Getting To Know The Broadcast Center

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Behind The Scenes

(CBS)

We're all about transparency here at Public Eye. So…here's a picture of my phone.

OK, let me back up. One of the things that people at CBS News talk about quite a bit is the fact that the building in which we work, the Broadcast Center, is not exactly Versailles. It's actually a converted milk processing plant, which Sheffield Farms Company sold in 1952; CBS moved in in 1964. The company spent $14.5 million dollars to create what was, at the time, "the largest 'self-contained' radio and television production center in the United States and the most modern broadcasting plant of its kind in the world," as the New York Tribune put it in 1961.

In the early 1980s, CBS added 176,400 square feet to the 500,000 square foot building as part of a $100 million update. But the legacy of Sheffield Farms could not be erased: In May 2001, a crew from "48 Hours" went into the dank basement of the Broadcast Center in search of a location for a shoot. They found, among other things, grain chutes and a cow hoof.

Oh, and as for the picture of the phone? A big joke around here is that our phones operate on state-of-the-art 1970s technology. Just thought I'd provide visual proof.

In any event, here's a brief pictorial tour through CBS News and CBSNews.com. This by no means shows all that goes on here; there are no shots of CBS radio, the soaps upstairs, or any of the many, many other broadcast operations in the building. For that, you'll have to wait for future installments of this completely random, unfocused, and ad-hoc feature. We can get away with that, right? Blogging, it seems, does have its benefits.

(CBS)

First, the awning! Since Feb. 1984, this has been the main entry to the Broadcast Center. Sometimes a man stands out front with a sandwich board featuring a picture of a fetus, handing out anti-abortion literature. (He wasn't there yesterday, when I took these pictures.)

(CBS)

The lobby. I have nothing to add. It's a lobby.

(CBS)

The CBS Digital Media newsroom, where I work. The big issue here is that there's no light; it's a giant, hangar-like room with windows on only one side, and a track lighting system that leaves much to be desired. That's the view from my desk. Note that I do not have the Drudge Report on my screen!

(CBS)

A couple more pics of the .com newsroom. Note the many oh-so-necessary desk lamps in this one.

(CBS)

This one is of the area where the video producers work. That's the top half of video guru Rome Neal's head in the bottom left corner.

(CBS)

Now over to the "Evening News." Here's a picture of the newsroom, which is right behind the anchor desk. I took this picture from the side of the room, which is why you can't see the desk.

(CBS)

This is the "fishbowl," the room where many decisions are made as to coverage. It's an intimidating room. Which is perhaps why this picture isn't all that great – I let my vague unease at the weird looks I was getting for wielding a camera get the best of me and didn't take the shot from too good of a spot.

(CBS)

This is the hallway where the offices for the "Evening News" higher-ups are located. Fancy, huh? Schieffer's digs are the first on the right.

(CBS)

Finally, here's a picture of a picture of the building as it looked in 1952, when it was still Sheffield Farms.

That concludes this installment of "Getting To Know The Broadcast Center." Will there be another? Honestly, I have no idea – this thing might end up going the way of "Co-Ed Fever," "Emily's Reasons Why Not," and "Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by capcitymack July 19, 2010 9:48 AM EDT: I was inside the building back when Joan Rivers taped her talk show there. While on the walk there to her studio area, I got to see the inside of many of the other studios on the way through the halls, including where Sunday Morning is done. I would so like to be able to go through that building again, and so wish that CBS would give tours of the place.; Reply to this comment


by CBSTV June 15, 2006 10:54 PM EDT: Hey, don't change a thing at the CBS Broadcast Center. I love that classic multi-line Western Electric! It's easier to use and more reliable than most of today's "modern" telephones. But more seriously ... I've been witness to the negative results that arrive when some companies attempt to replace their cramped, seemingly outdated facilities with contemporary digs. Something important is lost along the way. With the switch to large, spacious quarters, employees tend to loose the intimacy they previously shared. Morale and camaraderie begin to fade.; Reply to this comment


by alphaa10-2009 June 14, 2006 6:53 AM EDT: None of us imagines the news production environment is pretty, but this is revolting stuff. You DO need better lighting, but maybe "manglement" wants to keep everything in the dark The only consolation is *some* 1970's technology does appear to work at least as well as so-called digital phone networks. I have known entire businesses at the mercy of some random glitch in their phone systems, desperately waiting for the technician (or someone like him) to come.; Reply to this comment


by jaguar0 June 13, 2006 4:41 PM EDT: Gee, Inside, a milk factory. All that calcium, and your Dr. Senay, does not do medical stories on bones? I suppose, because of your head news factory, is were the expression came" Shoving the dirt for news!" I am sure your news men and women reporters, will agree> To be tough in the news business, you have to be able to stomach bad news at time. Wait does not a COW, have two stomaches?; Reply to this comment