NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1944)

Sales Bulletin Coming Soon The second 5th War Loan Bulletin, on sales, is in preparation. KFI POINTS UP FIGHT ON VENEREAL DISEASES In a letter to NAB from W. B. Ryan, KFI, station activ¬ ity in the nationwide fight on venereal disease is described as a public responsibility. Tear sheet of a KFI trade paper advertisement accom¬ panying the letter features a “stopper” headline: “A mil¬ lion people heard the word SYPHILIS and liked it! Ryan’s letter states: “Though the Mid-Victorian attitude of “hush hush’ about Syphilis has no place in the world today, it still takes a stout heart and a powerful conviction to put 50,000 watts of broadcasting power behind a series of dramatizations based on venereal diseases ! „ , “This stands as a two-fisted challenge to Radio to peiform an urgent war-time service. “We of KFI decided to meet this challenge by creating and broadcasting a weekly dramatic program entitled “THE UNSEEN ENEMY.” The programs approach the subject forcefully . . . honestly. They ask public coopera¬ tion in the control of Syphilis by naming it what it really is — a public responsibility. “We regard such public service programming as our obligation as licensees of a major broadcasting station in a community of over three million people. It is our priv¬ ilege to be able to use our own initiative, our own talent, in rendering this service. At the same time, it is our promotional opportunity, because such programming unites the station and its listeners in a local bond ot local interests and local responsibilities. “Your interest in good radio and in worthwhile com¬ munity service prompts us to call to your attention what we, like scores of other major broadcasting stations, are doing to preserve and promote the American system of broadcasting.” STATEMENT TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF VENEREAL DISEASES, U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE Washington, D. C., April 27, 1944 (Delivered by Willard D. Egolf, NAB Assistant to the President) “The need for public education on the subject of venereal disease is a challenge to radio, as an instrument of mass communication. “In considering the use of radio, however, we must be careful to appraise it properly. After studying the agenda for today’s meeting, I decided that it would be more impor¬ tant to define the medium of radio than to discuss the logic of its use for programs dealing with venereal disease, and whether or not they should include a discussion of sex promiscuity as a major causative factor. As to sex pro¬ miscuity, radio is already striking hard blows against it through programs dealing with juvenile delinquency. The same technique could be transferred to programs com¬ bating venereal disease. “But all will fail if we do not understand how to ap¬ proach radio. The background information accompanyingtoday’s agenda speaks with considerable meaning of the “national radio networks.” This would lead me to believe that the paper presented by the Chief of the NAB News Bureau last June at the New Jersey Federal-State War Conference on Social Protection has been forgotten or ignored. I should like to re-file that paper here today, with your permission, simply to show that the fundamental approach to radio has not changed. Also I should like to file with you a copy of my remarks before the Health Conference of the New York Academy of Medicine last December. “In these two papers you will find that the discretion as to the use of program material dealing with venereal dis¬ ease or any other subject rests solely with stations man¬ agers. National radio networks cannot, and do not wish to be placed in the position where they are believed to, control station programming. The finest program that a network could prepare on the subject of venereal disease might not reach the air over more than a handful of sta¬ tions if the managers of the remaining stations felt that the subject was not appropriate or tasteful for their local audiences. “The Communications Act under which broadcasters are licensed to operate a radio station places the responsibility for proper program selection entirely on the licensee, who is the broadcaster. Therefore, I urge careful study of the material which I am filing with you, wherein you will find that radio stations must be approached one at a time, in their own communities, against the background of local public feeling. Consulted in this manner by the proper authorities, I predict that you will find the broadcasters of this country willing to devote every energy to the solu¬ tion of this public health problem.” "AMERICA'S SECRET WEAPON" FILM AVAILABLE TO STATIONS “America’s Secret Weapon,” the sound slide film pro¬ duced jointly by the Advertising Federation of America and the Committee for Economic Development, is now being booked by A.F.A. affiliated ad clubs throughout the country. For cities and towns where there are no organized ad clubs affiliated with A.F.A., or where special showings are desired, radio stations may obtain the film and sound rec¬ ord for only $6.50. Address the Committee for Economic Development, 285 Madison Avenue, New York 17, N. Y., for details, particularly the name of your local C.E.D. Community Chairman, who will give you cooperation in your showings. “America’s Secret Weapon” tells the part advertising can play in attaining and maintaining high levels of pro¬ duction and employment in the postwar period. It should be of interest to everyone concerned with the vital prob¬ lem of post-war employment. Nature of the production makes it most adaptable to slide-film presentation. The film is a standard sound slide, requiring a single frame 35 mm. projector, and for the sound record, a turntable of 33-1/3 rpm. It is slightly less than 30 minutes in length. Introductory and closing remarks by a qualified local speaker, which would add materially to the interest and value of the program, should not extend the time beyond 40 minutes. WOWO's "Proudly We Hail" WOWO’s “Proudly We Hail,” written and produced by the staff, is a five times weekly quarter-hour that is doing an outstanding job in furthering the war effort. The program developed from an all-day promotion which the Fort Wayne station broadcast July 4, 1943, when the entire day was dedicated to local war heroes. Dramatized stories of events in the lives of these local heroes were used as background for war bond plugs. Mothers with the most sons in the service were heard throughout the day. The dramatic climax was reached in the final half-hour of the broadcasting day. This was the dramatized life story of Captain Richard Miller of Fort Wayne. He was one of the bombardiers participating in General Doolittle’s Tokyo raid. As now broadcast the program is a one-man dramatiza¬ tion, utilizing voice, incidental music, sound effects and localized versions of war effort promotion. All of the five weekly quarter-hours are sponsored by various war essential industries. The commercial is limited to sponsor mention and institutional copy. WO WO and the sponsors have received many unusual and appre¬ ciative letters. May 5, 1944-147