U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1960)

ils news staft, iiuliuling 10 ic'mil.ir coi resjjoiidents located throughout the state. One of the first reports came in from a correspondent who drove through the tenter of the storm sliorily alter ii had struck the (oast. Tliis report, the station says, was followed by those of other eye-witnesses, weather men, state troopers, sheriffs and others. The station received and aired reports froiu the storm's point of entry near Fort Myers to her point of departure near Vero Beach. According to the station, the bulletin announcing the storm's passing out to sea came almost a full hf)ur before the Miami Hurricane Forecasting Clenter made the same amiouncement. TRAFFIC REPORTS WXYZ's Traffic Eye keeps Detroit drivers fully informed of conditions all along the Expressways and major city streets. Working closely with the police department, the station says, reports are relayed immediately to drivers. In addition, the station has its own mobile units placed at high-traffic spots to provide eye-witness broadcasts. Frequei^cy of the traffic reports are geared to the major driving times. WDAF Kansas City, Mo., regularly airs its Traffic Central, which is designed to pinpoint immediately every major traffic tie-up, accident or emergency for the benefit of morning, evening rush-hour drivers. In times of inclement \\eather, the program warns drivers of the hazardous conditions. The ability to get to the scene of a news event quickly is important if a station is to be able to provide fresh up-to-the-minute news. WKJG Ft. Wayne, for example, has a remote short wave broadcasting unit which cruises the area for 13 hours each day. KONO San Antonio has four "Big Red' mobile news units which, according to the station, are often used to keep listeners aware of traffic conditions, to report traffic snarls and suggest alternate routes. Working in cooperation with the city fire department, VV^ADO New York has aiifd many on-the-scene taped interviews with firemen and victims of fires for their ncAvs value and to stress the need for fire prevention. Well into its second year of operation, the WLW Cincinnati Helicopter Traffic Service has proved its effectiveness time and time again. Sponsored l)y the Shell Oil Company, the helicopter traffic reports are given t^vice daily at peak traffic periods Mondays through Fridays. The reports are made by Lt. Arthur H. Mehring, officer in charge ol traffic, education and safety for the Cincinnati Police division, as he is piloted around and above the city Ijy Jack DeVise of Helicopter Airlift Inc. The police officer spots traffic tie-ups, advises motorists how to avoid them and at least two dozen times, the station says, he has landed from the 'copter to lend on-theground assistance at scenes of accidents and emergencies. Tlie craft is equipped with special transmitter ec]uipment which allo^vs the lieutenant was, of course, referring to the sanitary disposal of waste. He touched on the value of the river recreation-wise. In addition to putting on a good show complete with fireworks he sent most of his audience away thinking. "If a concert could be presented successfully why not other means of entertainment, including stage plays and even the revival of the minstreltype of entertainment which had its start on the river showboats of old ? "The city is well aware of its advantages industry-wise . . . and what of its advantages tourist-wise? Such a recreation project would be of benefit not only to the area but would bring tourists into the city as well . . . "Listening to the music against the backdrop of height and the sheen of water, with the lights of small boats gliding by in the darkness, brought home to many the thought that the dirty old Ohio River has its artistic possibilities. "Why not a cultural project from what has hitherto been only commercial? Why not Ohio River Festival? "Impossible? Think about it." The orchestra played to crowds of 50,000. And everywhere people are asking the same questions, and others — about boating, water sports, river jazz, show boats and lots more. Next year, the KDKA Concert Barge will revisit all twelve cities by request, and malce eight new stops. How much more will the trip accomplish than bringing live concert music within earshot of industrial towns teeming with people? Will this discovery of the Ohio's value as a cultural center take hold ? It's too early to tell. But one thing KDKA knows for sure : people are thinking. In fact, not since a steamship first navigated up that muddy old river and opened the doors to the West has there been such excitement about it. And everyone knows what that led to. •Bill Belanger in the Herald-Advertiser, Huntington, W. Va. KDKA PITTSBURGH Broadcasting is most effective on stations that have earned the respect and confidence of the communities they serve. U. S. RADIO May 1960 37