U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1960)

Radio In The Public Interest (Editorializing) m EFFORTS OF THREE groups produce hellcopter traffic reports over WLW Cincinnati. Representing these are Lt. A. Mehring (I.) for the city's police force, D. Campbell (2nd from r.) of Helicopter Airlift and R. E. Dunville, (r.) pres. of Crosley Broadcasting Corp. They receive special commendation from Ralph West, president of Ohio State Safety Council. NEWS DEVELOPMENTS bring News Director Aubrey Morris (r.) of WSB Atlanta to the State Legislature where he interviews U.S. Senator from Georgia, Herman Talmadqe, prior to the senator's special address on Georgia's school problems to a joint session of legislature. KDAL Duluth, Minn., has been broadcasting its Minitorial lor about 18 months, niodilying the station's 15-year-old policy ol editorializing in the Xortlnoesi Feature section ot the 6 p.m. news. The format constitutes a one-minute "think piece" prerecorded by and aired hourly tlnoughout the station's schedule. The station has found that its Minitoriat is widely quoted throughout its area. As an example, one of KI).\L's eiliioriais was cpioted in its entirety on the editorial jjage ol a local news])aper that owns a com]jeting station. That Miuitorinl took Governor Freeman to task for a statenuni lie made regarding ihc latk of Duluth's business development activity. KCHS San Francisco carries editorials that analyze local problems and are intended to create talk and conmient. The station tackles issues as they arise and has created a ]X)siti()n for a full time editorial and documentary writer and producer to research and write the suliject matter. FREEWAY ISSUE A current ediloriali/ing campaign has been inging tiie adoption ol fmal plans to construct and complete the freeway system in San Francisco. In a series of editorials, KCBS has stressed the immediate and longterm economic hurts if the plan is not approved. The station has received much favorable ccjmment from highly placed organizations and individuals, it reports. Here is what the California State Automobile Asscji iaiion had to say: "Your orgaiii/ation is to be complimented lor studying this jjroblem and making your views known. . . . "If transdipis ol the editorials . . . are available, we would appreciate receiving copies. 1 note also that you plan to make time available to those who may not agree with your position, and we would be interested in knowing the times when such presentations are jjlanned so that we can listen to those broadcasts also." KFH Wichita, Kan., airs editorials on topics of interest to the community. They are written by the news director and delivered by the general manager. Following a heavy snow^ storm last winter, a KFH editorial took the air urging city offic ials to speed up removal ol the I 1-inch snow lall. Within 18 hours, the city manager took action. The station's stand deplored the anticjuated methods of snow removal, liy nocju the day after the editorial was aired, the city manager annoimced that private contractors were l)eing hired to assist city maintenance crews in getting the streets open. The editorial also urged that snow removal in downtown areas take place during the night and early morning. The city manager, in his directive, stated that such a policy would be instituted. The snow removal stand was delivered more than a half-dozen times at various periods in the program schedule. It drew considerable listener comment and 30 U. S. RADIO May 1960