|
October 23, 2000
Q&A:
|
|
|
Bill Berlin
Political Science; Senior Producer, "Caucus: New Jersey"
"I look upon this as a lifetime achievement award," Berlin joked as he clutched the Emmy. He laughs because that's really not why the political science professor finds working on the program fulfilling. "For me this is an extension of teaching. We try to create situations so the viewers will learn something, so it's gratifying to produce a program and feel that people have learned from it."
Berlin recently discussed his work on "Caucus: New Jersey"Ñthe longest running public affairs program in the stateÑand his contributions to Montclair State's student-produced cable television program, "Carpe Diem."
INSIGHT: Tell us about the episode that garnered you an Emmy.
INSIGHT: What are some other topics you feel have had a strong impact on viewers?
INSIGHT: Who came up with the concept for "Caucus: New Jersey"?
INSIGHT: What are some learning opportunities "Caucus: New Jersey" presents?
INSIGHT: What's next for you?
The running joke in Bill Berlin's house is that he's the Susan Lucci of public television. Although nominated for several Emmys as senior producer of "Caucus: New Jersey," his name was never pulled from the envelopeÑuntil this year. Berlin was finally called to the stage to accept that gold statue that had eluded him for 15 years. But he wasn't there to accept it. Berlin didn't think he was going to win, so he stayed home this year, which has probably given his family enough ammunition to begin a whole new running joke.
The MidAtlantic Regional Emmy Berlin won was for his work on "Alzheimer'sÑWhat You Should Know, What You Can Do," an episode from "Caucus: New Jersey's" Healthy Living Series.
Berlin: For the Alzheimer's show we had an excellent taped introductory piece, and the studio discussion was extremely sensitive. The guests whose spouses had Alzheimer's spoke forthrightly about their difficulties and how Alzheimer's is really a family disease, and the feature piece that focused on a family impacted by Alzheimer's was compelling. We also had a person who was in the early stages of Alzheimer's. There was an interesting dynamic at work, and I think it showed people a face of the disease they don't normally see.
Berlin: Last year we produced a segment on breast cancer that was nominated in the best individual program category. It was a wonderful program that included an interview with my niece who had breast cancer. She passed away a few weeks ago. We did another show just with husbands of women with breast cancer and a program about how to talk to children when a parent has cancer.
Berlin: [MSU alumnus] Steve Adubato, the program's host, and I created "Caucus" in 1986. Steve was my student here many years ago, and he was in the legislature in the early '80s. I worked with him in the legislature, and a few months before he lost his bid for re-election, we started a TV show that was an extension of his legislative work. Steve was very good on television and the idea for "Caucus" just came together. We recognized a need for the type of programming in New Jersey that could reach the public in terms of important issues. Today "Caucus: New Jersey" is aired in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Berlin: Whenever we set up a show we have resource material available for viewers that they can get by calling or from our Web site. We also have a program called "Caucus in the Classroom," through which we disseminate tapes to high schools throughout the state. We've always wanted to be more than a television series. We see ourselves as an educational operation, and I've had a lot to do with that philosophy.
Berlin: I've become active in "Carpe Diem" and I'm trying to get external financial support for the program. So far I've brought on former congressmen Peter Rodino and Bill Martini, and we did a show on breast cancer and its impact on family and children. We're working on a show for "Caucus" about the importance of water resources in our environment, and a series on the increasing importance of immigrants in New Jersey, particularly from Latino and Asian backgrounds.