Purpose of Controversial Radio Broadcasts

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1948, Page 3

Purpose of Controversial Radio Broadcasts

The aim of “controversial broad-casting”—-such as discussions, debates, “forums,” and “brain trusts” —whatever the method, of presentation, is rather to stimulate public thought and discussion than to reach conclusions, states the annual report of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. Speakers were carefully chosen throughout the year to give as nearly as possible a balanced presentation of the various aspects of the question under consideration, and in this way the subject was fully opened. By the end of the session listeners were equipped to arry on their own discusions athome. , , . .. The patent of more formal talks, was designed to combine information and instruction with entertainment Increasing attention was paid during the year to New Zealand history, in which connection a noteworthy series was Alan Mulgan’s “The Making Of A New Zealander.” The report describes this as “a social history of the' Dominion, by one of the founders of her literary tradition.” Popular talks on Otago history were ffiven by Mr Douglas Cresswell, and an Otago series “typical of what was beinq done to record and broadcast the history of the Dominion geneiany” was “The Blue Bird of Wakitipu,” bv “Florrie Hogarth. “A considerable advance, was made during the year in providing special sessions for farmers,” says the report “Experiments conducted by Station 3YA proved that midday was a popular listening time on the farm, provided talks were kept short.