Education by Radio (1933)

Radio in the Wisconsin Legislature Harold A. Engel Station WH A, University of Wisconsin Wisconsin law-makers are now using the state’s radio stations to keep the citizens in close touch with legis¬ lative activities in Madison. Each day a broadcast direct from a studio in the capitol building features a message by a legislator who is prominent in the news of the day. At the beginning of the present session every senator and assemblyman was invited to use the radio to keep his constitu¬ ents informed of his activities and interests. He was asked to choose his own topics for discussion. So many have grasped the opportunity to extend their services to the people “back home” that it has been necessary to double the original time allotment . for as much as a week at a time. The “State Capitol” series was opened by Cornelius Young, speaker of the assembly at the age of twenty-five, who laid the groundwork for the talks to follow. Later broadcasts are featur¬ ing discussions of pending legislation, explanations of laws enacted, and weekly summaries of the activities of the legis¬ lature. Each speaker is allowed a free rein; no censorship is sug¬ gested. Even in the most controversial of problems there have been no cases of indiscretions or ungentlemanly conduct. The solons have accepted the opportunity as a part of the plan to acquaint the citizens with the complex problems of this time of economic distress. Listeners, in turn, are eager to know what is being done in their behalf. A better understanding is the result. Into the microphone the legislator speaks his mind. His voice is heard and he is understood as he intended. He welcomes the freedom from misinterpretations and distorted reports which have been known to come from the press, especially when the political affiliations of the speaker and the press do not coincide. The radio brings into the home the friendly warmth and assur¬ ance so vital to stability in turbulent times. It helps the legis¬ lator to maintain on the part of his constituents the confidence which elected him. Important legislative events are put on the air as they occur. Since the first of the year the inauguration of the governor and other new state officials, the opening session of the legislature, and the much-awaited governor’s budget message have been heard. Broadcasts of vital matters can be arranged on short notice thru the maintenance of a wire connection with the legislative chambers. The Women’s Legislative Council of Wisconsin finds it pos¬ sible to extend the scope of its activities by using the WHAWLBL hookup. Each week at a regular time it gives a sum¬ mary and explanation of the more important developments at the capitol. Legislators themselves take part, broadcasting from the capitol studio. Matters of special interest to women are featured. Continuing its program of political education, started during the election campaigns in the fall of 1932, a series of broad¬ casts has been arranged for candidates for the supreme court in the April election. Time was again distributed equitably among the aspirants for office by the drawing of lots. There is no charge to any speaker for the use of these radio facilities. It is an educational project for the enlightenment of voters, and candidates are urged to use the time judiciously. The state stations, WHA operated thru the University in Madison, and WLBL of the Department of Agriculture and Markets, are linked by wire and broadcast many important features jointly. More than 90 percent of the people of Wis¬ consin are within the service area of these two stations. Wisconsin has begun to demonstrate a few of the ways in which the radio is a powerful force in the extension of opportu¬ nities to its citizens. Recognized as a leader among states in mat¬ ters of politics and government, it continues to pioneer in the public interest. In the words of Governor Albert E. Schmedeman, “It is quite fitting that Wisconsin, the birthplace of WHA, the world’s oldest educational broadcasting station, should take this position of leadership in the development of state-owned radio facilities.” 1 PTA Writes Protest As the group of persons most interested in the welfare of . children, the Rochester Central Council of Parent Teacher Associations wishes to call to your attention the unde¬ sirable features of your radio program coming at 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If ever children and young people should have high ideals held before them, it is now. Recreation they need, and wise¬ cracks, and nonsense and fun; but never a portrayal of crime that will give them not only the idea itself, but all the lurid details of its execution as well. The radio voice has become a background against which a modern child can think and act, but let that background be decent and uplifting, rather than degrading. Eight-thirty is the average hour for bedtime for school children; does it seem fair to them that their last half hour before being sent to bed should be filled with the shrieks of murdered men and the wails of betrayed women? If you must have these things, let it be after ten oclock when children are in bed, or during the morning when children are in school. If you persist in undesirable programs during the evening the result will be the turning off of all radio entertainment during the evening. Intelligent parents are becoming so annoyed at the type of radio advertising that is emphasized daily from five to nine, resulting in urgent demands from the children to buy XYZ toothpaste and ABC cereal, etc., that an organized resistance is growing up; parents are steadfastly refusing to buy any pro¬ duct advertised over the radio by over-emotional and too highly stimulating appeals. We sincerely hope that you will consider our protests in be¬ half of our children. Very truly yours, 1 Inaugural address celebrating linking of state stations by wire, January 21, 1933. [ 23 ]