Radio daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

VOL. 3, NO. 23 NEW YORK. N. Y.. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2. 1938 FIVE CENTS $4,297,600 CBS ’37 Net CRITICS’ FORUM MORE ABOUT NEWSCASTS ADDITIONAL comments and suggestions from the nation’s radio editors on the question of improving news periods, the second topic in Radio Daily’s first annual Forum, are given herewith: 65 NATIONS REPRESENTED AT CONFERENCE IN CAIRO Cairo (By Cable) — Representatives of nearly 65 nations are here for the International Communications Conference which will be formally opened today by King Farouk. Problem of revising regulations governing radio, telegraph and telephone communications will come up at the parley. Reallocation of wavelengths for broadcasting is one of the more difficult matters facing the conference. Wallace White, leader of the U. S. (Continued on Page 3) Another Measure Asks Pan-American Station Washington Bureau, RADIO DAILY Washington — Senators McAdoo of California and Chavez of New Mexico yesterday introduced a bill asking construction and operation of a radio station designed to promote friendly relations among nations of the western hemisphere. Bill is similar to the one introduced by Congressman Celler in the House only in that it calls for an appropriation of $3,000,000 for land, construction and equipment. A Pan-American advisory council on programs also is specified. Reg Martin, Gunnar Back, Out in Shift at Lincoln Lincoln, Neb. — Reginald B. Martin, KFAB-KFOR station manager, and Gunnar Back, continuity chief, are off the payroll under a realignment by Don Searle, new general manager. Paul Dodd is acting manager of the Lincoln studios. A shakeup in Central States Broadcasting’s Omaha studios, KOIL-KFAB, came two weeks ago. McCarthy for Mayor Milwaukee — So popular is Edgar Bergen's Charlie McCarthy that citizens of South Milwaukee have nominated him for mayor there. Nomination paper, signed by enough persons, duly filed with city clerk. Harry Eldred, publicity director of WTMI, through which Charlie contacts his constituents, is campaign manager. “Both radio and newspapers have learned that there is room for both mediums, although the radio sphere is identical with that of the press. News broadcasts should be credited to the local press by each station and a cooperative agreement reached.” — C. FULTON FIELD, Long Beach (Cal.) Press Telegram. * * * “By an unbiased view of both sides of the topic. Many commentators reveal a reactionary view and are quick to ‘color’ the news which decidedly favors the business interests of sponsor.”— SID SHALIT, New York Daily News. * * * “More often, shorter periods in breezier, snappier style and interpretative.” — TURNER JORDAN, Birmingham News. * * * “More like Lowell Thomas.” — WILSON BROWN, Radio Guide. * * * “As to spot news, by repetition of the headline-highlights at the program conclusion for late tuners.” — JACK SHAFER, Newark Ledger , Long Island Press and Staten Island Advance. * * * “By adding a little humor in news stories.” — ARTHUR C. PAMERLEAU, Flint Journal. * * * “Dramatize the news. Give it better interpretation.” — HARRY W. MOODY, Springfield , Illinois State Journal. • * * “Keep them strictly sustaining and eliminate commercials in the middle of a news broadcast, camouflaged as a news item.” — FREDERIC THOMS, Bridgeport Times-Star. * * • “By being more selective in the news presented.” — HARRY LA FERTE, Tulsa World. * * * “By having several' voices that SOUND different on the same news program.”— NICK KENNY, New York Daily Mirror. * * * “By abandoning the policy of too many news periods, such as one each hour, which takes the edge off the news.”— JOHN CAMERON SWAYZE, Kansas City Journal-Post. » * * “By eliminating distortions planned to conform to the commentator’s prejudices.” — ALICE ZINGG, Bay City Times. * * » “More news of general interest. Less interpretation of minor events.” —HAZEL A. ANDERSON, Lynn (Mass.) Daily Evening Item. * * * “Sock one story hard, as Boake Carter does, instead of sketching entire page 1 of newspaper.” — RALPH SANDERS, Chattanooga Free Press. * * * “By bringing to the microphone for a 30-second or even one minute interview persons directly in the news of the day — during daily periods.”— WILL BALTIN, New Brunswick (N. J.) Daily Home News. * * * “By being a little more explicit and detailed. Less uninteresting material and not so much reference to commercialism.” — INA WICKHAM, Davenport Democrat and Leader. * * * “By a little better editing. Have boys with background handle the news, especially on smaller stations.” — MARY LITTLE, Des Moines Register and Tribune. * * * “By better editing; by writing for the eye not the ear; less declamatory delivery.” — DALE ARMSTRONG, Los Angeles Times. * * * “Radio news commentators dramatize small incidents too much. Most news broadcasts are short, and, therefore, must be used to cover the news as completely as possible in ( Continued on Page 3) $2.52 a Share Reported for Last Year Against $2.20 in 1936 CBS net earnings for last year, subject to audit by certified public accountant, were $4,297,600, equal to $2.52 a share, compared with net earnings of $3,755,000 or $2.20 a share, in 1936. Share earnings for both years are computed on the basis of 1,707,950 shares of $2.50 stock presently outstanding or to be outstanding upon completion of exchange of the old $5 stock. NETWORKS EAVOR AERA IN UNION NEGOTIATIONS Rapid strides by the American Federation of Radio Artistes in its negotiations with networks and advertising agencies indicate that the networks at least are favorably inclined toward the AFRA, an AFL affiiliate, as compared to unaffiiliated or the CIO groups. NBC announcing staff in this city is 100 per cent AFRA with exception of one announcer. Yesterday two NBC managed outlets, ( Continued on Page 3) Eddie Cantor Reported Slated for Camel Show West Coast Bureau, RADIO DAILY Los Angeles — That Eddie Cantor will end his Texaco association when present contract option expires in March, and that he has a deal on the fire for a one-hour show for Camel cigarets, is the report current here, though denied by William Esty (Continued on Page 3) Direct Medinm Remington-Rand sponsoring the 'Early Bird" show handled by Charlie McCarthy (real name) received a call from WHN early one morning. A listener needed a typewriter in a hurry. She 'phoned WHN. WHN 'phoned Remington-Rand. Remington-Rand 'phoned the nearest agent. Result: One typewriter sold!