Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1963)

Record Details:

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Collins, in his presentation to the code boards, had expressed the view that the code authority director has ""vast powers to develop and initiate concepts far more dynamic than the cautious trails of the past." Grounds for Dispute ■ Mr. Quarton, in a letter to Governor Collins calling last week's meeting, said that "our code board members, backed by the NAB directors, are not going to give up their policy making authority to anyone. Whoever is appointed code director should know that." None of the NAB staff attended the executive committee meeting at which the NAB president made his command appearance. Later, however. Mr. Bell and the NAB executive vice president. Vincent Wasilewski, met with Mr. Quarton. Other members of the committee include James Russell, kktv(tv) Colorado Springs (TV board chairman): Ben Strouse. WWDC Washington (radio board chairman ) : Glenn Marshall Jr., wjxt(tv) Jacksonville, Fla. (TV vice chairman), and Richard Chapin. kfor Lincoln. Neb. (radio vice chairman), who was not present for last week's meeting. Mr. Quarton is chairman of the combined boards. Mr. Bell will be only the second code authority director. The position was created by the NAB board in 1961 and Mr. Swezey was signed to a two-year contract at S40.000-peryear. His resignation, announced last summer (Broadcasting, Aug. 17), was to have been effective with the expiration of his contract Oct. 15. but he has stayed on at the request of the NAB president. Mr. Swezey and Governor Collins disagreed several times on specific code activities and their concepts of the duties of the director were at variance. In announcing Mr. Bell's appointment. Governor Collins said that salary and other aspects of the new job will be worked out "with board collaboration and approval." A spokesman said that Mr. Bell would not be offered a contract and the salary would be less than that paid Mr. Swezey. Praise From Collins ■ Governor Collins praised Mr. Bell as "'a man of high idealism and intelligence. He has the courage of his convictions . . . and has vast experience in working with both radio and television and I feel confident he will serve in this new position with conspicuous competence." "I look forward to undertaking this challenging assignment and shall strive in every way to merit this trust." Mr. Bell said of his appointment. He joined the NAB in 1951 as assistant to the vice president for TV and became assistant to the president in 1954. He was made a vice president in May 1960. A native of New York, Mr. Bell is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and holds a law degree from Catholic University, Washington. D. C. Before joining the NAB, Mr. Bell worked at kjfru Columbia, Mo., and was sales promotion manager for wmal-tv Washington. When the NAB board established the post of code authority director, the duties were specified in the code regulations as: to maintain a continuing review of all radio and TV programing and advertising, particularly that of subscribers: to act on complaints: to define and interpret the codes: to maintain liaison with government and private organizations: to review and monitor; to reach conclusions and make recommendations to the code boards concerning violations of the codes; to recommend code amendments to the code boards. The duties of the two code boards include recommending amendments to the parent radio and TV boards; to consider appeals from decisions of the director and others. at the completion of each specific step without further obligation to contribute financially. With Vigor ■ "The object to be achieved would be to vigorously attack, in the most progressive way available to us, a solution to the problem of measuring individual radio listenership," according to the NAB letter to Mr. Bunker. "The overall effort would be approached by undertaking sequential projects, all of which would properly relate to the above objectives and advance the project in that direction." The study will be directed and controlled by a steering committee consist ing of not less than five members representing each sponsoring organization. The steering committee would in turn select a chairman, not included in the 10 members "but involved in the field of broadcasting" and with a research background. Subcommittees of the steering group will be named to (1) handle the professional and technical aspects of audience measurement, methodology and statistical research and (2) formulate overall policy for the study. Target for completion of the project has not been set. However, either party may withdraw if the study ''is permitted to become static or fails to progress. . . ." A spokesman said last week that actual field work probably will not begin before the first of the year. Three markets of various sizes are to be selected for extensive testing of methodology. RAB already has done some pretesting in New York City, which is expected to be used for the large market study. Audits & Surveys Co. has done the preliminary work for RAB and is expected to play a role in the future studies. RAB expects to raise the additional S50.000 from advertising agencies and stations in the markets where the tests will be conducted, in return for the right to use the results. The NAB-RAB project will be separate from the extensive grading of research companies planned by the NAB's Research Committee and the affiliated Ratings Council. Part two of NAB fall meets to begin Broadcasters from the South and Midwest will gather in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday and Friday (Nov. 14-15) as the National Association of Broadcasters starts on the second half of its annual fall conferences. Just as at the previous four conferences, the threat of federal intrusion into the daily operation of radio and television stations will be the main topic of conversation both in formal panels and question and answer sessions. The Nashville conference will be held in the Dinkier-Andrew Jackson hotel. The formal agenda calls for broad participation by individual broadcasters with most sessions set up as panel discussions designed to encourage questions from the floor. A major change in the program from the previous four conferences is the substitution of a new problem at the Thursday afternoon TV session. For the first four conferences, delegates discussed an unidentified TV station in a four-station market which was having trouble with its network and a local advertiser. Objections were raised by the TV networks (Closed Circuit, Oct. 28 j and as a consequence the NAB substituted a new situation. NAB President LeRoy Collins will open the Nashville session with an informal talk, as he will at the conferences to follow in Fort Worth (Nov. 18-19), Denver (Nov. 21-22) and San Francisco (Nov. 25-26). NAB board member who will participate in Nashville include Lester G. Spencer, president-general manager of wkbv Richmond. Ind.: John F. Box Jr., executive vice president, wil St. Louis; Robert T. Mason, president, wmrN Marion, Ohio: Henry B. Clay, executive vice president, kthv(tv) Little Rock. Ark., and Robert BROADCASTING. November 11, 1963 5S