NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1943)

How Public Was Confused Editorial ‘Silence’ Discussed As an example of what happened during the last black¬ out, the Philadelphia informant said that two of the six stations that issued the joint statement, printed above, were not included in the 10:51 p. m. conference call. The four other stations were advised by call from the office of Major Elderdice that they should broadcast the all clear at 10:55 p. m. This was done by some stations. As it turned out these announcements were four minutes ahead of the downtown audible. Others, because of past experi¬ ence, played safe and waited until the siren was heard in the downtown section at 10:59. Accordingly these signals coincided with the audible in the downtown section. Adding to the confusion was the fact that the audible “all-clear” was given in the suburbs at 11:03, eight min¬ utes after some radio listeners heard the “all-clear” on their radios at 10:55. Such people acted in good faith, turned on their lights and immediately had arguments with block wardens, who, of course, did not hear the “all-clear” until 11:03. Ac¬ curacy of the broadcast “all-clear” was brought into question. One station received a call from the Army at 11:00 p. m. stating that the “all-clear” was to be given at 10:55. Adding more fuel to the fire, the Philadelphia bi'oadcaster said, was a statement by the local OCD to Phila¬ delphia papers that radio stations had sounded the “allclear” too soon. Confusion Must End The Philadelphia story is only one of other similar stories. But there need be no divided authority. Responsibility is indicated in FCC Restricted Order No. 2 now in the hands of broadcasters. However, if those in authority fail to make workable plans and then implement them properly, broadcasters are correct in attempting a remedy with vigorous protests. Such a serious condition should not be permitted to continue, because it is contrary to the public safety and to the winning of the war. It is reported that a number of Philadelphia conferences with the Army, OCD and broadcasters have failed to pro¬ duce a solution up to the present time. PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHICAGO MEETING REPORT (Released by XAB News Bureau) “The public relations work of the radio industry is largely a responsibility of local stations in local connnunities,” stated Edgar Bill, of WMBD, Peoria, Illinois, chair¬ man of the NAB public relations committee, following a two-day meeting in Chicago at which the committee adopted a “grassroots” policy and outlined a complete field of operation to be incorporated into a working plan. Acting in an advisory capacity to the industry, the com¬ mittee adopted a resolution outlining the importance of news and requesting the NAB board of directors to ap¬ point a radio news committee, consisting of station man¬ agers and news editors whose objective shall be the ad¬ vancement of radio as a medium of news transmission. The appointment of district public relations chairmen in the seventeen NAB districts, now under way by the board of directors, was discussed and applauded. Local station management will also be requested to place some¬ one in charge of jHiblic relations for the station, if this has not ali’eady been done. All will cooi)erate with na¬ tional headquarters. It was pointed out that a co-ordinated unit of this type will enable headquarters to speak more readily for the industry as a whole on national issues and will be of great mutual benefit in shaping local activities. 294 — July 2, 1943 Discussion of the Supreme Court decision of May 10th and new legislation brought up the matter of radio’s edi¬ torial silence. The committee decided that the best policy, in its opinion, was the aggressive promotion of public forums and individual speakers offering the right of reply. “This,” said Bill, “while conforming to the Code, will still accomplish as much as a declared editorial policy, perhaps even more.” Members of the public relations committee attending the two day session, in addition to Bill, were: Lawrence W. McDowell, KFOX; Craig Lawrence, KSO; Leslie W. Joy, KYW; John Patt, WGAR; Edgar H. Twamley, WBEN; Dr. Frank Stanton, CBS; and Judith Waller, NBC, Chicago, appearing for Frank M. Russell, NBC, Washington. Representatives of NAB in attendance were C. E. Arney, Jr., secretary-treasurer; Willard D. Egolf, assistant to the president, and Walt Dennis, chief of the NAB news bureau. Kern Tips, KPRC, was unable to at¬ tend. Another meeting of the committee was voted for eaidy fall. Broadcast Advertising NEVILLE MILLER ADDRESSES AFA WAR ADVERTISING CONFERENCE Egolf Re-elected Vice-President With station men, Neville Miller and staff personnel present, NAB was well represented at the Advertising Federation of America War Advertising Conference, New York City, June 28-30. Miller addressed delegates on the subject of the powers now residing with the FCC as result of the Supreme Court decision of May 10, 1943. (Full text of this address will be sent to members as a special bulletin within a few days.) Temper of the federation was expressed in a resolution indicating “profound concern” over the line of reasoning revealed in the decision and urging Congress to consider new legislation. Full text of the resolution appears else¬ where in this issue of the “Reports.” Willard D. Egolf, assistant to the president, NAB, was re-elected vice-president of the Federation Tuesday after¬ noon. Egolf presided over the Advertising Club Confer¬ ence on War Activities, presenting Chester LaRoche, chairman of the War Advertising Council; Herman Wolf, War Production Drive; E. A. Sheridan, special OCD repre¬ sentative, and Paul Bolton, former ODT campaign sections chief. Lewis H. Avery, director of the department of broadcast advertising, NAB, presided over the Wednesday session addressed by Miller. Avery also presented Fred H. Kenkel, C. E. Hooper, Inc., vice-president, who used charts and statistics gathered by his organization in showing “How We Listen to Radio in Wartime.” 1943 reveals an all-time audience high. Avery closed the session by givingcomparative figures on the distribution of the national ad¬ vertiser’s dollar in all media, showing radio’s tremendous gains in the last ten years. NAB Display The NAB display at the AFA Conference, was devoted to “Radio in the War.” WGAR, Cleveland, WTAD, Quincy, WSYR, Syracuse, and WBAL, Baltimore, took advantage of the invitation, printed in NAB Reports of June 11, to display promotion pieces which tied in with the central theme of the display.