Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
RADIO CENSORSHIP
Up TO MANAGERS
Station Chiefs Must Walton
Program Matter Carefully. !.
Little Escapes.

BroadcastinS station mana gers nave
to watch their steps. so 10 speak. lest
something they would not Nouch tor
or sponsor gets on the air. They ac'
tually have to serve as censors al
most matters offered them.
They always have been alert 20
prevent biased or one sided controver-
sizes from being forced on their listen
ers and they usually read over all
talks. unless they know the authors
and speakers. This form of censor
shin is necessary. although the opera
tor always can pull the switch If any
thing unforeseen is said or sung. Such
practice is followed only in emefgen
cies however as it is dlscOncerunG
to the fans and might prove unwar
ranted In one way or another they
strive to keep the ether clean and un-
contaminated. The law covers only
Nl:lsaritV and obscene remarks. Prac-
ficallv all stations demand copies of
speeches and talks in advance Of their
delivery so they can get line on
what Is TO be broadcast and perhaps
automatically suggest changes in un-
desirable paragra phs. without offense
Public officials and prominent citl,
Zens of course. are not required to
HuDnil 10 SuCH super lSAoh
Strangers Not Welcomed.
Strangers on the other hand. are
not very cordially welcomed at broad
castinS stations. since it is always
feared they may be planning to pu,
something over. II might be harm
less personal or commodity advertise
ment. or it mis- nj be a dis9 used mes
sage TO criminals Of one type or an
a. ~, hn fTI.t
Of apparently harmless entertain
ments. believed 10 have been broad
cast in the past could not be put
over today. due to the vigilance Of
the watchful and even suspicious sta
ton managers.
At one time certain station was
believed to have been operated. either
tnn0cently or with criminal intent, as
a means Of aiding rum runners and
hootleggers. coded messages being
hidden in the title or words of songs.
Since il was Impossible to establish
proof OF this. however, the station es
caped any legal action.
Commenting on this situation and
means to prevent the misuse of his
station. Charles 4. Popence of VIZ
states that he does not permit mes
Saces rela tins Ia missing persons or
property to be broadcast any more
He points out that police stations
handle such matters and max even
broadcast requests for informa ton re
latins 10 missing people and property.
Certain community stations also aid
in such searches VIZ politely re
fuses 10 do SO for any one. The chief
reason. he says is because he fears
Crimina Is might obtain the assista nee
of the station i'm carrying ont thei
plans. through coded MESA ses limo
Gently broadcast
Censorship Held Needed.
Censorship is AS necessary to
hroadcaSting station as il is TO
newspa per. it is held by many stu
dents OF This problem. in order that
me station can protect The public and
also itself from civil and criminal
suits in which il might be an ac
cesSory
Even the commercial stations which
accept remuneration for talks and
entertainment broadcast for business
organiza lions in the form Of Indirect
advertising demand an advance copy
OF talks and read every line They
want TO be sure that il is not direct
advertising. and they try 10 avoid
anything which would bore their liz
tenerS. SO they often turn down mat
ter believed not suitable and deny
themselves the money offered. They
practically are forced to do this. since
they would lose listeners if The char
arter of their programs was permitted
10 detelIorate or straight sales talks
went out
1t is thus seen that some sort Of
censorship is necessary in the interest
Of both the listeners and the station
The censor is IN reality sort Of
sieve through which after for the
public is sifted and ii Is not likely
hat he ever will abuse his privilege