News program takes a time out at Jordan Center

Some people

grab some chips.

Some people watch an informative news program?

To offer the general public "news that they can use", the University offers a news program that airs during halftime of televised men's and women's basketball games, said Melisande McCrae, manager of electronic communications in the Department of Public Information.

Broadcast live from The Bryce Jordan Center, the program is called Time Out Penn State and is in its third season.

"Halftime is now a time to find out important consumer information, and also to learn about the role Penn State has had in benefiting Pennsylvania consumers and in their lives," she said.

Although most of the interviews featured in the program are taped in advance, Time Out Penn State featured University President Graham Spanier live Saturday from the center during half-time of the men's game.

In an E-mail, Spanier said he is pleased with the program.

"I am pleased to be a guest on the show," Spanier said. "I think that it is informative and the interviews tend to be better noticed if they are live, courtside, on up-to-date issues and relevant to the context of the show."

Halftime shows often feature the athletes, but Time Out Penn State looks at issues in today's society, McCrae said.

"Time Out Penn State is a halftime program that airs in central Pennsylvania and highlights aspects of the University that are not athletic, typically," she said.

Many of the guests are University professors and officials, McCrae said.

McCrae said this season's format is more assertive than those in years past.

"We really wanted to be more aggressive in promoting the great things that Penn State is doing and getting information that the public might benefit from knowing," she said.

Time Out Penn State has informed the public about the positive activities that the University performs, said Steve MacCarthy, executive director of University Relations.

"This has been a tremendously successful vehicle for showing Pennsylvanians the good things that Penn State is doing," MacCarthy said in a news release.

Also, Time Out Penn State promotes the University in "postcards" said producer Yarnell Bierly, network television specialist in the Department of Public Information, in a news release. For example, one "postcard" highlighted the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University by giving a brief description of the school in a 30-second slot for the audience.

The program airs on the ESPN regional network, but viewers should check local times and listings, McCrae said.