Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

TRADE ASSNS. continued tive of the broadcasting, television or photographic news profession." Describing the committee's recommendations as arbitrary, Mr. Anthony noted, "Under the circumstances, there is room for growing public consternation over the attitudes, moral and legal, of a group described as judges, lawyers and legal educators who appear to arrive at their judgments, decisions, or recommendations without granting a simple hearing to those primarily affected by their deliberations, in the interest of common justice and equity." The RNTWPA "urges," Mr. Anthony concluded, that the ABA not "reach any conclusion on this vital and complex matter without considering direct representation from this association and others in the broadcasting, television and photographic news professions. . . ." Earlier in the week, RNTWPA spokesman Pressman wrote Joseph T. Sharkey, vice chairman and majority leader of the New York City Council, and chastised him and his colleagues for failure to act on its own hearing of March 5, called to determine whether broadcast reporters should be allowed access to the council's hearings. In September, Mr. Pressman said, the council was "reminded" of its obligation. But "from the silence of yourself and the council," the letter said, "it would seem that the council has pigeon-holed our request and intends to take no action at all. . . . (We) are shocked that the council . . . has failed to take a stand one way or the other on this vital public issue." The association noted that several other city departments have allowed radio-tvnewsreel coverage of their sessions and that Mayor Robert F. Wagner had "wholeheartedly" endorsed broadcast coverage. "We want you to know that failure on the part of the council to consider and vote on this issue will not result in the disappearance of the question of radio, newsreel and television coverage of council proceedings," the association declared. "We do not intend to give up our campaign. Freedom of information is a principle dearly regarded by many Americans. . . . (It) cannot prevent its deliberations from being carried to the public via radio, newsreels and television and at the same time expect to maintain the support and confidence of the electorate." Mr. Sharkey, who could not be reached earlier in the week because of his active role in the New York mayoralty election and who thereafter was "inaccessible," has not replied to Mr. Pressman's letter. But his counsel, Herbert I. Bayevsky, said he would reply for his client. Mr. Sharkey, maintained his attorney, represents only one council vote and such action as the RNTWPA seeks must be approved by all council members; furthermore, Mr. Bayevsky noted, the council earlier this year, in executive session, voted against allowing broadcast coverage of its hearings. But Mr. Anthony, when apprised of this, claimed to know nothing about this alleged action, and speaking in lieu of Mr. Pressman (on assignment in Florida last week) said, "I think Page 44 • November 11, 1957 PRAISE FROM IKE "Astonishing growth" has been achieved by Radio Television News Directors Assn. in the last few years, President Eisenhower said in a message of greeting to the RTNDA convention, held Wednesday-Saturday at Miami Beach, Fla. "This is a splendid sign of the success of your service and provides assurance of continuing progress in the finest tradition of American journalism," the President said in a message addressed to Ted Koop, CBS Washington, retiring RTNDA president. The president's recognition of the position of broadcast news in world affairs was emphasized by Julian Goodman, NBC Washington, chairman of the RTNDA freedom of information committee. He cited a statement by James C. Hagerty, presidential news secretary, in which the President was described as considering television "tremendously important" and deserving equality with all other media of public communication. The Hagerty statement took the position that the camera has the same right as the pencil at a news conference. Mr. Hagerty said the President shares this view and Mr. Goodman added, "It goes without saying that Hagerty's criterion would also apply to radio microphones." they should have told us had such an action taken place." Mr. Bayevsky recalled that at one time during the regime of the late Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, WNYC New York, the municipal station, covered City Council hearings but this practice was discontinued years ago "because we found that council members felt obliged to speak even if they had nothing to say for the benefit of the radio audience. . . . Thus, the meetings lasted three times as long as they should have." Tv Code Review Board Plans To Discuss Tv Film This Week Focus will be placed on tv film programming when the NARTB Television Code Review Board holds its quarterly meeting today (Monday) through Wednesday at Beverly Hills, Calif. The west coast site was selected because of the growing importance of syndicated film packages and a resultant desire of the code board to bring more production firms into formal relationship with the industry code. The board plans its first formal session with the executive board of the Alliance of Television Film Producers at a luncheon meeting today. ATFP's 17 members were the first to become affiliate code subscribers earlier this year. The Wednesday workshop session has been slated for affiliated producers, con tinuity acceptance executives of the networks and NARTB staff members. The application of the code's programming standards to filmed shows will be discussed. A meeting with major tv film production firms not now code affiliates has been scheduled for Tuesday evening. NARTB President Harold E. Fellows will address that gathering. Other agenda items include a report on staff monitoring since June, viewer complaints and comments, code promotion plans and a report on personal products advertising. The NARTB staff also will submit a plan to provide subscribers with complete promotion kits, including sound film, slides, balops, mats and spot announcements. Kits will be available after Jan. 1. Members of the Code Review Board are Chairman William B. Quarton, WMT-TV Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mrs. Hugh McClung, KHSL-TV Chico, Calif.; Richard Borel, WBNS-TV Columbus, Ohio; Roger W. Clipp, Triangle Stations, Philadelphia, and Donald H. McGannon, Westinghouse Broadcasting Co., New York. Fellows to Address Engineers At Next Year's NARTB Sessions NARTB President Harold E. Fellows will address the opening day luncheon of the Broadcast Engineering Conference during the association's 36th annual convention in Los Angeles next spring. Mr. Fellows' talk and the engineering radio-tv agenda were among plans discussed by a BEC committee meeting in Chicago last week under chairmanship of Joe Epperson, WEWS (TV) Cleveland. The engineering conference is set for April 28-May 1, with formal NARTB convention and management activities slated to get underway the following day (Tuesday). A management talk by Mr. Fellows April 30 (Wednesday) will be piped by closed circuit from the Biltmore to the engineering conference luncheon at the Statler Hotel. Aside from engineering sessions, opening day activities Monday will include nonagenda meetings as in past conventions. Management and engineering sessions will be held at the Biltmore and Statler, respectively. The engineering conference has been set up along these divisional lines: (Monday morning ) — radio ; ( afternoon ) — television ; (Tuesday morning) — joint general session; (afternoon) — radio; (Wednesday morning) ■ — joint general session; (afternoon) — television; (Thursday morning and afternoon) ■ — radio-tv. An FCC panel will be featured during the Wednesday morning joint general session. The BEC committee, meeting at the Conrad Hilton Hotel Wednesday, also explored suggestions for technical papers to be presented at the convention. A. Prose Walker, NARTB engineering manager, reportedly has received good response from members and associate members on his letter inviting proposals. Committee members attending last week's planning session, aside from Mr. Epperson, were Bill Grove, KFBC Cheyenne, Wyo., Broadcasting