Region II, 1953 (1953)

- 9 - two or more people together, just write and ask. Of course you may be beyond needing consultants. In many places local groups have gone so far on their own that there is little the national organizations can do to help them. After a certain point, it must be your baby. The issue was then raised as to whether or not certain of the assisting organi¬ zations were not overwhelming MSB’S ’’grass roots.” Has NCCET really done what it was set up to do? In one locality it has promised to use its influence, but so far nothing has been done. It has sent down a handsome brochure, ’’Greatest Invention Since Printing,” but the brochure states that educational television will cost $500,000 for the first year’s operation. This statement is enough to kill 200 potential applications by itself. Contact with NCCET on this point produced only the answer that New York State had been embarrassed by under¬ estimating costs. Finally, when a consultant came down, his attitude was ’’Cost doesn’t enter into this - you can sell it no matter what the cost.” There is a real danger that these self-constituted groups are going to ’’love us to death” unless they listen to us in the ’’grass roots.” Mr. Ausrnus said he would convey to NCCET these three major suggestions: (l) that it maintain closer liaison with local groups, (2) that it not distribute literature without permission, and (3) that when it agrees to do something, it carry out its pledge. It was further pointed out that consultants coming from the national organizations to local communities must know educational philo¬ sophy and processes else they will embarrass the cause of educational television. The discussion turned to costs, and it was pointed out that on Charnel 15, for example, one could go on the air for $75,000 to $80,000 minimum, with a pro¬ jector and film operation, no cameras. However, the objection was raised that it is possible to sell in reverse and that when educational TV goes on the air it must be good in order to gain continued support. Of course commercial broadcasters, to judge from reports of applications in Broadcasting , are going to go into television at all kinds of different investment levels. The preliminary report on New Jersey’s plans was read. It was pointed out that both Allen DuMont and Engstrom of RCA were members of the Commission drawing up the report, and so the cost factor was likely to be accurate. They planned to spend $340,000 for technical equipment: Of this, ^162,000 will be transmitter equipment, $165,000 studio equipment, and $31,000 video recorder. Annual oper¬ ating expense has been estimated at $190,000. Following this, the discussion turned from cost to purpose. One of the con¬ sultants said that we must remember that we are educators; we need to be always conscious of the philosophy of education in relation to mass communication. We need to be ever critical of such advertising as tries to assume the responsibili¬ ty for education. A delegate rose apologetically, saying that he felt like a man approaching the Atomic Energy Co mm issiion to ask how he could get the best use out of his bow and arrow. His problems were: He has been on the air nine weeks with a staff of one and a budget of $800 a year. How does one get money? How does one get support and reach out to other people? A number of suggestions were offered: that he bring the president or school superintendent into active participation; that over a period of time he get every department involved; get the students involved; be helpful in the way of programming to the local stations other than his own. The more participation - the more success, was the keynote of the reply. Particularly it was suggested that one get the participation of powerful