KEEPING LISTENERS IN TOUCH

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 17, 2 November 1934, Page 26

KEEPING LISTENERS IN TOUCH

How N.Z. Followed the Big Air Race. HROUGHOUT New Zealand on those three days from October 20 vutil Seott and Black flashed past the winning ‘posts thousands listened patiently at their wireless sets for the roar of the ’plane that announced another ‘bulletin of air race news. No voice was more eagerly awaited than that of 2YA’s announcer... "We have further news of the fliers." There is a story behind every broadcast of this description-a story of intensive and complete organisation-of hard work by the staff of the broadcasting stations, from the general manager to the office junior. The air race broadcasts were no exception. No effort was spared to give listeners as complete and a story as was humanly possible. The general manager of the Broadcasting Board (Mr. HB. C. Hands) started the arrangements while he was in Australia a short time ago. It was largely due to his handling of the Australian arrangements that the board’s national stations were able to receive and transmit, news so promptly. The most noticeable feature of the event was that news of the racers was scarce. Even at the control committee’s office in the Town Hall, Melbourne long periods. went by with absolutely no fresh news from the airmen. This, of course. was quite understand- _ able. The winners only landed at five control points throughout the whole 12,000 miles, and in the feverish rush that followed their landing it would have been very difficult to get fresh news on the cables. ; In the offices at 2YA each cable that came through was subedited after the information had been checked. Wild rumours were plentiful. At one point news was received that an American competitor, Wright and Palando, had arrived at Alor Star. This was obviously impossible, for the last report had stated that he was at Baghdad. That news was not sent out over the air. The positions of all racers were plotted from official news only, on a large chart in the offices. The elusive comma accounted for one of the only two mistakes made in the hundreds of cables broadcast. The missing of this punctuation mark gave the sentences an entirely different meaning, and was the cause of some telephonie inquiries. It was a most difficult job to handle. No one knew when the next report would come through, and it was impossible to make assumptions. Nevertheless, a.complete schedule was drawn up showing the times of each bulletin, and this schedule was rigidly adhered to throughout the race. More than once the roar of the ‘plane was being broadcast in order that the three other national stations would have time to arrange their relays as the news was actually being phoned through from Auckland. A few minutes of feverish activity followed as the bulletin was checked and made out with seconds to spare.