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Show J Come On Guys , Say It Loud And Clear you, the public. Before we get to the public's role in helping the press editorialize at us, however, listen to what some of the brains in the press industry say about how editorials should be broad- cast: NBC News "Editorializing on the air is the proper function of a licensee, not a network. A network editorial would be an imposition on several hundred stations which might not By Dick Hughes Our welfare state, inflation, politics, the war In Viet Nam. - Do these words arouse any feelings in you? If they don't they should. They certainly arouse the feelings of most newsmen, and the results are editorials. You can read them in the newspapers everyday. Occasionally, especially on KSL radio and television, you hear them' broadcast. But not often enough. . "It is the Responsibility of the lead to as well as inform press the public," once said a giant of a newspaper publisher, whose name I forget. The "press", today includes radio and television. , contention is that Utah's radio and television stations are beginning to feel their "responsibility," but they need to speed up their sense of it. They can't do this without , My agree to 'the position expressed." National Broadcast Editorial Conference, held in New York this year "Radio and television editorials can be more effective than printed editorials." New York City Deputy Mayor Robert Price, who owns or has owned four newspapers plus radio stations in Vermont, Florida and Maine, addressing the editorial conference above "Editorials on the air should be short. Pick small local issues to begin with, fest your effectiveness in taking a stand on them. "Repeat the editorial constantly. Fifty to 70 times is the replay needed. Ask the audience to "do" something, write a letter, take up placards, march somewhere,, vote for someone. Time your editorials close to news programs and close to the event you are editdVializing about, such as Election Day or when a bill is before Conqress or local government. Don't be come predictable on where you stand, you lose impact." And now we come to you, the public. The FCC tries to pro-tethe American way of life by demanding stations give ct ' V "equal time" to opposing points of view if a station editorializes. This has strangled broadcast J s editorials because many fear. having to qive up valuable air time if they take a .1 stand on an issue. One station in Utah that does take stands more and more often is KSL. Station Vice Presi-- . dent Lennox Murdoch explained, "We h ave a seven member edi- tonal committee. It meets every 1 Monday. We are trying to bring timely issues to the public. And. we offer equal time, but truth- fully, not many people respond I to take an opposinq view." sta-tion- -- i Murdoch added KSL will listen :: to anyone who challenges their editorials, "and providing they are responsible parties," will air thei replies. They have aired a few, but only a few because of lack of public response. "I'm even calling people now and asking if they want to reply," , said Murdoch. ,,1 Not only must you respond, .v public, but your favorite station, whichever it is, will be sensitive J j to your suggestions about is- - j sues that need editorial com-men" ' ' , So pick up & phone, write a J; letter, or march on your favorite t1j I ' station. Do something. j r' - t. j. |