NAEB Newsletter (October 22, 1937)

Monday Afternoon Session —President McCarty, presiding— President A. G, Crane , University of Wyoming, chairman of National Committee on Education by Radio, outlined the origin, objectives, and work of his committee. It does not advocate a government monopoly of radio, he said, but favors the ownership of some facilities by non-profit agencies. Dr Crane outlined a cooperative plan proposed for certain regions under which educational institutions and broadcasters would work together. A "Council” would be formed through the agencies and broadcasters would reserve certain periods of time for the programs developed. "There must be a place, and a provision made for state-owned, institutionally owned, school-owned, city-owned stations," declared Dr. Crane, explaining how they would fit well into the plan he proposed. "The Committee feels that the educational stations are rendering a pioneer service. They must be preserved and their number multiplied. Our plan is likely to encourage their number to increase. The educational stations can furnish the essential leadership needed." S. Howard Evans . Secretary of the National committee on Education by Radio, reported on "News From the Nation’s Capitol". He called Senator White 1 s resolu¬ tion "the most exact indictment ever made ofthe radio industry." The Interstate Commerce Committee of the Senate reported the resolution in for passage. In the House, said Evans, the indictment is more general. With the Connery, Wigglesworth, and Bacon resolutions pressing for investigations of various phases of radio, broadcasters have plenty to think about. "Things are in such a condition in Washington as to indicate that there is need for an explanation of radio’s activities" said Evans. The admission by tho industry 1 s trade papers that a clean-up is expected is looked upon as an admission by the industry that a clean-up is needed. Monday Evening Session —President McCarty, presiding— Everett Mitchell, NBC, spoke on "Announcing". He reviewed the characteristics he looks for in selecting announcers. "Personality - that certain sparkld'is the first requirement, he explained. A boy must be able to fit into any kind of a gathering. He must be able to deal "eye-to-eye" with those whom he meets. He must be neat. Specialization, said Mitchell, is no longer required. He doesn’t want just sports announcers, classical announcers, etc. He wants men capable of taking all kinds of assignments and handling them well. College training is necessary. A knowledge of music, foreign languages, and psychology is sought. Mr. Mitchell gave a member of the audience an audition using the NBC script for trying out announcers. Elmo Scott Watson , writer for the Western Newspaper Union, and author of several well known radio shows talked on "Continuity Writing". Tho first funda¬ mental, he says, is to forget about writing for the eye, and write for the ear. Clear language, simple words, and short sentences are needed. Ho advocated reading everything aloud before including it in a finished script. Gomer Bath, of WMBD, Peoria, spoke for Edgar Bill on "Services on an Educational Station". On his station, he said, all of the time from 6;00 to 10:30 PM was sold, but still the station devoted from 10$ to 13$ of its tine to education 17$ to civic service, and 7$ to religion. Ho mentioned police bulletins, weather- bureau pickups, interviews with visiting notables, and charity drives as examples of how a station can serve a community. "Educational stations are in a position to experiment with programs and point the way to other stations so they can serve better," concluded Mr. Bath.