Info Flow suspended

APR 23– Info Flow, Blair's student-produced morning announcements program, has been suspended for several weeks after problems prompted the sponsor of Blair Network Communications (BNC) to pull the plug.

Media teacher and BNC general manager Christopher Lloyd objected to the "appropriateness and tone" of the show, especially in relation to an Apr 12 segment that gave the impression of a male host urinating. Lloyd said that the show "needed to maintain a higher degree of professionalism" and said that BNC is working to develop procedures to ensure the suitability of the show's content.

According to senior Annie Welch, BNC's coordinating executive, the decision to air the segment was a mistake made by the producer that was caused by the lack of direction from the executive staff. "We made a miscalculation," said Welch. "That day [the show was taped], we did not have checks in place. Now, we will make sure those checks are there every day."

Senior Chris Kelly, the male host for the Apr 12 show, denied that the appearance he gave of urinating was intentional. "It wasn't planned to look like I was urinating," said Kelly. "I didn't mean for that message to get across."

Lloyd said that although the Apr 12 segment prompted him to issue the suspension, he felt that there were larger issues with the show that raised concern. "There were numerous incidents that caused faculty and administration to question the tone of the show," said Lloyd.

Welch said a range of indiscretions, from laughing during filming to playing background music too loudly, caused concern.

According to Lloyd, although the administration had raised questions about the appropriateness of some of the shows in the past, he was the one who issued the suspension. Lloyd also said that he and members of the BNC staff met just before spring break with Principal Phillip Gainous, who expressly told them never to shoot in a bathroom.

Lloyd said that he did not know the duration of the show's absence but hoped it would be "a matter of weeks, not months."

According to Welch, the responsibility for the problems that have occurred with the show lies mostly with the hosts and producers. "Basically, the hosts and producers need to take the announcements more seriously," said Welch. However, Welch is confident that the show, once it is reinstated, will improve. "Right now, the show is not as good as it can be. But we see a lot of potential with the producers," said Welch.

Alfonso Rosales, one of the five producers of Info Flow, refuted Welch, saying that the producers are not at fault. Rather, he believes that the executive staff is trying to scapegoat the Info Flow producers. "No staff members on BNC work harder than the Info Flow team," wrote Rosales in a press release dated Apr 18. "It is my belief that the Executive Staff has found an easy way out by placing all the blame on the Info Flow staff, despite the fact that this is in the end their fault."

The BNC executive staff issued a separate press release, also dated Apr 18, that disputed Rosales' claim.

Additional reporting by Joe Howley