New Radio-Teleprinter Beam From London

Press, Volume C, Issue 29674, 18 November 1961, Page 8

New Radio-Teleprinter Beam From London

(N.Z. Press Assn.—CopprtgM)

SYDNEY, Nov. 1«; Australian Associated Press, which provides an overseas news service to Australian and New Zealand newspapers, is now operating a radio-teleprinter beam from London to Australia for 17 hours each day. said the chairman. Sir Lloyd Dumas, at the annual meeting of Australian Associated Press Pty., Ltd., in Sydney today. Reviewing “another period of progress tor Australian Associated Press,” Sir Lloyd Dumas said:

"The wordage brought into Australia from all parts of the world has increased, and the efficiency with which it has been handled and transmitted has risen also. "This is mainly because of an extension of the hours during which the association’s own radio beams have been operated. “More than 14,500.000 words of overseas news are brought into Australia during the year, or almost 40.000 words a day. World News "Every day, readers have had presented to them the story of what has happened in the rest of the world over the previous 24 hours,” Sir Lloyd Dumas said. "Some of the biggest news items covered by A.A.P. this year have been the Congo crisis, with the death of the United Nations secretary-general, President Kennedy’s inaugu-

ration. Mr Khrushchev's attendance at the United Nations, the Algerian war. the Berlin crisis,. Russian bomb explosions Princess Margaret's baby, the Queens visit to Ghana, and the European Common Market. There have been countless other items from almost every country in the world. "No matter where it happened. any report of any significance has been brought to Australia and New Zealand newspaper readers,” he said. “The general public does not realise the complexity of the organisation which is needed to give to readers of Australian newspapers the fast, comprehensive, and reliable news service that they get. “A staff of journalists has to be maintained, large enough to man the offices in New York and London. 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Teleprinter operators have to be engaged to transmit the messages as they are compiled. “Into these offices pours a day-long flood of material over the ticker tapes from Reuters and the Press Association of Great Britain, and from the great American news agencies. Associated Press and United Press International. In addition, proofs of matter prepared for publication the next day in ‘The Times.’ London, and the ■New York Times’ flow in. "All this matter has to be

able for cabling to Australia examined, and material suitex traded There are other assignments of particular intereat to this country which are covered by AAP 'i own reporter*. “In the Pacific area, journalists directed from the AA.P. news room in Melbourne, and acting jointly for A.A.P. and Reuters, are stationed at key points, providing a close watch over thia part of the globe, which is of such vital interest to

Australia. The messages from these correspondents reach Australia by cable and radioteleprinter. Th* A.A.P. staffs in London and New York send their news mainly by exclusive radio-teleprinter channels. They are received by the overseas telecommunications commission at Rockbank, Victoria, or at Bassendean in Western Australia, and automatically relayed thence to the Melbourne news room of A.A.P. for further editing, allocation of priority, and transmission by leased lines to newspapers and radio and television stations throughout the country. The flow is continuous, and the content covers the world. 17 Hours a Day

“The beam or channel carrying th* A.A.P. wordag* from London to Melbourne is now operating 17 hours a day. and that from New York to Melbourne for 12 hours a day.” said Sir Lloyd Dumas. ‘‘There is never a moment wlren Melbourne is unable to receive instanteously news of world events either from London or New York.

“A.A.P. also operates a beam with Singapore for two hours a day. and with Wellington. New Zealand, for eight hours a day." he said. “Sometimes the radio beams fail because of ionospheric conditions, but, for the most part, th* messages sent from the New York or London offices are received instantaneously, without any human intervention on the way. on the teleprinter mi" chines in the Melbourne new* room.

‘‘When the Commonwealth cable across the Pacific is opened in 1964, there i* a possibility that the service of new* can be made even faster and more complete. “The A.A.P. now provides a basic new* »ervic* for all the daily newspapers, except one. in Australia, and all th* daily newspapers In New Zealand. Over the 28 ye»r* of it* existence, it has steadily sought to improve this service.

‘‘Fifteen year* ago thia month, it entered into an agreement under which it became a partner tn Reuters, accepting particular responsibility for the news gathered in the Pacific. Reuter* today enjoy* a reputation, with government* and newspaper* of all countries, unexcelled ;by any other agency. We are proud of our part In the great Reuter* service. We are proud, too. to know that the name of A.A.P. is well known and respected overseas.

“Th* growth in our prestige is largely because of the calibre of the men who have represented us. We have been lucky in having as our chief executives two men such as Mr W. Wynne and Mr D. Hooper, now our managing editor. They have also been fortunate in the support they have had from a loyal and able staff, whether in London, New York, in th* field, or in the Melbourne news room.

“It is an organisation which serves th* Australian and New Zealand newspapers. and, through them, the public well," said Sir Lloyd Duma*.

At th* subsequent board meeting. Sir Lloyd Dumas said he would retire from th* board after having been associated with the organisation since it* inception, and a minute was recorded expressing the board’* appreciation of hl* service to th* association. Sir Frank Packer was elected chairman for th* ensuing year.