Evening star., 1924-08-23
AIR PLANS ON FOOT
FOR WORLD SERIES
Skilled Microphone Reporters
to Be Assigned to
Fall Classic.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

NEW YORK, August 23.-P1ans are
| already being laid for broadcasting
the world series. Preliminary reports
have indicated that the audience of
base ball fans that will ATTEND" the
| contests by radio will be greater by
many millions this year than ever
before, and broadcasters are deter
mined to make a corresponding ad-
vance in the quality of their service.
Inquiries made by the radio ap-
paratus section of the Associated
Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies
show that only "star reporters of the
air" will be chosen to describe the
banner sporting event of the year.
Exceptional qualifications and a
highly specialized technique. exper-
fence has shown, are required for re-
porting base ball games and capable
studio announcers have frequently
found themselves at a loss when con-
fronted with the problems of the
diamond
Few people realize the extent to
which practice has developed the
technique of describing a world
series base ball gam to the radio
audience says one air reporter of
national reputation. THE announcer
must report the moves in the game
the instant they occur, whereas the
" VI
tion after the play is completed.
Must Save Confusion.
''The crowd in the stands is con-
stantly competing with the radio
reporter for the microphone, which
means that If, in his anxiety to give
a full description of everything that
goes on, his report is not completed
simultaneously with the completion
of the play, the spectators will break
in with cheers or booing. The radio
audience, ignorant as yet as to
whether a hit has been made or a man
put out, will be confused by the
clamor from the field. The effect
is like applause in the wrong place at
theater or during speech.
THE first rule of radio broadcast
ing therefore, is, BE terse and simple.
Describe the game as the audience
| would see it :"
Discussing this same point, another
popular air reporter says that the an
| nouncer. in his efforts to keep ahead
of the crowd, develops sort OF sixth
sense He judges from the character
istic movements of the umpire Wheth-
er a given pitch will be called
! ball or strike, and is able to put it
| into words Sometimes he makes a
| mistake. and then he must correct
himself, with some jesting remark,
usually at the expense of the umpire
Must Be Brief.
"The method of the air reporter is
| to tell every move in the game IN
brief. staccato phrases" continued the
| announcer. THE expert newspaper
writer endeavors in his description to
! paint a picture of play, the radio
| man by giving the moves in con-
! secutiye order leaves the picture to
| the imagination of his audience. For
! example the description of a double
play by radio might be broadcast as
| follows:
pitcher winding up.
| Batter croucheS at plate
| pitcher throws ball.
Bang. He hits it.
| Fast grounder between short and
! third.
| ''Groh's got it; Williams out at
| third.
! Throws to first; batter out.
| Double play retires the side.
| But these are the mere mechanics
| of radio reporting. There Is art as
well as skill in it. The crowd at the
! field supplies the dramatic back
ground for the spoken description OF
the plays There are times when the
yells from the spectators will add the
| vital punch to the words of the an
nouncer; at other times they may be
meaningless or confusing. When &c
give the crowd the microphone ano
when to keep it out are things which
every good reporter knows instinc.
| lively.
Most important. however, is the
| ability of the announcer to imagine
himself one of the radio listeners anC
to describe the game as the far-of
base ball fan would see it were he a.
the field"