Sponsor (Oct-Dec 1964)

SPONSOR -WEEK ABC's Lower Rejects Idea That Computers Can Influence Votes New Britain, Conn. — With competition for returns ruled out by the pooled election service, computer predictions would seem to be a major selling point in the network bid for viewers. But Elmer Lower, president of ABC News, insists that "ABC will not race anyone for the dubious pleasure of bragging in print that we made the first projection by just a few minutes." Discussing ABC's election coverage plans before the Connecticut Broadcasters Assn., Lower also touched on the controversial area of whether computer predictions can influence results. Said Lower: "In the last four presidential elections there just isn't any proof that a projection based on Eastern voting, whether made by man or machine, has influenced the Western electorate." Lower pointed out that ABC will be using two Burroughs computers on election night, but he said that "when we do make projections, we will label them as such and make clear to our radio listeners and television viewers that they are projections." He added: "We will also remind voters in western states that many polls are still open and that state and local races are still to be decided." Reviewing the conventions, Lower said that the parties would have to change the format of their conventions if they are to avoid the unimpressive ratings they received. He declared: "Some year — maybe even in 1968 — one or both political parties are going to do something bold, like eliminating all the makebelieve demonstrations, the endless and boring seconding speeches, the paying of political debts by scheduling so-called appearances on the rostrum. When this happens, I predict that the audience will return." Lower also warned that broadcasters themselves may break away from the gavel-to-gavel coverage which has been presented since television first presented conventions nationwide in 1952. NATIONAL HAIKU CONTEST WINNER NAMED Tsutomu Yoshioka, assistant manager, advertising and sales promotion for Japan Air Lines' American Region, congratulates J. W. Hackett— national winner of the Haiku Poetry Contest sponsored by the airline on 17 radio stations throughout the country. One of the participating stations was KCBS Radio in San Francisco— and it was by winning KCBS's contest that Hackett became eligible for national competition. Also shown: Mrs. Hackett and Dave Botsford, Jr., chairman of Botsford, Constantine & McCarty (San Francisco) — agency for the airlines. Clare Boothe Luce To Be ABC Political Consultant New York — Clare Boothe Luce, outspoken former U.S. congresswoman and ambassador to Italy, has been signed as an on-the-air political consultant as part of the ABC News election night coverage. Mrs. Luce, who also boasts successful stage and writing careers, will comment on election developments solo, in interviews with ABC newsmen and occasionally with politically newsworthy guests. Sen. Sam J. Ervin (D-N.C.) and historian and former White House adviser Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., will also be serving ABC in consulting capacities on election night. Scientist Suggests Study Of Computer Predictions Washington, D.C. — With a number of politicians calling for an end to computerized predictions on election night. Dr. Jack Moshman, a Washington scientist, says that the growing controversy could largely be resolved this year by a university or research foundation-backed study to measure their influence, if any, on voting behavior. Moshman, who heads the team of C-E-I-R computer experts providing ABC with its political projections, declared: "The coming election presents an excellent opportunity for social scientists under the auspices of a university or research foundation to do on-the-spot investigation of tv network projections upon voters in California and other western states who have yet to cast their ballots." Moshman added: "There have been charges and counter-charges about computer predictions since 1952, but always in a facdess vacuum. Because of this, the critics, both destructive and constructive, have galloped off like headless horsemen in every direction." What the situation requires, he added, "is a rational, logical approach, and that, in turn, must be based on first-hand research in the field." 22 SPONSOR