U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1960)

Radio In The Public Interest NETWORK'S ROIE IN PUBLIC INTEREST With the c hanged face of radio network operations today, the enipliasis in progranmiing lias switched from entertainment to pul)lic interest fare — news, news analysis and connnentary, docmnentaries, exploration of critical social issues. Becairse of their national and global facilities, networks are in a position to offer instantaneous coverage ol a major news happening anywhere in the world, or an on-the-spot interpretation of key developments. The news resources of any network can draw upon an almost inilimited reserve of talent and lacilities. In the area of news, NBC Radio carries almost 10 hoius (595 minutes) a week of Nevs on the Horn, plus three hours and 25 minutes a \\eek ol other news programs. CBS Radio airs 13 and a quarter hoius ol news progrannning a week. ABC Radio broadcasts a total of 85 five-minute onthe-hour newscasts a week, plus a total of 88 programs a week that range in length from five minutes to 15 minutes. These, too, are mostly ne\\scasts as well as connnentaries and financial reports. Mutual carries 34 five-minute news programs a day, rimning twice an hour. Beyond the scope of news, networks have also I)ecome specialists in the techniques of news commentary and documentary. Just last month, NBC Radio carrietl its third Image series. This one. Image America, comprised 24 hoius of programming and covered such things as the problems and patterns of family life, urban living, labor unions, big business, government and politics. 1 he first of the Image series was Image Russia, broadcast last year, ^vhich consisted of 16 hours of programming. Then came Image Minorities, 20 hours ol ])rogrannning. NBC Radio also carries 200 minutes a week of Emphasis segments, five minutes of leatiue connnentary. CBS Radio regularly offers lengthy documentarytype programming that cither interprets a timely news event or analyzes a current social issue. At the end of last month, for example, the network presented a 45-minute program on "The Death Penalty and Caryl Chessman." It examined the social issues which have caused much controversy on three continents. During 1959, the network programmed many shows of obvious pid)li( interest. There was the Hidden Rexioliition scries (sponsored by Nationwide Insurance Co.) and The Business of Sex, which achieved national newspaper notice, among others. In addition, CBS Radio carries non-scheduled news programs covering news events in more lengthy treatment— the American Airlines plane crash in the East River while it was trying to land at LaGuardia airport and President Eisenhower's speedi Ijelore the National Press Club, for example. .\BC Radio carries one-time special events programming of pidilic interest nature as well as series. Among the one-time specials the network carried in 1959 were "Pilgrimage to Abraham Lincoln's Tomb," Vice President Richaixl Nixon speaking before the Los Angeles Press Club and tormer President Harry Truman's appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. In the way of public interest series, ABC Radio programs about a dozen such segments. Some ol these series are College Neu's Conference, Project Tomorrow, As We Sec It and Freedom Si)igs. Project Tomorroio is produced in cooperation with the Council of National Organizations of the Adult Education Association of the U. S. and is designed to inform the people of the progress of their voluntary organizations in helping accomplish a iietter life. Mutiial's concept of news stresses actuality and onthe-scene reports. In addition to its twice-an-hour newscasts, the network also programs The World Today, a Monday through Friday series 25 minutes in length. The network feels that because of its approach to news and TJie World Today show there is no need to program "special" documentaries. An example of the way it covers news was the Caryl Chessman proceedings. The network assigned a four-man team. Because of possible legal maneuvers. Mutual assigned one man to the Governor's mansion, one to the chief clerk's office of the State Supreme Comt, one to the warden's office at San Oucntin and one to view the gas chamber ]jroceeding-,. In Tlie World Today, Mutual allows itsell opportunitv to explore and interpret cmrent and topical events of interest. .\t the end of last vear, for example, two World Today segments were set aside to present "The Frantic Fifties," a two-])art review of the last decade. • • • U. S. RADIO Mav 1960 59