A NEW $1.7 million state-of-the-art Media Arts Centre was opened at Murdoch recently by media magnate Kerry Stokes. At the ceremony Mr Stokes also received a Fellowship in Digital Media from Murdoch.

The Media Arts Centre boasts a television studio with widescreen broadcast quality television technology and computer-based digital switching, three digital broadcast radio studios, and a newsroom that can produce a newspaper or magazine ready for the presses or online delivery. It is the latest media production unit of any Australian university.

“Murdoch has purchased equipment with an eye on the forthcoming transition to high definition television,” said Dr Gail Phillips, Head of Murdoch’s School of Media, Communication and Culture.

“All TV stations will be moving towards HDTV in the coming months in anticipation of new laws expected to require stations to broadcast in the wider 16:9' screen format by January 1, 2001.

“Accordingly, Murdoch’s three, state-of-the-art, $35,000-a piece cameras, computer-based live switching production control room, and latest networked non-linear digital editing suites are ready for TV’s new era.”

Students will also use the facilities for DVD/CD-ROM authoring and producing material for the burgeoning video/audio web-streaming mode that has become popular on the Internet.

Industry tutors have been seconded to teach these practical applications, which are combined with theory and analysis in the university’s courses.