BROADCASTING NEWS

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 5, 19 August 1927, Page 13

BROADCASTING NEWS

An Australian writer says; ‘Every now and again I hear murmurs of perturbation among newspaper men about the possible rivalry of the big stations with established news services. Tord Burnham was the first, I believe, to bring up the subject in Australia during the big Press conference. It is a question of some anxiety to some newspapers as to whether the broadcast descriptions and results of races, the descriptions of football matches, and other great items of interest, do not interfere with the sale of the actual paper. With regard to the partieular journals in Melbairne which might be expected to feel any adverse effect, I Imve had cause to note a_steadily-in-creasing circulation, as would normally be looked for. I find it hard to believe there is any appreciable numtber of newspaper readers who, after hearing tacing results, would fall into the habit of doing without their customary newspaper. Sporting Reports. "Non-racing men would certainly wish to see the rest of the news, while racing men are so vitally interested in form, running, prices, and a Score of matters outside the meagre details given over the wireless that they could hardly get to the race edition quickly enough. he danger is that managers of newspapers, filled with illusory fears, may withdraw their experts from broadcasting, and, as in the matter of news, throw on the companies, whose subscribers must have the information, the task of giving it to them by means of a ‘service of experts who may prove, in real truth, rivals of the Press writers. Yo my mind, friendly co-operation on ‘just such basis as at present exists ‘is the only security against a war be‘tween broadcasting and printed news." A Melbourne writer says: ‘The wireless world is agog for the report of the commssion which has listened for many weary months to the Inminous, indeed voluminous, evidence of scores of witnesses, and now has been treated to the Jucubrations of counsel for the varions conflicting interests. It is not possible for me to comment on the ossible findings of the commission. My owyp chief interest has lain in the attitude of witnesses to the radio programmes of the major stations. After profonnd study of prograinmes abroad and perusing: some scores of pamphlets and articles all dealing with the qnestion of entertainment via the air, I have come to a fixed conclusion. That is this: A man’s judgment of a radio rogramme is conditioned by his prejudices,

The Highbrow. "Phe real, highbrow musician does and must necessarily loathe any programme that subordinates his loved musical gods to a noisy, shouting, blaring imitation of negroid foolishness. He cannot but believe that placing the preparation of programmes under a_ Government Department, limited by Act of Parliament or Congress, with a penalty against jazz as disorderly and against public ‘ policy, must make for improvement. A clergyman of a committee of inquiry must necessarily ‘he compelled by nis habit of thought to see that nothing but what in his opinion is decent and orderly appears on the programme. So many men, so many opinions. Far better leave the matter in the hands of those who are unfanatical and who recognise that this great boon of wireless is not for one class or opinion, but must be used in the service of all, That habit of thought must necessarily produce periods of dullness and disnleasures for some, hut on balance it will please the majority."