Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1960)

New NBC policy on recorded shows, news NBC's policies on identifying recorded program material and a codification of its standards for handling news were spelled out last week by James A. Stabile, vice president, standards and practices. They apply to NBC Radio, NBC-TV and the NBC-owned stations. In many ways they are similar to policies issued last December by CBS-TV. In other ways they run counter to CBS-TV's — notably in regard to the need for identifying canned laughter. CBS-TV said canned laughter must be identified when used ("Audience reaction technically produced" or "augmented"). NBC-TV differed in this way: "when it offends, its fault is not that it is deceptive, but that it is obvious. It should be held within the bounds of taste and conviction and, when so used, it requires no identification." NBC and CBS-TV seemed in general agreement on such points as that audience should be told if, on news broadcasts and interviews, the interviewee restricts questioning or requires that the program be edited; that newsmen should not say "we switch you to — " when introducing recorded reports; that opinion given by newsmen should be clearly labeled as such; that audiences should be told that "parts of this program were pre-recorded" when such is the case and when this is not apparent from the context in which the recorded inserts occur. Principal points in the NBC directives are presented in the following text (the one dealing with news Free speech support of educators lacking Educators are among the articulate minorities with specilized tastes who pay little heed to the essential implications of the First Amendment, Charles H. Tower, NAB economics-broadcast personnel manager, told the Georgia Radio & Television Institute in Athens Jan. 28. He said it is "disheartening to find that some of the most fervent advocates of more regulation come from those who teach." Mr. Tower said they "have apparently forgotten that historically in western civilization the teachers have been in the forefront of those who fought and even died for basic liberties, cardinal among which is the liberty of free ex 76 (THE MEDIA) handling was described as a reaffirmation of existing standards and practices, some of which had not been put into writing before): DIRECTIVE NO. 4 The following procedures for identifying recorded program material are established and will govern all such presentations on the NBC Television and Radio Networks and the NBC Owned Stations. The use of recorded material in news presentations is governed by Directive No. 5. 1. Unless the use of recorded segments in a live program is apparent from the context in which they occur, the program shall carry the following audio or visual announcement: "Parti of this program were pre-recorded." 2. The Today program on the NBC Television Network, because of the unique technique of its presentation, shall carry the folowing audio or visual announcement: "Except for live news segments, this program was pre-recorded." 3. When a wholly recorded program gives the impression that it is a live presentation, as determined in a periodic review of the broadcast schedule by the appropriate program departments and the Department of Standards and Practices, the program shall carry the following audio or visual announcement: "This program was pre-recorded." The programs required to carry the foregoing announcement shall be designated by the Department of Standards and Practices in consulta pression without government control." Mr. Tower said teachers have "jealously guarded the principle that public education must be close to the people and free of the domination of the omnipotent state. Broadcasters and educators have much in common. This common ground should be a basis for a better understanding of the needs and objectives of both." Sig Mickelson, president of CBS News, warned the institute that expanding schedules of informational programming are in themselves no guarantee of an improved tv service. Instead, he said, broadcasting must exercise leadership, "blazing new trails rather than slogging along behind public opinion over the well established and safe routes where we can stay out of trouble." Mr. Mickelson pointed to CBS Re tion with the Program Department. 4. When live programs recorded for rebroadcast to the Pacific Zone or to Standard Time stations during Daylight Saving Time carry the announcement that they are live, they shall carry the following audio or visual announcement in the closing moments: "This program was prerecorded for this time zone." Otherwise, in keeping with a rule of the Federal Communications Commission, the recorded rebroadcast of a network's daily transmission to accommodate time differentials need be identified as such only once a day between the hours of 10:00 AM. and 10:00 PM. It shall be identified with the following audio or visual announcement: "The NBC television (or radio) schedule is brought to you specially recorded for rebroadcast in this time zone." 5. Identification of recorded versions of live programs carried as delayed broadcasts by individual stations shall be the responsibility of the station. 6. The use of recorded audience reaction, colloquially known as "canned laughter," is an artifice of showmanship which, in the view of many experienced showmen, may contribute to the enjoyment of the viewer or listener. When it offends, its fault is not that it is deceptive but that it is obvious. It should be held within the bounds of taste and conviction and, when so used, requires no identification. 7. The provisions of this directive shall be implemented regularly by the appropriate program departments, under the general supervision ports as a move to exercise leadership by bringing national and world issues before a broad audience. He said CBS News during 1960-61 plans to have more prime-time programs than ever before. $2 million grant The establishment of the Newhouse Communications Center at Syracuse U. to advance research and education in the various mass media was announced last week by Dr. William P. Tolley, chancellor of the university. An initial gift of $2 million has been given to the center by the Newhouse Foundation, established by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel I. Newhouse. Mr. Newhouse is publisher and owner of a group of magazines and daily newspapers, and is active in the BROADCASTING, February 1, I960 I*