Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

Sigma Delta Chi Lists National Committees BROADCASTERS figure prominently in many of the 19 national committees announced by Sigma Delta Chi Thursday to carry on the work of the professional journalistic fraternity for 1956. In his capacity as national president, Mason Rossiter Smith, editor-publisher, Gouverneur (N. Y.) Tribune Press, announced chairmanship appointments and assignments for several groups, including those for advancement of freedom of information and ethics and news objectivity. The assignments, dotted with members from newspapers which hold broadcast interests, include the following committees and chairmen: Advancement of Freedom of Information — V. M. Newton Jr., managing editor, Tampa (Fla.) Morning Tribune, and including Charles Day, news director, WGAR Cleveland, Robert S. Gray, film news editor, KPRC-TV Houston, and Theodore F. Koop, CBS Washington news and public affairs director; Ethics and News Objectivity — Norman Isaacs, managing editor, Louisville Times (WHAS-AM-TV); Fellows Nominating — Alden C. Waite, president, Southern California Associated Newspapers, Los Angeles; 50th Anniversary — Prof. Charles C. Clayton, Dept. of Journalism, Southern Illinois U.; Historic Sites Ceremony — Robert White II, editor, Mexico (Mo.) Ledger, and including Sol Taishoff, editor and publisher of B»T, and George Brandenburg, midwest editor, Editor & Publisher; Historic Sites in Journalism — George W. Wolpert, public relations counsel, Milwaukee, and including William E. Drips, Agricultural consultant, KOIN-TV Portland; Honor Awards — Alvin E. Austin, head of Dept. of Journalism, U. of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Others include Journalistic Research — Dean Wesley C. Clark, School of Journalism, Syracuse U., Syracuse, N. Y., and including Richard S. Fitzpatrick, chief, USA Branch, Office of Research, United States Information Agency, Washington, D. C; Professional Chapter Program— A. Pat Daniels, public service director, Alvin (Tex.) State Bank, and including Charles Day, WGAR Cleveland, Robert Tripp, news editor, WFAA Dallas, Robert Krieghoff, program director, WTOL Toledo, Ohio, Lyell Bremser, news and special events director, KFAB Omaha, Coit E. Butler Jr., news director, KITE San Antonio; Public Relations — William Kostka, Kostka Assoc., Denver; Revision of Undergraduate Journalism Competition Rules — Prof. Dale R. Spencer, School of Journalism, U. of Missouri, Columbia; Undergraduate Chapter Program — Prof. Oscar R. Abel, Dept. of Printing and Journalism, South Dakota State College, Brookings; United Nations Press Fellowship — Robert U. Brown, Editor & Publisher, and including Larry Leseuer, CBS radio-tv reporter; Ways & Means — Bernard Kilgore, president Wall St. Journal, New York, and including Mr. Taishoff. Among state chairmen appointed were Jim Bormann, news and public affairs director, WCCO Minneapolis (for Minnesota), William Kelly, president of KXLO Lewistown (for Montana), William E. Drips, KOIN-TV Portland (for Oregon), Lou Riepenhoff, public relations director, WISN Milwaukee (for Wis consin), Barry Bingham, president of the Louisville Courier-Journal and Times (WHASAM-TV), and Edgar Easterly, Louisville AP bureau chief, are co-chairmen of the 1956 General Convention Committee, which also includes Victor A. Sholis, vice president and director of WHAS Inc. As in the past the Committee for Advancement of Freedom of Information is instructed to "take an active, aggressive leadership in the cause of press freedom and to eliminate press barriers wherever it can." Radio-Tv Court Coverage Debated at D. C. Luncheon RIGHT of radio and tv to cover governmental and courtroom proceedings was debated at the monthly luncheon of the Federal Communications Bar Assn. in Washington. Debaters were Ralph W. Hardy, CBS Washington vice president, and the Rev. Joseph M. Snee, Georgetown School of Law. Mr. Hardy contended democratic government is strengthened by the widest possible diffusion of knowledge, with adequate legal and administrative remedies protecting witnesses. He contended it is repugnant to the American concept to sit as judge over how much of a proceeding may be given to the public. Electronic media, he added, can cover without becoming a nuisance in the chamber, and no fixed rule should discriminate against their access to proceedings. Father Snee said he, too, was concerned over suppression of news by bureaucrats but felt a witness should not be forced to appear before camera and microphone against his will in a Congressional inquiry designed to provide information for legislative purposes. He argued that witnesses testify under a handicap as they contemplate the audience behind the camera. Tv will only want sensational court trials, he suggested. Admission of the public to a trial plus ordinary reporting provides adequate protection of public rights, Father Snee said. He pointed to the possible influence of live radio-tv coverage on a judge running for re-election, or on a jury. In the case of courts, he suggested, the maxim "The public be damned" should be applied. Chicago Women's Adv. Club Planning 'Distinction' Series A PANEL DISCUSSION on radio-tv industry prospects is scheduled by the Women's Adv. Club of Chicago as part of its sixth annual "distinction" series Feb. 6 and 13. Plans for the two-part sessions, culminating with the annual "Women of Distinction" award, include talks by radio, tv and other personalities at the Eighth St. Theatre on successive Monday evenings. Edna M. Johnson. Fensholt Adv., is general chairman of the series, designed to emphasize achievements of Chicago's women. Among personalities scheduled to participate are Ilka Chase, author and panelist of ABCTV's Masquerade Party; Virginia Marmaduke, newspaper reporter and women's commentator at WMAQ Chicago; Robert W. Galvin, executive vice president of Motorola Inc., and Francoise Pope, star of WBKB (TV) Chicago's Creative Cookery.. NCAA to Hear Tv Plans THE National Collegiate Athletic Assn. 1956 TV Committee has set Jan. 30 as a date for open hearings at which member colleges and "other interested parties" may submit proposals for the 1956 NCAA television program. The hearings will be held in the offices of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference at the Biltmore Hotel, New York. STATION SALES KIDDER, PEABODY & CO.— • Maintains close contact with all phases of the Television and Radio industry. • Has an established relationship with most of the important sources of investment capital in the country. —We invite the station owner to take advantage of this dual coverage when considering the sale of his property. Address inquiries to: ROBERT E. GRANT Kidder, Peabody & Co. First National Bank Building Chicago 3, Illinois Telephone ANdover 3-7350 KIDDER, PEABODY 8 CO. FOUNDED 1865 NEW YORK BOSTON PHILADELPHIA CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO Offices and correspondents in thirty other principal cities in the United States Page 54 • January 23, 1956 Broadcasting • Telecasting