Evening star., 1926-01-03
FANS GIVE "DONPS"
FOR ANN0UNCERS
kidding" and "High-Hat-
ting" Audiences Appear to
Be Unpopular.

A steady, clear-voiced announcer is
probably the most valuable asset Of
broadcasting station. He is the con-
tact man, keeping the listening public
in touch with the station by reading
the program for them. An announcer
either makes" or breaks q station,
for he is the official voice which the
radio public hears. Naturally good
one caters to listeners. since contented
fans constitute the very life blood OF
a successful broadcaster. We all
know it would be useless to broadcast
if there were no fans or If they re-
fused to listen Therefore, the ideal
announcer does not bore his audience
nor diSpleaSe II.
OF late listeners near and far seem
determined to pick on the poor broad
cast announcers and also their an
nouncements. Some want him to say
less and some more. but they all agree
that he must give his station call let
ters clearly and distinctly at least
after every two numbers, so they can
be certain what station is tuned in.
IN this last instance the Department
of Commerce radio officials join. They
find that even when the skilled and
Informed radio inspectors are logging
broadca sters to see If they are on
their allotted channels. the identity
of a station sometimes IS unknown
and unrevealed for from 10 minutes
to half an hour
Fans seem unanimous that they are
seldom interested in the announcer
himself so long as he gives the pro-
gram and the call letters distinctly.
They point out that an announcer is
merely employed because a printed
program, such as a vaudeville house
publishes, cannot be distributed to
all fans daily. He is likened to n
verbal program. He does not yet have
the status of the old minstrel show
interlocutor. who sometimes was half
the show. The announcer. as n CORE
spondcnt puts 1t. is not employed to
wear 500 evening clothes. nor to
make merry at the expense of the
station or performers. He is not on
the bin himself. He is not paid to
kid" the audience or hand them
'applesauce,' the way many of them
do in the belief that perhaps such
chatter is popular with the fans.
Must Preserve Dignity.
Some good announcers have been
spoiled, it IS held by many listeners,
by the popularity contests, and the
assumed fact that they stand we'll
with the fans. Recognized announcers
who nave won silver cups or the plau-
dltS of the press and listeners are
even more careful to preserve the dig
nifty of their positions and their stand
ing in the great community of the
ether. They do not impose upon their
hackers nor assume they have been
crowned king of aerial entertainers.
There are a few in this new profes-
sion. for undoubtedly it is Il profes-
sion, who have achieved real distinc-
ton yet not one of them escapes criti-
clsm from some demanding fan. None
is perfect, it appears.
Not Natural "Kickers."
The fans do not like 10 kick directly,
although many Of them tell the writer
what they really think. If any of the
criticisms herein recorded seem to At a
particular announcer, you may clip
this item and mail it to him. This
anonymous method might serve to i'm
prove conditions by calling attention
to obvious faults, without filing direct
charges personally.
Glancing through quite a few letters
and reports from many sources, / find
such criticisms as follow. which might
be termed "Donts for announcers"
Don't read kilograms from an in
dividual, saving the program is com
ing in fine; nineteen million, nine
hundred and ninety-nine fans are not
interested. Such use of the broadcast
station for individual communication
is actually beyond it's scope personal
acknowledgements should be sent by
wire or mailed.
Don't try to be the ring master and
bow to the applause which is ac-
corded your performers. Don't shout;
take it easy and naturally. Employ
very little 'gush' and don't be gar