CHANGES AT THE BBC?

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 90, 14 March 1941, Page 7

CHANGES AT THE BBC?

English Papers Discuss Rumours

lish press suggesting that there is to be an early spring cleaning of the BBC and that there will be control by the Ministry of Information over radio news and propaganda. It is even suggested that the whole service will be placed under the control of a strong business man. The Listener has made a close examination of many English papers, but while practically every one of those examined speculates on impending changes and offers criticisms of its own, there is nothing more definite than speculation. The chief point at issue is the nature of the news bulletins. Charges have been made against the lack of proportion shown, the glossing over of bad news, and the whole question of British foreign propaganda. A specific complaint made originally by the "Spectator" has been quoted by or is busy in the Eng-

many other journals. The "Spectator" said that the heavy submarine losses of 87,975 tons made in one week were " girily"" announced as "rather heavier " than the previous week, whereas they were nearly 50 per cent. heavier. "The Public Would Be Disturbed" The London "Star" says concerning the future of the BBC: " Many of these speculations take it for granted that the self-government of the BBC will be modified, but the public would be disturbed by any change which brings the organisation under the more direct control of Whitehall .~ . The organisation suffers from having no Minister in the House directly responsible for broadcasting . . . General direction on policy is one thing; autocratic control is another ... The country has come to think of the BBC as one of its democratic institutions. That is an advantage which should not be " impaired." The "Liverpool Post" says that the BBC has two important functions,

which should be kept separate. One is to supply the people at home with programmes that are entertaining, cultural, and informative, and the BBC, if not beyond criticism, has performed this function resourcefully. The other function is to present the British standpoint to the world, at which, for reasons largely technical, we are at present beaten by the enemy. So far as the second function goes, the "Post" adds, much may be said for closer Governmental control. BBC propaganda may appropriately be work for which the Ministry of Information should be responsible to Parliament. "Complete Reshuffle" The most specific of these prophets is the "Daily Telegraph," which says that a new Director-General, a business man of proved executive and organising ability, is to be appointed by the Prime Minister in succession to F. W. Ogilvie, and that there will be a new policy of increasing liaison between the Foreign Office and the BBC. With the new appointment will come a complete reshuffle of the whole BBC organisation, and changes are likely to take place among the controllers, Other matters, it

Says, that will come up for consideration, are the numbers of aliens employed at Broadcasting House in the foreign language service, understaffing, and overtime. , On the other hand, "Critic" of the "New Statesman and Nation" comments: "Press discussion of cofning changes in the BBC and Ministry of Information has been largely based on guess-work. War is the time for liaisons rather than regular unions. The BBC will not be merged in the Ministry, nor, I believe, will Mr. Ogilvie retire. Sir Walter Monckton is likely to change his job, but he is not likely to be the new liaison officer. I foresee an arrangament whereby the BBC under Mr, Ogilvie will maintain its control over the entertainment side of its work and lose much of its responsibility for political and propagandist broadcasting . . . It will be a disaster if this means more Foreign Office control, but it will be technically an improvement if it means the end of the present muddle of authorities, all with the right to interfere in foreign broadcasting. If the man can be found the ultimate solution is a Minister of Information in the War Cabinet with final control."