‘Rhema lacks expertise to succeed’

Press, 27 January 1978, Page 2

‘Rhema lacks expertise to succeed’

Radio Rhema did not have the hard core of professional announcers and journalists needed by a successful radio station, the district manager of Radio New Zealand (Mr E. G. Rowell) told the Broadcasting Tribunal yesterday.

When Radio Avon started broadcasting in 1973 it "had the necessary hard core of professionalism which got it off the ground.” But Radio Rhema did not have such expertise, Mr Rowell said, under cross-examination by counsel for Radio Rhema (Mr B. Bornholdt).

Mr Rowell is a witness for the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand which opposes applications from the Gospel Radio Fellowship and the Canterbury Broadcasting Company for radio warrants.

Referring to the 10-day broadcast by Radio Rhema in December, 1976, Mr Rowell said: “I emerged from that period with some despair for Radio Rhema, with regret that it did not have t-h e talent it needed.” /. -nouncers and “pn-air” personalities were the shop window of c radio station. A first-class personality could command a salary of $15,000 a year. Radio Rhema could succeed or fail on the professionalism of its “on-air” personalities, said Mr Rowell.

I “1 cannot see! in Radio Rhema where the training for staff (mentioned by Rhema’s station manager, Mir J. McNeil, in his evidence) is coming from,” Mr Rowell said.

B-lr McNeil had had negligible training in announcing while working as a reporter I for Radio New Zealand, and ■ his experience in establishing a radio station in the New Hebrides was not relevant to a city such as Christchurch. Mi Rowell was doubtful about Radio Rhema’s ability Ito provide a satisfactory news service with only four full-time reporters. It was unrealistic for such a small staff to attempt coverage of all news events in Christchurch, because of the long hours needed for research and spent at meetings. “We have trouble covering Christchurch with our staff of 12, and mercifully we have an additional two trainees to help,” Mr Rowell said.

He dismissed the usefulness of Rhema’s part-time staff saying that full-time staff would be tied up preparing their work for broadcast. The hearing is proceeding.