NBC Transmitter (Jan 1943-Sept 1944)

Record Details:

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2 NBC 7 ransm itler VOL. 9 MAY, 1944 No. 10 NBC Transmitter Published Monthly by the SPfaFs National Broadcas'ing Company RCA Building, Radio City, A. Y. AN ESSENTIAL FREEDOM The relationship of a free radio to the freedoms of peoples everywhere was emphasized by Frank E. Mullen, NBC vice-president and general manager, in an address before the National Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution in New York on April 18. Mr. Mullen advanced llie plan that free radio be on the agenda of all peace conferences. “Broadcasting,” Mr. Mullen said, in part, “does not observe political frontiers, and so we must contemplate and appraise what kind of international broadcasting we are going to have after this war. It is almost obvious that a controlled radio in other lands will present problems in the interchange of news, information and education between the countries of the world. “While we cannot pretend to advise others as to the political systems they should follow, or as to what kind of a broadcasting operation they should conduct, it is self-evident that an unrestricted interchange of freely expressed opinion is necessary if we are to have a democratic world, whdrein the citizens of every land enjoy the priceless freedoms that we possess. “We must guard the homeland too. To be sure, freedom from censorship is provided in the Federal Communications Act. under which broadcasting in the United States operates. But censorship can take many forms. The broadcasting industry, as a form of enterprise licensed by the government, is subject to a certain amount of governmental control, which presents an ever-present danger unless zealously held within bounds by the citizens. “While government regulation is essential to an orderly use of the ether roadways of radio, broadcasting in this country must never he allowed to become either the voice or the tool of government. It must remain the voice of the people.” KANEY PAYS TRIBUTE TO STATION MANAGERS FOR THEIR BRILLIANT HANDLING OF “MEN AND MATERIAL” PROBLEMS A. W . Kaney CHICAGO.— When anyone starts talking about unsung civilian heroes of this war. don’t forget radio station managers. That is the opinion of A.' W. “Sen"’ Kaney, station relations manager of the NBC Central division, whose business treks have taken him to stations all over the middle of the nation in recent weeks. “I am continually amazed at the way in which managers have been able to provide their listeners w ith* virtually normal service in the face of recurrent manpower shortages and lack of technical equipment.’’ Kaney declared. “The manpower situation lias been particularly grave. I know of few station managers w ho have not gone through the experience of having key staff men leave their posts almost overnight to enter the armed services. Radio men in all departments are usually highly skilled and not easily replaced. But rather than go to the wailing wall, the executives have attacked the problem with unusual ingenuity. “Their first step.” Kaney continued, “was to scour their own staffs and the adjacent hinterlands for replacement material. In the main, the new help has consisted of young men rejected for military service, men beyond the draft age and women. Most of them, of course, had not had adequate experience, and this meant that the fewr old hands remaining on the job had to teach the newcomers. “Managers admit that operating a school in conjunction with a radio station has been no cinch. 1 hey knew that inexperienced announcers lacked professional snap, and that a novice engineer makes more mistakes than a veteran. Theoretically, the whole broadcasting situation w as in some danger of being tossed up for grabs. But in spite of that, the stations have been kept on the air and few listeners can tell the difference between peacetime and wartime operation. Kaney held that the broadcasters have been equally resourceful in solving the problem of technical equipment shortage. “Although commercial stations do have a priority rating, managers know that military needs come first.” the NBC station relations executive said. “Consequently. they have established a policy of doing without or making the old stuff do. “Let alone providing the essential equipment. the problem of maintaining it has been an, increasing headache because as the supposed normal life of a piece of equipment ends, it takes more than a goat gland operation to keep it running. In spite of these obstacles, stations have been maintaining normal service and even exceeding it in the emergency demands.” Kaney points out that the broadcasters have met these difficult problems without Hag waving. “They have the government's word that wartime commercial broadcasting is essential. They have taken that word to mean that service shall be uninterrupted, come hell or high water.” As a further consideration for awarding orchids to station managers, Kaney points to the fact that stations have practically fallen over backwards in their willingness to cooperate in the various war drives. “Faced as most of them are with heavy commercial schedules, no manager in this territory has hesitated to throw profitable commercial business right off the air to make room for essential war messages and shows,” he stated. “More than that, most stations are developing special shows of their own to aid the war effort without waiting for official cues.” NBC-ite on College Faculty CHICAGO.— Baskett Mosse. news editor in the NBC Central division's news and special events department, has joined the faculty of Northwestern University as instructor in news broadcasting, a new nineweek course which has been added to the curriculum of the Medill School of Journalism. according to an announcement by Dean Kenneth E. Olson of Northwestern. Mosse is continuing his regular duties at NBC while teaching the course.