NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1944)

recorders accompanied the first waves of troops on to the beachheads and the American public was given a never-to-be-forgotten account of the battle as it progressed with the accompaniment of the fearful sounds of modern warfare. The general comment on radio’s performance during this critical test has been almost universally commendatory. Broadcasting has marked a new high in factual and first-hand reporting of the war in its progress. We hear a great deal today on the subject of reconversion. Broadcasting must be prepared to make its reconversion after the war, just as much as must manufacturers and other industries. We have become accustomed to the high interest of the public in all war news during these critical times. When the war is over will the public continue to want news over the air? The wise radio station is at this time preparing for the period when the keen public interest in news will have become some¬ what dulled and is now so building its news services that it will be prepared after the war to retain the interest of its listeners in the presentation of the news of a world at peace, and through this dissemination of news and information play its part in maintaining peace throughout the world. THIS CONFERENCE It was only after the most thoughtful consideration that it was determined to hold this Executives’ War Conference. The meeting had once been postponed from spring until this date in order to conflict as little as possible with the problems of the railroads. We have been in close communication with the railroads themselves and as the time for this meeting approached we felt that it was increasingly desir¬ able from the public viewpoint as well as our own that the meeting be held now instead of being deferred to a later date, which in all probability would have to be some time in the early part of 1945. The posi¬ tion of the Association as well as the activities of each individual station have become so intertwined with the war effort that it is imperative that we get together once in a while and review what progress has been made and plan for the future. In this way we can be of infinitely more value to our country. A distinctly lesser reason is found in the fact that all the activities of the NAB run from meeting to meeting, including the terms of office of directors, the appointment and functioning of Committees, etc., and that no provision has been made for the omission of such a meeting. One of the proposed amend¬ ments to the by-laws is designed for the future coverage of this omission. NAB COMMITTEES It has been truly observed that the work of the NAB revolves about the work of its committees. These are most important to the functioning of the home office and are at the same time most instru¬ mental in transmitting the though and planning of the individual station into the work of the Association. The quite detailed account of the actions of the various committees is contained in the individual reports of the several Directors. I want here to cover the highlights of the labors of the committees of the NAB. Accounting Cotnmittee. This committee met once during the year, suggested simplification of the FCC Annual Employee and Financial Data form and appointed a subcommittee to draft a revision of the NAB Accounting Manual. Code Compliance Committee. This committee has met once since the last convention. It gave a detailed study to the application of the Code to labor broadcasts. A complete statement was published in the NAB reports. Scheduled for discussion at Chicago is the recently issued CIO Radio Handbook with its attack on the Code. Executive Engineering Committee. This committee has met twice since the 1943 War Conference. The most important matters considered were the NAB training program for women studio operators and the NAB participation in the Radio Technical Planning Board. Another meeting of this committee is planned early in September to discuss NAB proposals in connection with post-war allocations. Insurance Committee. There has been no meeting of this committee held since the last convention. Labor Executive Committee. This committee has held one meeting and has considered the problems growing out of the action of the American Federation of Musicians in connection with the ban on record¬ ings and the platter-turner situation. It has also considered the activity of the American Federation of Radio Artists in their attempt to establish the principle of additional fees for assigned announcers. Legislative Committee. This important committee has had seven meetings since the 1943 conference. It has furnished the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee with its opinions on the several legislative September 1, 1944 — 300