NAEB Newsletter (June 1, 1961)

NAEB, WASHINGTON, D. C. ... is the NAEB's new cable address. The telephone number is NOrth 7-6000. Address: Suite 1119, 1346 Connecticut Avenue, N. W., Washington 6, D. C. REPRINTS OF BURNS' 'SPEECH AVAILABLE Write to NAEB's Urbana office for free copies of the speech delivered by RCA President John L. Burns at the NAEB-IERT luncheon in Columbus in April. The speech will also appear in the May-June issue of the NAEB Journal. PRESIDENT'S At a meeting of the JCET Board in January, plans were made for a modification of JCET in which it would continue to serve as the policy formu¬ lating forum for the educational community in na¬ tional issues affecting educational broadcasting, but its staff functions would be assumed by NAEB and NETRC. The ipresidents of the two organizations were invited to submit a proposal for a cooperative reallocation of the JCEB staff functions. In attempting to work out the related roles of NAEB and NETRC in their responsibilities as con¬ stituents of JCEB (changed at NAEB’s suggestion so that radio would be included) the discussions got into other areas of activity beyond those formerly of JCEB concern. Accordingly, several drafts were prepared for a proposed “letter of agreement” which attempted to outline certain areas of priority or major responsibility to be assumed by NAEB and NETRC in serving educational broadcasting. The idea certainly appeared serviceable and worthwhile—to work out between the two operating agencies in the field a mutually reinforcing alliance so that we could productively reinforce, rather than wastefudy oppose, one another. Such a basic blue¬ print could result in cooperative directed effort vast¬ ly more potent than the effect of both agencies work¬ ing independently. Sincere efforts were made to construct such a document. But it couldn’t be done! The more we slaved over words and became immersed in specifics, the more it became evident that attempts to achieve such a legalistic document were futile—and probably unwise. The position of the executive committee was presented to the NAEB Board at Columbus, by the chairman of the TV Board, Loren Stone. I have asked him to let me include his statement in my column: I am sure it will be much better for the Center and for NAEB, and for the development of the type of cooperative relationship we all want between the two organizations—and within the entire educational broadcasting movement—if we abandon any attempt to create a document which would spell out “areas of interest” or “areas of primary responsibility.” We must work from the premise of confidence that the Center’s desires and motives are, like those of NAEB, to do whatever it can to further the interests of educational broad¬ casting. We in NAEB should give every encouragement and support to the Center’s doing everything it can do with the funds and manpower it has at its disposal, for it has resources of magnitude which we don’t have, and by its nature—not Re NAEB Board Action In the May Newsletter there was an item stating that the NAEB will “continue” as a constitu¬ ent member of JCEB. It has been pointed out that technically the NAEB became a member of JCEB at that time. (Previously the NAEB had been a mem¬ ber of the JCET, predecessor of JCEB). COLUMN being a membership organization which must be responsive and considerate of the many problems and interests of a diverse membership—is in a position to make decisions and move in many areas which NAEB cannot do, or cannot do rapidly. We should not, therefore, try in any way to limit the areas in which the Center should be operating. The Center has certain basic responsibilities growing out of its charter and the directives of its Board. It certainly cannot and should not limit its own growth by agreeing to take a secondary role in any area important to its fulfilling its own responsi¬ bilities. At the same time the Center will, I am sure, recognize that it, alone, cannot do all that educational broadcasting needs done; and that it has as great—or perhaps a greater interest in helping develop a strong NAEB than have any of us who are, as individuals or institutions, working to maintain a strong professional organization. There is much that the Center should want done that can be done effectively and economically only by a membership organization. Money does not buy the type of service which NAEB members give the movement through their organization. Any attempt to set down areas of special interest will only create, inescapably, a set of lines which cannot help but be crossed over, and which will give rise to more of the suspi¬ cions and accusations which have characterized too much of the relationship of the past. If we recognize that the Center has a responsibility to do everything it can to strengthen the stations it serves, and to create a climate in which the present and yet-to-come stations can be strong, we will not begrudge its doing anything it believes it needs to do to accomplish these ends. The Center should recognize that included in those things which mean strength for its stations is a strong professional organization—which only the institutions and the individuals can create and maintain—but which the Center must support, strongly. It should not begrudge the membership organization doing those things which it must do to provide development for its membership and give its members reason for association. The Center should not want, in any way, to limit the areas of activity which NAEB should be undertaking. We must recognize there are many areas of common interest— as there are between NBC and NAB, for example; and that both our organizations will be active, separately and together, in many matters. If at a staff level, we can honestly respect the sincerity and ability of each other; and operate with a desire to help the other and keep him informed of those of our activities in which we know he will be interested, I see no reason why a most harmonious relationship cannot be established and continued without each trying to limit the other by a set of “writings.” It was the consensus of the Board that the posi¬ tion stated above should govern our general posture toward NETRC and that the cooperative working- relationships should be worked out on a day-to-day, case-by-case basis by the officers of the two agencies. — William G. Harley 4 NEWSLETTER