Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Radio Stations and Press In a New Alliance By GEORGE A. HARDER Editorial Director, New England Westinghouse Stations WBZ-WBZA Broadcasts of Consolidated Press Service Said To Whet Public's Appetites for Whole Newspaper THE VEXED question as to whether the publication of news is solely a press prerogative or may properly become a function of the broadcasting station still causes strong men to beat their breasts and hurl harsh words into each other's teeth. Manifesting itself in fitful outbursts and in as many forms as Hydra had heads, the controversy between the Fourth and Fifth estates rages on. Perennially, at the national and regional symposia of publishers and editors the radio, alleged half-wit cousin of the newspaper, comes in for round upon round of verbal lashings, in part, because of its alleged vicarious attempts to publish the news. That a certain section of the press of this country has become profoundly aroused to the so-called "radio menace" nobody today doubts. Some of our newspapers ruefully view the child they helped to nurture as an accursed Franken' stein monster which, given another 10 years of life, may turn on and destroy them. Now broadcasting in the exuberance of its youth may appear to have usurped some of the traditional functions of its venerable godfather. Who would doubt that such an invention as the radio, dedicated as it is to the service of the public, could fail to enter the publishing business ? (I use "publishing" advisedly and in the Websterian sense "to make known to people in general," which definition, it appears, is not restricted by the medium used). Solution is Found TODAY, after years of experimenting with this phase of broadcasting, we have found what appears to be the ultimate solution. This station now has its own news bureau, and serves as Boston headquarters for one of the leading press associations. Having no active newspaper affiliation, our stations took advantage of the first leased press wire to be made available to broadcasting stations. In April of this year WBZWBZA contracted for a three months' trial run of the daily service furnished by the Consolidated Press Association. Under the personal direction of Horace Epes, vice president and general manager ( of CPA, who came on from Washington, the first program of tele graph and cable dispatches was broadcast. The idea of feeding a microphone direct from a teletype on a daily schedule was novel and at once captured the popular imagination. It was another pioneering venture for Westinghouse and one destined to have a far-reaching effect both on the press and radio broadcasting. In less than one year stations in many other parts of the United States have installed the service. Doubtless there will be many more to follow when the value of the service becomes more generally known and appreciated. Since the New York wire was first opened, special writings, feature stories, and color yarns from correspondents all over the world by the telegraph desk of any metropolitan daily, at least insofar as the editorial function is concerned. In practice we take unusual liberties with all matter. The audience reaction unfailingly guides the blue pencils, for the aim is to make the listener feel that an absorbing tale is being unfolded to him. Copy Made Breezy WE USE the equivalent of heads and subheads, but they are uniformly keyed to the informal and conversational, taking more the form of casual introductions although being presented as straight radio continuity. Experience has shown that free use of general leads, editorial "asides" and tag WBZ Editorial Department in action — Harry Goodwin, copy boy, tears stock market lead from teletypewriter for editor, George A. Harder. have been drawn upon freely in developing new programs and adding fresh interest to existing programs. The press wire, delivering many thousand lines of copy daily to our studio, has also proved a useful reservoir upon which the program department may draw for emergency material when required to "fill" because of the non-appearance of artists or other uncontrollable interruptions. Our New York wire opens every morning at 7 o'clock. Throughout the day the high-speed printers are about their monotonous, though not entirely unmusical business of drumming out copy in the office. The wire is usually clear soon after 3 o'clock. \ Our treatment of raw copy is, I think, rather more elaborate than would be accorded routine matter lines is almost tantamount to the news copy itself in fashioning live, snappy broadcasts. We have also found that greater vitality and naturalness impinge on the "mike" if we encourage certain discreet forms of "ad lib" by the announcer, assuming that he is adept at that art. In a word, the station eschews the canned type of news broadcast. Our editors seek to impart to copy which, however brilliantly written, sometimes becomes dry, prosaic stuff when read, a breezy slant that has a "stay-with-us" appeal to the listener. For the turning of a radio dial or a newspaper page are both actions proceeding from the same impulse. However, that the audience is out there with ears attuned for the world's news there is plenty of evi John F. McNamara, news announcer, at the mike presenting copy hot from leased press wire. dence. Such sterling features as the daily dispatch from Washington by David Lawrence, styled "National Affairs," the stock market bulletins, "Who's News Today," fashion stories from Paris, movie gossip from Hollywood — all have their own regular followings. How do we know? By the same token that a newspaper knows, when it drops a favorite comic strip. When the radio audience is deprived of anything for which it has acquired a taste, it immediately becomes articulate. Our happy conjugal arrangement with a press association is doubtless regarded by some of our sardonic newspaper friends as a morganatic union. We contend that it is a natural, logical and mutually profitable affiliation. Certain it is that our experience in the "publishing business" has belied all of the most precious fears of the newspapers. We have stolen nobody's circulation in anticipating by eight or ten hours the appearance of the news on the street. What we have done is to make the public more "news conscious" by whetting the listeners' appetites for the full news story with pictures as only the printed page can present them. The time is not far distant when publishers no longer will regard radio broadcasting as inimical to their interests. They will discover that radio has left their province of printing news as secure and inviolate as ever and has, at the same time, aided them in growth and influence. November 15, 1931 • BROADCASTING Page 9