Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

RADIO DAILY: Shelley President Of News Directors CODST-TO -COAST (Continued from Page 1) Rochester, N. Y., who resigned. Holdovers on the board were Bruce Berrington, KXOK. St. Louis; Ben Chatfield, WMAZ. Macon, Ga.; Bob Bodeen, WOC, Davenport, la.; James Bormann, WMT, Cedar Rapids; Ed Kirk, WPTF, Raleigh, N. C; Fred Hinshaw, WLBC, Muncie, Ind., and Sid Pietzach, WFAA, Dallas. Annual Awards Announced The following NARND annual awards were presented at the convention, on the recommendation of the association's board of judges: Class I: Individual contribution to the progress of radio news. Arthur Stringer, FM director, National Association of Broadcasters for his work as secretary of the NAB News Committee, as secretary of the Council on Radio Journalism and his work in organizing and developing its program of internships for radio news teachers, for his organization of radio news clinics throughout the country, and for other services to radio news. Class II: Radio station with best records of community service in news. Winner: WHAS, Louisville, Kentucky. Honorable mentions: KNX, Hollywood, California and WMAQ, Chicago. Class III: Outstanding television news presentation. Winner: WBAP-TV, Fort Worth, Texas. Honorable mentions: WFIL-TV. Philadelphia, and WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, Wis. Among Friday's convention speakers was Justin Miller, NAB president, who decried encroachments on freedom of speech in the field of broadcasting. Miller centered his attack on tightening government control of radio, and cited the situation in England at the time of the Munich pact as an example of government suppression of the airing of opposition views in a time of national crisis. Resolutions Adopted A panel discussion on Saturday of •'Profitability of Professional Radio Newsrooms," led by Wilton E. Cobb, manager of WMAZ, Macon, Ga., pointed up the axiom that local names and local coverage can build a show that competes on favorable terms with a network offering. In fact, said Cobb, "We have found in our area, which is an average situation among thousands of other average situations in the United States, that it is possible with emphasis on local news to build up a higher listener rating and do a much greater public service at a cost much lower than the average syndicated show." Cobb concluded: "If a station has a good network affiliation, and backs it with an energetic local news department, any such station has a good chance and every reason to dominate the market." Among the resolutions adopted by First Male Guest Washington, D. C— Edward C. Van Devanter is a brave man and will appear on the "Lunching At the Mayflower" program with Bab Lincoln over WMAL. He will be the first man to appear on the quarterhour program of news of Washington society. Waiting For Stork Miami, Fla. — Bea Gray has taken a six months leave of absence from her job as traffic and copy chief at WTVJ to await the arrival of her child expected in January. Ann Rutledge, who formerly worked in the copy department at WKAT, has taken over Mrs. Gray's position during her absence. Sandstrom Promoted To GM Pittsburgh, Kans.— Thad M. Sandstrom has been appointed general manager of KSEK. Sandstrom has been associated with KSEK since January of this year. Prior to that time, he was promotion manager of KTOP, Topeka. He succeeds James M. Griffith, who has purchased an interest in KVAK, Atchison. New Community Program Silver Spring, Md.— WGAY has just inaugurated a new program to provide a window through which the entire community may look in on the organizations which perform vital functions in community life. The show "Suburban Spotlight," . is aired Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:45 to 1:00 p.m. the convention at the Commodore Hotel were: 1. Expressed appreciation of organization membership to all who made this convention so successful, in particular such persons who came as Justin Miller, president of NAB; Ben Cohen, information officer of UN: Edward Canham, past president of ASNE; Robert Richards, public relations director of NAB and director of Voice of Democracy contest in schools: Gen. Omar Bradley; Edward R. Murrow Elmer Davis: Charles H. Wolfe, of McCann-Erickson ; and Jack Shelley, of WHO who was convention chairman. 2. Asks NAB to set up news clinic again as done in the past and to revive the abandoned Radio News Committee of NAB so as to impress on radio management the good value of good radio news. 3. Commended the governors of those states in which legislation has been passed granting radio news men the same right of privilege and right to keep confidential their sources of news, and resolution also asks NARND to seek, with cooperation of management, the passage of such legislation in other states to secure for radio news the same privileges and access to news as enjoyed by other media. 4. Commended the FCC for the lifting of the Mayflower ban on radio editorializing and asking for further freedoms so that radio might enjoy complete editorial rights, and asking also that management use great discretion in the selection of this personnel for this function in a station. fi. Resolution asking all news editors and the wire services and stations to be more alert to news of the United Nations and to make use of that news in helping the UN in pursuit of world peace. 6. That NARND president discuss with the NAB NARND associate sponsorship of the NAB Voice of Democracy Contest for school pupils, but with no expense to NARND. Optimist Week Programs Hollywood, Calif. — National Optimist week was keynoted over KFWB during the week of November 7. The Warner Bros, station beamed two programs in recognition of celebration. Roy Rogers and the Riders of the Purple Sage were heard at 8: 15 a.m. and in the evening at 8: 10 a special program starring Lionel Barrymore in "Mr. Grumpy Grows Up" was presented. Carroll Appointed Manager New Britain, Conn. — Robert E. Carroll has been appointed manager of radio station WHAY. Carroll spent many of his years in radio, both in the South and middle Atlantic States and formerly held the position of national sales manager at V/NDR, Syracuse, New York. WDET Election Returns Detroit, Mich. — Transmission lines from City Hall in downtown Detroit carried the election returns to the homes of WDET's listeners. Bulletins were flashed throughout the evening and night interrupting the regularly scheduled programs. The City Hall assignment was handled by program director Paul Morris and Jerry Sherman, special events. Seasonal Program Returns Milwaukee, Wis. — "Gimbie and Ellie," Christmas program returned to the air for its twelfth consecutive year over WISN. The show is broadcast seven times weekly: Monday thru Saturday at 4:45 p.m. and Sundays at 12: 15 p.m. Members of the cast include Kermit Mcintosh, Gloria Krueger, and Charlotte Peck. Gimbie Brothers is sponsor of the series for Gimbels Toyland. Parent's Program Aired Milwaukee, Wis.— "Road To Tomorrow," a new WISN public service series presented by the Milwaukee Public School System, made its debut last Saturday at 9: 45 a.m. The program is designed to help parents solve some of the problems of youth that comes up along the "Road To Tomorrow." Permission Granted Crocket, Tex— The FCC has granted permission to the Houston County Broadcasting Co., to assign its permit for $500 to the Pioneer Broadcasting Co., composed of Hamilton H. Cullen and James H. Gibbs. Cullen was former chief engineer for KWED, Seguin, while Gibbs was announcer for KWED. New Station Due Snyder, Tex. — The Scurry County Broadcasting Co., has been granted a license to operate a new standard broadcast station to be built here at a cost of $10,500. The outlet will operate on 1220 kilocycles with a power of 250 watts daytime. The new company is a partnership of W. J. Harpole and Kermit S. Ashby. Tuesday, November 15, 1949 BMB To Suspend; New Service Studied (Continued from Page 1) bers of the tripartite bureau who are currently working on plans for a successor to the organization which will preserve the tripartite function of the research measurement service. AAAA and ANA endorsed perpetuation of BMB with refinements in resolutions released last Friday and NAB board of directors is expected to act on the BMB matter during the board session which opens today in Washington. Kenneth Baker, acting president of BMB, reported that satisfactory progress is being made in the survey now in process. He said that "a very substantial percentage of the ballots which were mailed in March were returned; have been processed, and study is expected to be in the hands of subscribers the early part of December." Texas Co. To Sponsor Met Opera Airings (Continued from Page 1) Company, and Mark Woods, President of the American Broadcasting Company. The principals have contracted for 18 matinees, running through Saturday, March 25, 1950. Opening airer will be "Sampson and Delila" with Rise Stevens, Ramon Vinay and Robert Merrill in featured roles. Intermission features, The Opera Quiz with Deems Taylot as Quizmaster and Sigmund Spaeth, Robert Lawrence, and Robert Bagar, as regular participants, and The Opera News conducted by Boris Goldowsky and special guests again will be heard each week. Milton Cross will be narrator. Speaking for the Metropolitan Opera Company, Mr. Sloan said that he was "happy to announce the continuance of a relationship which has demonstrated that opera is a welcome visitor to millions of American homes each Saturday afternoon." On behalf of the Texas Company, Mr. Rogers expressed "keen pleasure" that his company would again present the opera as a cultural and public service to millions of homes which are not within reach of the opera's stage. The American Broadcasting Company, Mr. Woods said, is happy to renew the long association between the opera, the sponsor and the network. The Kudner Agency represents the Texas Company. CBS Series Returning "Get More Out of Life," a halfhour program which gives guidance and instruction in a variety of household activities, returns to CBS for a Saturday afteroon series 2: 303:00 p.m., EST, starting January 7. under sponsorship of William H. Wise and company, publishers of home instruction books. Agency is Thwing-Altman Advertising, Inc.