NAEB Newsletter (Jan 1958)

goals for many years; but it was felt that current changes in educational needs, taken together with recent developments in broadcasting itself, might justify a general reappraisal of the educational broad¬ casting movement. Therefore, it was the consensus of the Board that the several groups and interests in¬ volved in educational broadcasting should re-evaluate their functions and performance in the context of the nation’s present educational needs. This process might involve not only the leaders of education and educa¬ tional broadcasting, but advisors from other fields as well. What might be the eventual outcome of such a group self-appraisal? This no one can foresee. It might bring about new definitions of goals and objectives. It might lead to basic changes, both within and among these organizations. It would not necessarily enhance the role of the NAEB: our purpose in advocating such a self-appraisal is to advance the cause of edu¬ cational broadcasting, not merely to change the status of any one organization. As the preamble to our constitution declares: “Believing that radio and television broadcasting are most important factors and influences in the na¬ tional and international welfare, we, the representa¬ tives of educational, cultural and public service in¬ stitutions, organizations, agencies and associations engaged in educational and cultural broadcasting, do associate ourselves to promote, by united effort and mutual cooperation, the dissemination of knowledge, information, and education to the end that the edu¬ cational, cultural and technical benefits of broad¬ casting may be extended to all.” Such objectives, it seems to me, constitute a good guide for NAEB and all others in educational broad¬ casting, as we enter what we hope will be: A HAPPY NEW YEAR! MEMO FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR —Harry Skornia This month most of the essential news I would norm¬ ally report on is included in President Burton Paulu’s report to the membership on recent Board and other policy meetings, a report on the NAEB Research Seminar by Raymond Cheydleur and the list of new committees. We also welcome what we hope will be the first of a regular series of columns by William Bender, in the public relations area. With such excellent contributions on an increas¬ ing basis by various NAEB chairmen and members, the reporting required by the Headquarters staff can be considerably reduced, and a better Newsletter will result. During recent months we have been making an effort to get you more news, written in more straight¬ forward and less “folksy” fashion. As our circulation increases, I think this suggestion, which orginated with the NAEB Publications Committee and was en¬ dorsed by the Board, is well-timed. It represents progress and increasing maturity. This does not relieve NAEB members of responsibility, however; it increases that responsibility. For Editor Hans Mas- saquoi can not invent news. We therefore hope you will take as seriously as we do the Board’s mandate to provide more news in this publication. The style will of course be made to fit, in every way possible, the mandated approach. May I too wish all readers a fine 1958? NAEB HOLDS FIRST RESEARCH SEMINAR Raymond D. Cheydleur, Chairman, NAEB Research Committee, 1957 Kellogg funds made possible the recent successful and highly productive Seminar on Research in Edu¬ cational Broadcasting, sponsored by the NAEB Re¬ search Committee with significant contributions, gratefully acknowledged, by the Committee on Re¬ search in Communications of the Ohio State Univer¬ sity. Seminar director of this meeting, held at Columbus from December 9 through the 13th, was Dr. I. Keith Tyler. The goal of the intensive seminar was to delineate a broad program of significant research in educa¬ tional broadcasting and to familiarize participants with a wide range of available research techniques. It was recognized that the scope of the seminar would have to be broad. Nationally, an appraisal of the impact of educational broadcasting and its role in the total educational picture awaits development of a comprehensive, integrated, country-wide re¬ search program which can be systematically imple¬ mented over a period of years as resources become available. Locally, research personnel connected with educational radio and television stations and production agencies face frustrating problems re¬ sulting from significant and complex needs on the one hand, and inadequate financial and human re¬ sources on the other. Of particular help to the participants was the availability of competent staff members from Ohio State University, acting as resource persons in social research. In addition, other outstanding consultants came to the seminar to participate in the critical discussions. These included such experts as Benjamin S. Bloom, Herta Herzog, Paul Lazarsfeld, John J. JANUARY, 1958 3