U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1960)

HOMETOWN U.S.A. station log ► News: Banding together tor better convention coverage are six regional stations from widely scattered areas of the country. Exclusive radio coverage direct from both the Democratic and Republican national conventions will be broadcast for KOL Seattle, WPTR Albany, New York, WITH Baltimore, KWKY Des Moines, KNUZ Houston and WINN Louisville. All are regional independent stations. Each of the six outlets will furnish a newsman, and the news gathered at the conventions will be pooled. The stations will share costs in setting up a special news room at each convention. The Democratic gathering begins July 1 1 at Los Angeles, while the Republicans will hold their nominating convention starting July 25 at Chicago. >■ Public Service: Promoting traffic safety by radio is but another way stations are serving their communities. WJTN Jamestown, N.Y., has distributed over 500 safety posters reminding its citizens of their respon HONORS ARE accepted from Dr. Kenneth Wells, president of Freedoms Foundation, by T. E. Paisley, (I.) manager of WRCV Philadelphia. George Washington Honor Medal was bestowed as Annual Freedoms Foundation Award. Station was cited for a "Freedom Flight" promotion which encouraged visitors to come to Independence Hall during July, 1959. Listeners responded to the campaign. sibility for safe driving. Theme of its campaign is You Are Responsible. The station broadcasts a tag every day on its midday ne^vscast saying, "Yoii are responsible for X ntunber of days without a traffic fatality in Jamestown." The city of 45,000 has not had a traffic death in more than a year. SALUTE TO 25 years of consecutive advertising is given by WFDF Flint at luncheon honoring Hamady Bros. The food chain began their uninterrupted advertising on the station February, 1935. (I. to r.) Jack Hamady, senior v. p.; Marvin Levey, commercial manager, WFDF; Robert M. Hamady, president; Elmer A. Knopf, general manager for the station and Francis Beilil, v. p., Hamady Bros. Approaching the problem from another point of view is KONO San Antonio. The station, to remind its listeners that "it could happen to you," is flying a black flag from its four mobile news units for 24 hours after a traffic fatality in San Antonio or Bexar County. In addition, announcements are broadcast hourly over the station that the black Hag is flying and someone has died. Says the station. "If its meaning is shocking, then the black flag has accomplished its purpose." In another comnuinity project, WKCB Berlin, N.H., reached its goal of providing the Berlin amateur hockey team with funds to play for the season. In a five-hour radio campaign, the station sold stock in the hockey team at a dollar a share. The station says that more than 5,000 shares of stock were sold. Also, the hockey team was not only financially solvent for the first time in its history, but there was enough money in the treasury to finance the New England Amateur Hockev Tournament held in Berlin. ► Programming: KHIQ Sacramento outlined its format to its listeners in a special program broadcast four times during its first day on the air. Primarily, the station says, programs will consist of melodic mtisic, featuring famous string orchestras. In addition, it will present a two-hour classical music segment every evening, followed by a two-hotir program of high fidelitv recordings and locally produced tape and live music events. Old favorites and popular music apparently benefit just as much from stereophonic broadcasting as classical music. Acting on this belief, KFABAM-FM Omaha, has begun to broadcast in stereo for one hour once a week. Every type of music will be featured, says the station, with a minimtnn of talk and a maximinn of music. • • • U. S. RADIO April 1960 89