WHAT IS NEEDED

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1933, Page 6

WHAT IS NEEDED

VALUE iN BROAD3ASTING ENGLISH WRITER’S VIEWS I halve been trying t 0 find a formula to express exactly what I think is wrong with European broadcasting, writes Captain. P. P. Eckersely in the London Daily Mail. My formula*—because I think I have iound it—says simply that European broadcasting lacks showmanship. I do not say that this necessarily condemns the system. Obviously the British system—considered purely theoretically—has a lot to recommend it. But the system, being monopolistic, tends to collect to itself, in a world where private enterprise offers most reward, a personnel which would rather shelter itself behind am autocratic power than venture a decisive fight. If a mistake can lie covered up by a statement that “the corporation regrets,” then nothing more happens. A continuously regretful corp-oraton, of course, might lose its monopoly and scatter many regretful units about the world, but a policy of caution will never land anyone far .away from an office desk.

I have the most profound respect for the judgematical, point of view. The proponents of bureaucracy have an easy time justifying caution, at any ra'te, in matters affecting an unstable community. Bureaucrats know the. value of stability—none better. -Bait the concise judgments of committees and the safe reasoning of '.‘bureaucrats, allied with broadcastsing monopoly, are not .liable to pro,- ; . duce-a riot of fun in the homes of -tha, listeners.

A. film or a review produc-d by the 8.8. C. in competition with expert productions would, I think, fail to attract public attention or box-office receiots. It might be. argued that it would be none the worse for that. This would be wrong. The production might contain ideas—wit even. But it would, for want of a knowledge of showmanship, fail. A good idea badly expressed is useless. A potentially good broadcast badly presented—presented by people who lack the art of showmanship—is actually a bad broadcast.

The system under which British broadcasting is run denies the showman his opportunity, and mostly, attracts those who fear to be positive for fear of revealing too much of themselves. I have been saying all this for years. At last, however the 8.8. C. seems to liaYe recognised that, after all, there may be something in the point of view. I know that many members of the staff have held and expressed these ideas, and, being*! keen on 8.8'.C broadcasting, have aried to convince the. authorities that the 8.8. C, system may stand condemned unless it does something to eradicate”its lack of show-

ly:i v *£>;-! , . ..a--' nianslup. And the‘issue is' “showmanship” in its widest'sense. Ldo not mean we want a red nosed man and a big drum. Ido not mean we want girlishness .in announcing. I do not mean that there kliould ’be” a new issue of trumpets to any section of the bands. The most responsible find serious people, know that .they cannot command without showmanship-. The real thillgsPqf-lentertajnriaint; ;are those which capture itlie attention: The operative word is “capture.” And “capturing” requires the services of an expert. It is doubtful if in the end reorganisation is wanted. The best thing that could happen, would be for the 8.8. C management to learn how to choose and to use experts in showmanship.