Radio Times/1923/10/12/Why Do We?

by Arthur Burrows

WHY DO WE?

By ARTHUR R. BURROWS, Director of Programmes.

Mr. ARTHUR R. BURROWS

I HAVE just received a copy of a delightful little booklet "About Cremation"! Three years ago a communication of this character might have been in a degree appropriate. Then, and at no time since, I undertook, as an emergency measure, to sing by wireless; not, mind on a trivial 1½ kilowatt broadcasting station, but on something capable of creating a much wider disturbance—a set which scared folk as far away from dear old England as Sultanabad in Northern Persia.

Wild horses will not drag from me the name of that song (there are such things as injunctions), but I do know I had an audience, for he wrote from Devonport a pathetic letter to the Daily Mail. (May this silence those who would have all the Uncles emulate the really tophole vocal performances of Uncle Rex.)

But to return to "Cremation." There must be quite a number of persons, past and present, interested in this burning topic. Why do we not broadcast a talk upon it, say, as a matter of relief in the Saturday night's dance programme.

Why not? Why, oh why do we do many things that—judging by the postbag—we ought not to do, and why don't we carry out at once the thousand and one brilliant ideas that roll up with the mail on any desk every morning.

Why do we broadcast millibars, the price of mutton and of marks? Why do we dare to have two-minute intervals when, as one indignant correspondent pointed out, his annual fee of ten shillings entitled him to a "continuous performance"? Why, too, above all things, do we talk in our news bulletins of the "English" Parliament and thereby place in a state of apoplexy half the population of Scotland?

The Reason Why.

We don't broadcast talks on Cremation became, quite frankly, very few persons would derive much entertainment from the topic. Not that the subject is unworthy of serious consideration, but because a study of the undertaking business does not tend in any way towards what the Americans describe as "uplift."

We do broadcast millibars, despite protests from those who like myself, are not meteorologically inclined, because the millibar, like the centipede, has come to take a definite place in the world's affairs.

Whereas, the last generation foretold the weather in terms of barometric inches and shooting corns, so the young "torments" now at school will consult the millibars before adjusting their padded helmets and flying to business.

Similarly, we do at least the price of marks and mutton for the reason that marks and mutton are a matter of real concern to thousands who listen. Broadcasting has created a business without parallel in life to date. It has brought into service a means of communication—a medium—which, owing to its romantic and fascinating character, has cast a spell over all classes of society, over persons of all ages and of every intellectual standard. It has set those responsible for its conduct a task of extreme difficulty, one that can never be performed to the satisfaction of everyone.

Take, for instance, the matter of broadcast news. If we look at the newspaper-world to-day, what do we find? Scarcely a single paper catering for all, but thousands of journals each one of which concentrates its attention on local or specialized interests, or dresses up the news of the day in a manner calculated to appeal specially to persons of a well-defined mental standard, or a definite line of political thought.

You and I subscribe for certain papers either because they pay special attention to our line of business or our favourite sport or pastime; or, on the other hand, because they affect the line of political thought with which we are in agreement.

In broadcasting news we have to remember that our listeners include not only those whose daily round in a great centre of population and industry brings them into close contact with all aspects of life, some elevating, others sordid, but also children at school and in home when, through their tender years, they are fortunately shielded from those things that are ugly and harmful to the development of strength of character.

Wireless for Countrymen.

For that reason alone great care has to be used in the selection and treatment of news. and we are compelled at times to content ourselves with the radiation of the barest facts. The disappointment that we undoubtedly give to some is balanced—and perhaps more than balanced—by the ever-growing confidence that we are creating elsewhere.

Amongst the frequently recurring "Whys" are those, mainly from town dwellers, expressing concern at the time occupied in giving the prices of such things as pigs and potatoes. The answer is a simple one. The very nature of broadcasting, whereby time and space are annihilated, makes this new medium of communication of particular value to dwellers in the country.

There are farms and country houses less than 100 miles from London that do not see a daily paper until twenty-four hours after publication. To such places, and they are numerous, wireless can perform a service not no far provided by any other agency.

This explains the reason, and we believe a very good reason, for the existence of the weather reports, the market pram and the FIRST news bulletin which, although containing little that is new to the fortunate possessor of an evening paper, gives to those who provide us with our foodstuffs an float opportunity for being well-informed.

Varied Tastes.

Now let us turn to broadcasting as a means of entertainment. How varied are our tastes! Our great musical rendezvous like the Albert and Queen's Halls in London, the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, and St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, are filled to overflowing in the seasons with persons whose mentality or training in such that they enjoy music often of a character such as would "bore stiff" thousands otherwise placed. Conversely, there are other places of entertainment giving happiness and relaxation to vast audiences to whom attendance at the aforementioned halls would be little short of a penance.

Finally, there are many thousands in the prime of life to whom the modern dance music has a particular appeal, despite the fact that to others this form of music is anathema.

All these tastes are legitimate, and have to be recognized when arranging the programmes.