Broadcasting (July - Dec 1939)

i Voluntary Plan for War News Is Adopted Normal Schedules Form Basis of Method WITH ASSURANCES from the White House itself that there is no intention of molesting broadcasting, barring possible extreme provocation, the broadcasting industry has voluntarily adopted methods of handling war news coverage which appear to have won general approbation. Although it is handling its first war assignment, the industry, under the leadership of the networks and the NAB, has assumed the responsibility of handling news broadcasts of the crisis through full cooperation with the Federal authorities. Rules adopted by the three major networks, at meetings in New York during the week of Sept. 5, were presented Sept. 11 to the special FCC committee headed by Chairman James Lawrence Fly so as to keep the FCC informed of industry action. Pi-oviding generally for a return to normal schedules, the rules are sufficiently broad to permit adequate coverage of developments abroad with every safeguard invoked to avoid the spread of misinformation or the pi-ovocation of undue excitement. May Hear Further Discussions Following the meeting at the FCC Sept. 11, attended by officials of the three networks, NAB President Neville Miller and the FCC committee comprising Chairman Fly, Thad H. Brown, and T. A. M. Craven, it was announced that further informal discussions will be held with the FCC as conditions warrant. The FCC members were unanimous in the view that the industry, by and large, had rendered "an important public service in broadcasting news and comment on war conditions." The broadcasters' committee did not seek FCC approval or disapproval of the procedure it had adopted in war coverage but simply sought to keep the FCC informed fully on developments. Any other course, it was felt, might be interpreted as inviting censorship. WMCA Case Serves Notice Citation of WMCA, New York, by the FCC on Sept. 12 to show cause why its license should not be revoked for intercepting secret British and German code communications, was the first punitive step taken by the FCC growing out of the crisis [see page 14]. Alleging violation of the Communications Act itself, the FCC served notice that it will take forceful and drastic action against stations which transgress either the law or the neutrality proclamations issued by President Roosevelt at the outbreak of hostilities. TO KEEP POSTED on broadcasting's war coverage, members of the FCC committee designated to appraise this work met Sept. 11 with an industry committee which advised it of policies voluntarily invoked to prevent "unneutral" broadcasts or the spread of belligerent propaganda. Seated, left to right, are Thad H. Brown, Chairman James Lawrence Fly and T. A. M. Craven, FCC committee members. Standing (1 to r) Alfred J. McCosker, chairman of board of MBS and president of WOR; Edward Klauber, CBS executive vice-president; Niles Trammell, NBC executive vice-president; Neville Miller, NAB president. Also present were F. M. Russell, NBC Washington vice-president; Harry C. Butcher, CBS Washington vice-president; and William B. Dolph, general manager of WOL, and MBS Washington representative, all of whom joined in discussions. Stephen T. Early, secretary to the President, on Sept. 12 said he was particularly impressed by the action of the major networks in adopting a war news policy. He pointed out that the action came entirely from the broadcasters and was not "prompted" by any suggestion from the Government. Simultaneously, Mr. Early made a second statement within a week dis claiming any intention of Government censorship of radio. Alluding to a statement by Senator Borah (R-Ida.), that "constant suggestions about censorship of the press, of the radio and shutting off debate" had been made, Mr. Early asserted these reports of censorship were "bogey men". While he did not mention the Idaho Senator by name, Mr. Early reiterated that the Government "wants no censorship of the press or of radio and would like very much if a parity could be established between them in the collection and dissemination of news and in the discrimination of news." He added that the two news disseminating agencies — radio and press — should operate in conformance with the proclamations of United States neutrality. He said not only does the Government not desire censorship but there had been no increasing suggestions of such censorship coming from the Government. No Censorship in Sight After calling at the office of Mr. Early Sept. 12, Harry C. Butcher, Washington vice-president of CBS, said he had telephoned Senator Borah inviting him to discuss neutrality over that network. The Senator, he asserted, told him he had received a similar invitation from NBC. "This shows that there is no censorship and that radio is functioning as normal," Mr. Butcher asserted. "This country has imposed no censorship and we don't think there is going to be any." The war coverage arrangement, agreed to by the major networks and concurred in by President Miller, maintains a competitive element among the networks. It grew out of conferences in New York attended by the heads of the major networks. It was concluded that schedules should be disrupted as little as possible, in contrast to the first days of the European conflict, when commercial commitments (Continued on Page 76) Text of Major Networks' War Coverage Agreement Folloiving is the full text of the arrangement reached by CBS, NBC and MBS on war broadcasts, made public Sept. 11 by NAB President Neville Miller : EVERY effort consistent with the news itself is to be made to avoid horror, suspense and undue excitement. Particular effort will be made to avoid susijense in cases where the information causing the suspense is of no particular use to the listener. For example, news of air raid alarms should not be broadcast until we actually learn whether or not there has been an air raid. Also, we will avoid descriptions of hypothetical horrors which have not actually occurred, such as discussing the things that might go on if another ship were to be torpedoed. In all broadcasts about the plight of refugees, the number of killed and wounded, and so on, we will use our best news judgment and try to avoid undue shock to the radio audience, without taking upon ourselves an unjustifiable responsibility for concealing how bad the war really is. Broadcasters will make every effort to be temperate, responsible, and mature in selecting the manner in which they make the facts of war and its attendant circumstances known to the audience. Broadcasters will, at all times, try to distinguish between fact, official statement, news obtained from re sponsible official or unofficial sources, rumor, and matter taken from or contained in the foreign press or other publications, so that, by reporting and identifying these sources, we can help the radio audience as much as possible to evaluate the news brought to it. The radio audience should be clearly informed that the news from many sources, whether it be press bulletins or direct broadcasts, is censored and must be appraised in the light of this censorship. Broadcasts from Europe Broadcasters will designate, if they choose, broadcasts of news and news analysis, either or both, from Europe at such intervals as they individually deem to be desirable. It is advisable that these broadcasts be by Americans as far as possible, and that each individual broadcaster instruct the persons he employs, either permanently or temporarily, in the general principles set forth here. Insofar as European broadcasts contain news analysis, they are to conform to the definition of news analysis hereinafter set forth. Speeches by foreigners from abroad, public proclamations and statements and like matter are to be handled by each individual broadcaster in such manner as he deems best to serve his audience, but it is essential that fairness to all belligerents be maintained and that this phase of the operations be carried out in such a way that the American audience shall be as completely and fairly informed as possible. Broadcasters recognize that, if they do not handle the war with complete responsibility toward the American people, and if they deviate from these principles, they run the risk of involving all other broadcasters in the consequences of their act.«. The operation of these principles should include at all times a strong responsibility toward the industry as a whole. If broadcasts become available from scenes of battle, bombed areas, air-raid shelters, refugee camps and so on, broadcasters will not deprive the audience of the ability of radio to give them first-hand information, but will use taste and judgment to prevent such broadcasts from being unduly harrowing. Propaganda from Europe If broadcasters put on propaganda disseminated by radio stations or the press of European countries or distributed by these countries in any other manner, each will be guided by his own news judgment and endeavor to label precisely the source of the material, and to do this sufficiently often so that no reasonably careful listener is likely to be misled, and he will also be governed by the same rules of fairness in presenting all sides, though not necessarily in the same broadcast, nor need this judgment be a quantitative one. In this connection, it is re(Continued on Page 83) \ BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising September 15, 1939 • Page 11