Show SAY IT radio weary of public s complaints hires john Q and makes him censor by GORDON GREENWOOD Ite released leased by western newspaper union EW YORK the fickle NEWYORK public which everybody tries so hard to understand positively knows what pk wants wants on the radio eilf f there was some doubt on this point 20 years ago in broadcastings infancy the fog is now completely dispelled not only do listeners register their reactions and complaints immediately but they take the most direct approach and talk straight from the shoulder A radio net networks worle telephone switchboard works like a sounding board of public opinion bouncing back the public reaction even before the program in question is off the air words spoken in absolute innocence may precipitate minor chaos for instance a newscaster once told his listeners a certain situation was like having the gas turned off on thanksgiving day with your house full of guests within a few minutes irate rate were calling the national broadcasting company to know why their gas would be turned boffl it aas near thanksgiving censor rule enforced after analyzing letters and protests from over the country NBC has established a you cant broad cast that rule for what appears to be slander unverified reports invasion of privacy and vulgarity the entire radio industry gener generally ally follows the same rule thus radio officials believe the they have avoided censorship not invoked it As between strict 91 government censorship and voluntary control from within the industry muc much h prefers the latter behind every policy hangs a story one day A A special events director received a flash that a passenger plane flying the atlantic had not been heard from for several hours dont broadcast that he told the news editor his wisdom of self restraint was clear 30 minutes later when a second bulletin announced that all was well aboard the plane try to avoid confusion suppose the first bulletin had been broadcast the sudden and emphatic reaction would have been sorrow for some people the second bulletin would have confused the situation in addition to causing doubt about the veracity of broadcast reports nor was there assurance that everyone who heard t the he first bulletin would also hear the second the wide panic following the famous orson welles mars broadcast was an error of listening had the alarmists alarmiste alar mists listened 15 minutes or more they would have heard the announcement that welles was broadcasting a dramatization not hot live hot news but this grim experience peri ence more than any other con 77 I 1 A w S af Y x 4 fv r 4 A ai oi fx i y r A trav MAN BLUE BL PENCIL A A director of special events department its his job to look for potential dynamite as part of radios program of self censorship vinced broadcasters they must take every precaution wariness over tragedy reports dates back to the time a newscaster flashed an announcement from hanover N H saying nine dartmouth college students had been killed by carbon monoxide gas in a fraternity house this was certainly news telephones handled hundreds of calls from distressed parents who wanted to know names but none were available and with 1500 students enrolled at dartmouth there was a lot of reassuring to do guided by experience the behind scenes part of radio policy and its why broadcasters may withhold import important ant news for hours while details are awaited experience not mere theory dictates procedure an analysis ot of protests show the midwest shows stronger distaste for off color humor and antireligious anti religious dogmas than any other part of the country the south demands high regard for womanhood and male chivalry the northwest sounds the praises of rugged individualism north central states ask a progressive social outlook and new york city examines everything with the mind of an old world critic recorded interview taboo you cant broadcast impersonations of living people over some networks you cant make a recording of a mans voice and then hold an imaginary interview with him A speaker may say this is what mr smith said and then quote mr smith but he cant have mr smith represented by a phonograph record radio men are convinced we receive different sensations from reading and listening you may for instance read war atrocity stories without feeling bitter about them but when you hear a word of mouth description backed by the emotional stimulus of the human voice you may become exercised even moved to positive action A three hour time zone difference between east and west coasts always finds somebody sitting down to a meal and generally speaking people are pretty sensitive about what they hear at mealtimes meal times so its the listeners not the government or the broadcasters who lay down radios program policies |