Expert Aid Urged For Church Radio

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 1

Expert Aid Urged For Church Radio

The policy in New Zealand of religious programmes of radio and television being arranged and conducted by churches was “entirely disadvantageous,” the Rev. E. H. Robertson, executive director of the World Association for Christian Broadcasting, said in Christchurch yesterday.

New Zealand was the only country in which the material for such broadcasts was left entirely in the hands of the churches, who were amateurs in such media he said. The New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation should have specialised staff to produce religious programmes, as they had for other specialised departments. “I ' realise that lack of money is the trouble here,” Mr Robertson said. “But such departments could be built up if the corporation took a good producer, in each centre, from perhaps the drama or talks department—a man who was interested in religious matters—and trained him. Members of the clergy could then be recruited to assist him—not as representatives of their churches but as broadcasting staff members.” Programmes which were arranged by churches tended to be limited in their impact on their audience, he said. Church services rarely made good broadcasts. Religious features, drama, discussions and biographies made for better use of the time available. Mr Robertson, who was. for seven years assistant head of religious broadcasts for the 8.8. C., said that although

radio and television were nowhere being used to their full potential as a medium for religious communication, their possibilities were receiving greater recognition all the time. Rather than the allotment of broadcasting time to denominations on a percentage basis, which he referred to as an “amazing” policy, Mr Robertson said programmes Should be used or not on their interest basis. “If a denomination with a small membership can provide material for a good programme it should be used, regardless of what church or religion is concerned.” Mr Robertson is visiting New Zealand primarily at\the invitation of the Otago and Southland Bible Society, to take part in the society’s centennial celebrations. He arrived in Christchurch yesterday after spending about two weeks in Dunedin and Invercargill. In both cities he conducted a special Bible Week programme. After his Christchurch visit he will go to the North Island.