Editorial Notes

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 14, 14 October 1932, Page 4

Editorial Notes

Wellington, Friday, October 14, 1932..

ONE of the most notable features of the past six months has been the increase in the number of talks and their intrusion more and more into the entertainment portion of the programmes. This development seems to be appreciated by listeners principally because the talks are less specialised than of yore and are appealing to the imagination. A wide range of subjects is covered by the present talks-adventure, sport, education, travel, politics, women’s interests and-others. The standard of the broadcasts is becoming increasingly higher, and so it should for the lecturer is as much before the public as is the artist, and must be prepared to face the same criticisni. As in music, the listener wants the best and the explanation that so and so is a notability in his or her line euts no ice. * * *

GENERALLY speaking the suc‘cessful talks broadcaster complies with three requirements. First his delivery. Many an interesting subject is ruined by poor delivery . and conversely many a dull subject is made interesting by good delivery. Secondly the matter must interest the majority of listeners-the talk must be from one man in the street to another, from the outside in. Thirdly ‘the length must be adjusted to the subject matter and the delivery. ‘There are talks to which one can listen for half an hour or longer without becoming bored-there are others where ten minutes is ample. To be successful a talk must grip the imagination of the listening public. Few people will listen because the subject is good for their wellbeing. This applies more especially to educational broadcasts which in many cases are unpleasant because they are delivered with the sole purpose of educating, the lecturer imagining his audience consists of so many little tanks that must be filled from the well of knowledge. Educational talks can succeed only _ if the appeal is to the imagination

and the subject matter is regulated to interest people. And the public must not be talked down -to-that is reminiscent of the old-fashioned schoolroom which one and all hated. ¢ 2 * [T will be argued that just'as one should do many things he does not like because it is good for his mental discipline he should listen to talks that are good for him, This is the angle taken, with sore measure of success it is true, by the B.B.C., which attaches great importance to the National Lectures which are broadcast three times a year, and afterwards published. These lectures are intended to provide first-class contributions to thought and knowledge from persons of the highest standing in the

English-speaking world. Allowance is made for their lasting an hour more or less so that the speaker may have an ample opportunity of developing his subject at reasonable length. The. first of these national lectures broadcast by the late poet laureate, Robert Bridges, gave the public an advance prose version of his thoughts on beauty published later in his great poem, "The Testament of Beauty." The B.B.C. having an annual income of more than two million pounds with which to provide two programmes, can quite comfortably give the public what it ought to want. Successful talks broadcast by the. B.B.C. include the serial story-the detective story was very popular-war escapades, and popular science talks. All three subjects grip the imagination. In this respect the schedule of talks now being broadcast by the. Radio Board is commendable, including as it does such topics as the Secret Service, the North-West Frontier, sea stories, famous trials, Maori legends and sports. These are definitely entertainment and as such are worthy of a place in the concert portion of the programme, provided of course that the lecturer possesses the ability to broadcast successfully.

ONE other class of talk remains, and that is the women’s sessions. If there is any session that depends more than the others for its success on intimacy between lecturer and public it is this. Women’s interests are different from those of men, and to be successful the talk must be a woman-to-woman. affair into which man must not pry either in the organisation or in the presentation. The session planned and run entirely by women is the one that appeals forcibly-a man is not even wanted to announce the musical items, men being excluded from this session altogether. Subjects for talks are legion. "They range from discussions of the new frocks at a Hollywood afternoon tea to personal chats on milady’s cosmetics. The

value of heavy science talks is ques- } tionable; the juice of two lemons ‘ means infinitely more than 10 per cent. citric acid. Radio programmes correctly organised. and run can change the whole complexion of household work. Through judicious treatment household duties can be scientifically regulated, and take the place of haphazard and tedious labour. Certain hours should be set aside for marketing, cleaning, cooking, and sewing. The various problems that women meet such as varied menus, recipes, figures on the household budget, clothing, furnishings, are ones that the radio can solve. But is it helping? If not there is need for immediate action for after all it is the women who decide whether or not we shall have a new radio this season.