Evening star., 1928-11-30
RADIO PROGRAM
OUTLINES TESTED
"Germ" Ideas Studied to De.
termine Fitness for Pres
entation to World.

In a small assembly room on the top
floor of the National Broadcasting Co.
Building in New York a dozen radio
people gather at noon every day. It is
in this room that the germs Of radio
program ideas are examined carefully
and if they give promise Of healthy
maturity are carefully shaped for
presentation to the world.
The dozen people-and sometimes
there are a few more and sometimes
there are a few leSS-compoSe the
planning board Of the National Broad
casting Co. The job of the board is 10
create programs and to develop pro-
grams from the ideas submitted. Ideas
are legion, but ideas practical for radio
programs are comparatively scarce, ac-
cording to the board members.
The personnel of the board is inter-
esting. One member is familiar with
the technique of putting a program on
the air, another knows how continuities
must be written. The sales department
has a representative to see that buSi-
ness angles of the planned programs
are considered, and there's usually
representative OF the treasurer'S office
to discuss the availability of funds.
Experienced Writers as Aids.
Occasionally a representative Of the
plant and engineering department sets
in. ready to advise on the technical
management of a program. There are
experienced writers on the board as
well as experienced theatrical ShoWmen.
Former newspaper men. now connected
with the press relations department,
offer comments on the probable recep-
ton of the program by newspaper radio
critics and editors.
There's always some one at the board
meeting with a vivid memory for what
has gone before in radio and what IS
to be avoided or what will be termed
"old stuff" if it goes on the air. In
fact, every branch Of the broadcaSting
business is represented on the planning
board.
An idea of the work done by the
planning board may be obtained by
selecting a few of the problems present.
ed each day.
A national holiday is six weeks off
and an appropriate program must be
planned. The old-fashioned patriotic
address isn't up to the radio standard,
SO a program both interesting and in
spirational must be developed.
Objections Encountered.
A young continuity writer appears be-
fore the board with an outline OF a
humorous program. The program IS
amusing, but a member of the board
points out that the theme of the pro-
gram might offend a certain large
group.
But they do it in the theater," the
radio author pleads.
But people usually know what they
are going to see or hear when they go
to the theater" is the answer. When
one turns the dial on a radio set one
is never certain what will come from
the speaker"
There's a laugh at that remark.
Then the young man is reminded
that the National Broadcasting Co.'s
entertainers are unlimited but usually
welcome guests in the homes of mil
lions of Americans.
Then comes the problem of deviSing
a program for a manufacturer of silk
hose. The program must be interesting
and different. It must not be CON-
.structed so as to give the listener an
idea that the merit of the hosiery IS
being stressed throughout the program.
In other words, it must be a program
that will entertain and please the lis
tener and create good will for the Spon-
Sor. A dozen ideas are suggested.
Some are abandoned because of SIM
ilarity to other programs on the air.
Others are "old stuff" Then, perhaps.
the board takes the best of three or
four ideas and works them into one
coherent program plan.
Revision Deemed Necessary.
A request from a sponsor for
change in his program plan is received
The sponsor thinks that a certain hu-
morous touch or a certain sentimental
slant is lacking. The program plan
ners review the program and then
analyze it. More ideas are submitted
and certain reviSions are made in the
program. Whether the revised program
will be suitable cannot be determined
until after it has gone on the air and
the radio audience has expressed its
opinion. If further revision is needed
the program goes back to the plan
ming board.
And in all their work the program
planners observe certain rules. Some
of them are:
Profanity or obscene language has no
place on the air.
Offense must not be given to any
religious creed, nationality or race, for
every creed, nation and race is repre-
sented in the radio audience.
Insane persons or other unfortunateS
are not to be ridiculed or made a sub
tect for amusement on radio programs.
The likes of the children and grand
fathers and grandmotherS are to be
considered as seriously as the likes Of
suits.