundation at any time with proposals for broadcasts.

May 5, 1967 -- Av Westin

Table of Organization for PBL. Essential philosophy, provide a meaningful alternative to commercial television. Have set up desks, each desk to help develop long-range projects in television terms. Greg Shuker, documentary producer; John Wicklein, national desk; Joe Russin, social sciences desk.

May 23, 1967 -- Memorandum of understanding between Ford Foundation and NET.

Grant for purpose of setting up and financing operation of a separate and distinct division to be known as the Public Broadcast Laboratory of National Educational Television as an experimental laboratory responsible for the production of topical and relevant broadcasts distributed by live interconnection on Sunday nights. Interconnected broadcasts concerning 1968 elections. General manager of PBL to be known as Executive Director. Editorial Policy Board to be appointed by NET Board of Directors to which Executive Director of PBL responsible for content of programs. NET Board of Directors will appoint not more than four of its members on a PBL Administrative Committee to whom the Executive Director of PBL shall be responsible for all phases of operations other than content of broadcasts. Intended that PBL shall have the greatest possible autonomy in planning its budget, employment of personnel, and methods of production. Shall be at all times full cooperation between financial, legal, and programming personnel of the PBL Division and NET.

(no date) -- “PBL, A Preliminary Fact Sheet”

Beginning Sunday November 1967 weekly, 8:30 - 10:30 eastern time. Broadening public and cultural affairs coverage for television to include all areas of human affairs. Criterion of whether or not to include -- relevance. Amount of time to suit subject matter. Mandate for experimentation and innovation. PBL proposes to publish in television terms the work of professors, diplomats, scholars, artists, and anyone else with credentials.

August 18, 1967 -- Ford Foundation to NET

$7,920,000 grant for PBL for 1 1/2 year period from March 1, 1967 to September 1, 1968.

October 10, 1967 -- “Goals of PBL”

Draft statement by Editorial Board.

November 2, 1967 -- Av Westin

Letter to members of Editorial Board on first PBL program.

November 16, 1967 -- Dean Edward Barrett to Westin

Editorial Policy Board's statements to clarify working relationships. (Statement annotated and underlined by Westin)

November 17, 1967 -- Westin to Barrett

Reservations on Board's statement.

Draft of written comment to Board. Seeks clear deliniation of responsibility. Final authority, with respect to an individual or programs must lie in one man. A specific program cannot be organized by a committee.

I realized full well that Board would be concerned and frustrated about the incident concerning first broadcast. I too was concerned and frustrated and realized its full implications. I am sure no such confrontation will take place within the context of any issue in the future.

November 22, 1967 -- Barrett to Westin.

Explanation of Board statement.

November 29, 1967 -- Draft “PBL Operating Principles”

December 15, 1967 -- “Goals and Operating Principles of PBL”

May 9, 1968 -- Westin to Fred Friendly

Regrouping of NET organizational structure. From outset, persistent confusion as to role of Editorial Board in terms of its responsibilities. We as broadcasters, found it difficult, if not impossible to produce successful programs by committee.

What we at PBL feel the organization of such a board should be. Reduced in size to five members. Prime function, to review program content and performances in light of PBL's established objectives.

We see PBL in its next season establishing itself as the leading edge of an expanded news and public affairs division of a merged PBL/NET for 1969-1970 season.

Would be harmful to allow PBL to drift into second year without some of this basic restructuring.

May 10, 1968 -- “Report and Recommendations on PBL”

Editorial Policy Board recommends termination of PBL experiment in its present form at end of current series.

Recommends inauguration next season of an entirely new series.

Should have a new chief executive officer with sounder and more sophisticated editorial judgment and greater ability to challenge form and content than is now the case.

New chief executive should be clearly employed by NET.

We believe the experience of this year has confirmed need for a Board of this kind. Employment and retention of the chief executive should be subject to the concurrence of the Editorial Policy Board.

May 10, 1968 -- Barrett to Case

Board hopes to see this whole matter handled with fairness and dignity.

April 25, 1968 -- Editorial Policy Board to Everett Case

Our influence almost entirely negative. PBL's failure to meet or approach objectives of experimentation and innovation. Staff has in general aimed low. In form, PBL indistinguishable from pattern developed by commercial television. In substance, has rarely departed from either the topics or intellectual levels of conventional television. Staff has seldom turned to members of board for light and leading on substantive matters.

Recommendations:

1. Replacement of present executive directors.
2. Clarification of Editorial Policy Board's relations with staff, NET, and Ford Foundation.
3. Shift of board's attention to board question of experimental policy.
4. Removal of PBL from participation in 1968 election coverage of presidential campaign.

May 21, 1968 -- Av Westin

Meeting in Saratoga to discuss PBL programming issues. Redefined PBL's purpose.

June 7, 1968 -- Av Westin to Friendly

You have asked me to advance a new plan that would represent a solution to the current impasse surrounding PBL's operational status. It clearly diminishes and narrows the overall programming authority and control originally granted to me at the creation of PBL.

Program Advisory Committee for PBL of five members, Fred Bohen, chairman. I would relinquish to Fred Bohen ultimate responsibility and final authority over overall shape and composition of the series and general content and editorial thrust.

Final responsibility and authority for decision should repose in one individual, Fred Bohen.

PBL Administrative Committee, vacancy caused by resignation of Dean Edward Barrett.

October 15, 1968 -- Ford Foundation to NET

Grant of $4,580,000 to support operations, program production and interconnection costs of PBL for a nine month period beginning October 1, 1968.