NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1942)

IDLY 1942 11 NBC AND NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY OFFER SUMNER RADIO INSTITUTE # The National Broadcasting CompanyNorthwestern University Summer Radio Institute was launched in Chicago late in June. The courses represent extensive collaboration between the network and the university in providing instruction on the manifold phases of broadcasting. Arrangements for the Summer Radio Institute were made by Harry C. Kopf, NBC vice-president and manager of the central division; Judith Waller, the network’s central division public service director, and Albert Crews, chairman of curriculum, radio division, Northwestern University. Classes divide time between the Northwestern campus and NBC’s Merchandise Mart studios. The network provides instructors, lecturers and studio facilities. The concentrated eight-week course includes instruction in radio writing, acting, announcing and directing and the planning, adminstration and production of public service programs. According to Mr. Kopf, the collaboration is based on the anticipated demand for trained radio personnel to replace workers called for military and civilian war duty. The course is designed for selected students from high schools and universities and for persons already employed by stations or networks. Actually, the response indicated that an enormous portion of the American public has an ambition to study radio’s many phases and that there are no age or geographical bounds. Miss Waller, a pioneer in radio education, is presenting the course on public service programs in collaboration with Allen iMiller, production director of Station KWSC, State College of Washington. Miller is former radio director of the University of Chicago and former director of the University Broadcasting Council in Chicago. Other instructors are Wynn Wright, production director of the NBC central division, teaching radio production; Charles Urquhart, assistant production manager, announcing; Martin Magner, of the production staff, radio acting, and Albert Crews, of Northwestern, radio writing. Students are given the opportunity to observe the rehearsal and production of actual NBC network programs. University credit will be given to students wbo have the prerequisites necessary for admission. New Personnel Head Hails from Panama • Ernest de la Ossa, new .\B(> personnel director, is a native of the Canal Zone and coiTies to broadcasting as an exjjert on employment problems. His career has been varied and colorful. While attending school in Cristobal he worked at a I tourist concession jf and on anti-aircraft construction. Upon graduating from the Cristobal High School (where he won American Legion and Columbia (mllege scholarships ERNEST DE LA OSSA ' and was class valedictorian I he came to New York and earned his A.B. degree at Columbia where he won several honors in class and athletics. He also studied industrial relations at the Harvard University Business School. All his education was self-financed; he achieved this by serving as a head camp counselor, as a Columbia University reference librarian, and in other special college assignments. It is interesting to note that one of his duties was supervision of the football broadcast booth. After graduation, he joined R. H. Macy & Co., New' York, serving on the department store’s personnel training squad. In turn, he was non-selling department employment interviewer and training supervisor. At the time he resigned to join NBC he was executive placement interviewer. Human Barometer Finds Atmosphere Too Chilly © Shortly after the ruling banning weather reports. Bill Evans, WTMJ ( Milwaukee i announcer conducting the station’s “Top o’ the Morning” feature, puzzled over the situation for a few days, then greeted his listeners with; “Well, if you want to know about the weather, better stick vour head out the w indow and find out.” Now a post card from an Evans fan poses this question: “Dear Bill — Since vou stopped giving us the weather reports, my husband has been taking your suggestion. Every morning he sticks his head out the window, but. unfortunately, the neighbors think he’s just being inquisitive.” NBC FACULTY AND FACILITIES AID STUDENTS: NBC central division staff members serving on the faculty of the Summer RaBio Institute at Northwestern University. Left to right, Charles Urquhart, assistant manager of the production department ; Wynn Wright, manager of production; Judith Waller, public service director, and Martin Magner, of the production staff.