NEW ZEALANDERS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 3

NEW ZEALANDERS IN BRITAIN

MR TAHU HOLE EDITOR OF NEWS DIVISION OF THE 8.8. C. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May 12. On the fourth floor of a modest building next door to Broadcasting House in the heart of London, works a 6ft 4in New Zealander, who controls the distribution of news by radio to millions of listeners. He is Mr T. R. P. (Tahu) Hole, formerly a journalist in both Christchurch and Aucknow the editor and controller of the News Division of the 8.8. C. This is the department of the 8.8. C. which never closes down, never knows a holiday. Ceaselessly, night and day throughout the year, some of its staff of 300 are at work preparing the bulletins which to-day are listened to throughout the Commonwealth of Nations and which are regarded as of immense value in maintaining Britain’s prestige in foreign countries. The chattering ticker tape machines spill out 300,000 words a day, all of which pour into the newsroom to be considered, checked, and condensed. Batteries of telephones and silent running dictaphones record the reports from the 14 special 8.8. C. correspondents stationed in the capitals of the world. There is a compact switchboard with direct lines to cities as far apart as Washington and New Delhi, from which these correspondents can speak directly. Big discs of recorded reports from abroad are sub-edited by sound engineers to provide a connected account only a fraction the length of the original. Quietly yet efficiently sub-editors dictate the distilled essence of the news to be read later by the announcers. Dictated, Not Written

“It is one of our rules,” said Mr Hole, “that news ' bulletins must be first dictated. The spoken word is different from the printed word. What can be taken in easily by the eye in a newspaper would often be hard, sometimes impossible, to follow if read. Often -what would read aloud well would not be attractive in print.” In his office, where there is a loudspeaker which can tap any of the programmes radiated by the 8.8. C., Mr Hole gave a few . facts about this organisation, the greatest news unit of its kind in the world.

“Every day the staff here prepares and broadcasts 55 news broadcasts in English,” he said. “From our listening research figures it is estimated that the 10 home bulletins are heard by 60.000.000 people a day. for many listen twice a day. What the audience is for the 23 overseas bulletins and 22 special features such as radio newsreel, sports reports, and newspaper summaries, it is impossible to say, but they are rebroadcast in Canada, Aus-

tralia, New Zealand, India, and for another two months, in South Africa. Parts are rebroadcast in the United States, too. and then there are untold millions who listen in direct on shortwave." Mr Hole was emphatic that the cardinal principles underlying the 8.8. C. news broadcasts were accuracy, impartiality, and objectivity. “We strive to give only the real nexvs, soberly, impartially, impersonally. We strive to give what is significant as seen here in London,” he said. “We never prepare special bulletins for any particular country for we could never judge from here what would be of special home interest in any one country. We broadcast what we think is significant and vital judged here m London. Of course; we do direct these bulletins to special areas in the world at the best times to catch the biggest listening audience. Opinions Forbidden

“We never give opinions. That is expressly forbidden under the 8.8.C.’s charter. It is for listeners to judge whether they are glad or sorry, or just don’t care about the news. “We insist on accuracy. Many a time we have held up reports while telephone calls are put out—sometimes to the farthest parts of the world. Much of our prestige rests on our reputation for accuracy.” Discussing the difference between radio bulletins and newspaper news. Mr Hole said:--Wn a radio bulletin there are no headlines,.no black type for emphasis, no inside pages for less important news.” On the other hand newspapers have nothing to compare with ‘actuality’ broadcasts such as prize-fights, national celebrations, the voice of a great personality. A photograph, in a certain sense, is a substitute. It is the roast duck but without the green peas. Television, of course, provides the green peas and the gravy

“Our bulletins are only a fraction the length of a nexvspaper’s reports. Few people realise that the five, 10. or 15 nrnute bulletins they hear would take up only a haff-column, a column and a third, or two columns in a newspaper. “In broadcastipg, news must be simply stated xvith the crucial facts placed first so that they will arrest the ear’s attention. There is no place for the inverted sentence and other attractive devices of printed prose. To gain simplicity and conciseness is difficult. especially with important official statements which must be redrafted into ‘broadcastable’ English." Career in Journalism This difference between radio nexvs and newspaper news is of much interest to Mr Hole, for, as were most of the other members of the staff, he was first a journalist. Born in Christchurch 43 years ago, he gained his news experience first on “The P ess” and then on the “New Zealand Herald.” It was while on the "New Zealand Herald” that he flexv to Hokianga to cover the wreck of the Isabella de Fraine and thus became, he believes, the first reporter in Nexv Zealand to use an aeroplane in his work. From Auckland he went to Australia where he worked on several newspaoers before coming to London to run the "Sydney Morning Herald" bureau in Fleet street. He served as a war correspondent from 1939 to 1942 when he joined the 8.8. C. as a writer and commentator on international affairs. “I must have greatly annoyed the Nazis then." he reports to-day. “When Berlin was captured my name and biography were found in the Gestapo .files listed in the ‘highly dangerous’ section." In 1945 he was appointed editorial adviser and talks manager for the Overseas Service, and in 1948 was appointed to his present position. Last year he became a member of the editorial board of the Royal Institute on International Affairs, better known as Chatham House. He has written one booi., “Anzads Into Battle." about the Crete campaign. and a booklet, “Experiment on Freedom." dealing with Commonwealth affairs.