[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/TV-studio.jpg” caption=”Allison Sekular, a professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, is filmed in the new TV studio at the DeGroote School of Business. Photo by Michelle Donovan.”]Tucked in a corner of the DeGroote School of Business in a former meeting room is McMaster's link to newsrooms right across the world: a state-of-the-art television studio designed to bring the University's faculty and staff to a national and international audience.

A fibre-optic link has existed for the last few years when broadcast camera equipment was purchased by the School of Business, and TV interviews were conducted in an alcove on the second floor of the building

“The problem was that while we had the capability to link to the television networks, the backdrop wasn't very attractive, the lighting cast a muddy look, and the sound was difficult to control,” says Michelle Donovan, public relations manager in charge of broadcast media with the University's Office of Public Relations. “We knew we could do better.”

A former producer at CTV, Donovan enlisted the help of Adrian Goldberg, an industry expert on lighting whose work includes the Gemini Awards, the Genie Awards, the Olympics and CTV National News.

“One of McMaster's goals is to build our national reputation, and media is one of the best ways to deliver our message to a national and international audience,” says Ilene Busch-Vishniac, provost and vice-president (academic). “The studio will allow the McMaster community to share its news and expertise in yet another way.”

“There is a tremendous appetite from the networks — CTV, CBC and Global Television — for programming,” says Donovan. “Most of the major outlets have 24-hour news channels and specialty channels, not to mention local and national newscasts to fill each and every day. As a result, we field many, many calls for our professors to offer their expertise and provide context on all kinds of stories.”

Faculty members at the School of Business appear daily on CHCH-TV News, and the camera is used extensively by the national networks interviewing experts from all Faculties. In August alone, for example, the camera was used more than 30 times. The camera will also be used for media training.

With a small amount of money from the Campaign budget and the donation of space by the School of Business, the former boardroom was transformed. The oak bookcases are courtesy of Mills Memorial Library, and the books on those shelves come from McMaster Innovation Park.

The result is a warm, professional shot that has been welcomed by the professors who are regularly interviewed and by the broadcasters themselves.