NAEB Newsletter (Sept 1958)

universities. The steering committee, composed of representatives of each university, includes Jack McBride, Vice-President of the NAEB and director of ETV at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Dr. Aldrich Paul from the University of Omaha, and Rev. R. C. Williams, S.J., director of Communi¬ cation Arts, The Creighton University in Omaha. MAGNUSON BILL STOPPED THIS SEASON In the final rush before last month’s Congressional adjournment, the Magnuson Bill lost its opportunity for passage when it failed to reach the floor of the House, however it probably will be introduced at the first session of the 86th Congress next January. The Senate-passed bill, giving federal aid to ETV, earlier was approved in an amended version by the House Commerce Committee. Voting 13-7 to report the bill favorably, the House Committee amended it to (1) make local school districts and other govern¬ ment subdivisions—as well as states, Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia—eligible to receive fed¬ eral funds, but limit grants for colleges and uni¬ versities to government-supported institutions; and (2) eliminate a provision that non-profit private ETV organizations also could qualify for funds from grants of up to $1 million to each state and territory. While the fate of this bill must wait until next year, another measure was passed by the 85th Con¬ gress which may be helpful to the educational broad¬ casting movement. The Hill-Elliott bill (S. 3187) provides certain funds for research and experimenta¬ tion in the new media, including radio and television. MEMO FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR —Harry Skornia It appears to me that we have generally overlooked the encouraging, growing firmness of the status of educational broadcasting in the United States. We still have to explain ourselves here and there, but more and more people know what we’re talking about. I think I am not inciting overconfidence when I call for still greater assurance on our part, and greater initiative. Anyone who has read the Senate and House testimony connected with the Magnuson and other bills will find much strong support, at the high¬ est levels, for what we stand. A few years ago we feared we’d lose educational TV frequencies. Today, where the need is great enough, we need not hesitate to ask for new ones, or for VHF instead of UHF, where the better one is available. We need no longer be apologetic, or be satisfied with inferior facilities for education. Eventu¬ ally, I feel, the finest station in each community should be education’s own station. It’s up to you, who are responsible on the spot, to keep pressing for adequate financing ana adequate facilities, as well as recognizing the need for the highest moral and educational standards in all we offer. Broadcasting, as a public relations and advertising- instrument, has played a powerful “social engineer¬ ing” role in American society. Radio and TV have helped sell women on smoking, men on deodorants, toiletries and cosmetics on dubious rather than genuine qualities, liquor and bigger cars as “prestige” symbols, etc. The time is here when these media should be used to sell respect for integrity and educa¬ tion, for whole truths instead of half truths or super¬ ficial treatments. This too is our responsibility. How well we meet it will determine whether the respect, which we are beginning to win, will increase or wane. Let’s make both educational radio and television permanent and dependable oases in the intellectual and moral fron¬ tiers of atomic-age America. NETWORK NEWS —Bob Underwood Network members can look forward to receiving some very interesting “specials” from us during the coming weeks. Among these will be a discussion of “Science and Secondary Education” by Dr. James Killian, Rear Adm. Hyman Rickover and Dr. Merle Tuve; a con¬ versation between Carl Sandburg and Frank Lloyd Wright, with Alistair Cooke as moderator; a very interesting panel on British relations with the United Nations featuring, among others, Allen Nevins; Mme. Chiang Kai-shek’s address at the University of Michi¬ gan; and some special Christmas shows for use during that season. In addition, we are arranging for some more specials which you should find of interest. These “specials” are in addition to our usual nine hours per week which may be had by full-time NAEB Newsletter, a monthly publication issued by the Na¬ tional Association of Educational Broadcasters, 14 Gregory Hall, Urban-a, III. $5 a year, edited by Jane Lombard. 2 NEWSLETTER