U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1960)

HOMETOWN U.S.A. team was headed by Robert Trout, a veteran of five national political conclaves. XBC reports that its convention cre^v nimibered some 350 persons, with the on-air diilies dividet! among 35 news correspondents. In briefing the network's news personnel prior to tlie conventions, Robert E. Kint ner, NBC president, outlined a three-point policy to be followed. He said, "We are determined to give the most complete coverage of the convention. As a public franchise mediimi as well as a news medium, it is our job to prepare the public through this coverage. We want the hard news and we want it first. How MINNEAPOLIS! ST. PAUL ADULT RADIO Adventures in Better Listening * Average Vi hour share of audience — six a.m. to six p.m. Monday through Friday — March-April NSI, Metro area William V. Stewart, WPBC President Broadcast Time Sales National Representatives ever, I woidd rather l)e l)eaten five times than have one wrong story." He also stressed the need for responsible interpretation of the news. ABC states that it devoted more than 40 hours of coverage to the Democratic and Rcpidjlican meetings. With its news team headed by John Daly, the network maile use of the time and talents of over 350 staff members. And like other networks, ABC utilized the latest electronic advances to provide flexible and s])eedy coverage of the often fast-breaking and widesjMead stories. These included microphones ranging in size irom six feet long to three-quarterinch lapel models, and radio antennas in sizes from 12 inches to 100 feet long. MBS originated 11 of its daily 36 five-minute newscasts directly from (onvcniion hea(l(|uarlcrs for 15-day j)eri<Kls spanning both (onveutions. The network says that it aired every part of the official acticm on the convention floors, in addition to covering other develoj)ments as they. l)roke. The 15 Mutual newscasters, with George Hamilton Combs acting as andior man, were supported l)y the efforts of approximately 100 staff members and four senior news analysts from Newsweek magazine. Local Coverage Both in the scope of their coverage and in the amount of time and attention devoted to the conventions, the cumidative efforts of the local stations and station groups probably were the greatest in radio's history. The following examples of this local activity were those reported to ti. s. RADIO. WTCN Minneapolis provided its listeners with first-hand accounts of the activities of the Minnesota delegation. Sheldon Peterson, the station's news director, and Bill Roberts, head of the WTCN Time-Life Washington Bureau, provided this coverage. WWDC Washington, D. C, reports that it offered extensive coverage of both conventions. In addition to reporting the conventions while they were in session, the sta 52 U. S. RADIO August 1960