VALUE OF CRITICISMS

Evening Star, Issue 21820, 8 September 1934, Page 4

VALUE OF CRITICISMS

OFTEN ONE WRITER'S OPINION • “ Criticism must of necessity have 1 a personal side, and as one who gees most pf the Press criticisms of the 8.8.C# published, I think that in weighing their value, it is r important to bear' this factor in mind,” (says the editor ‘ Public Opinion,’ writing in the ‘ Radio Times ’). i( Each criticism is often only the opinion of one writer, and whije it may be sound and right—-or, on the com trary, ill-balanced—it is still but the view of the writer, who may be no better judge than the inan who reads the paper. It cannot be" too_ strongly emphasised that while the critic may be thoroughly sincere in his views, he is not of necessity right. . “I would suggest, therefore, that the listener, in reading any criticism, should not refrain from exercising his own, judgment. With a play or a book ho does not accept aill that the dramatic critic or the reviewer has to say, for he remembers that many a successful play, and book has confounded the critics by, obstinate public approval; ami the listener should reserve his own independent thinking with regard to the 8.8.0. • “ At the present time there is m the Proas a great deal of valuable constructive criticism. When it is given .by exports (for a body of expert opinion is admittedly in.the making) it will be readily granted that it is of assistance to the 8.8. C. and the . public. But the prodding must be suggestive rind helpful. General, charges of being highbrow and dull are quite .ineffective,. “ Now and then fault-finders hint that because'the American broadcasting system has no association with any Government department similar .to that of the 8.8. C. with the Post Office, there is, therefore, much freer criticism across the Atlantic, and that'the public on this account is better served, “As a matter of fact, there are comparatively few Press complaints for the simple reason that the programmes

are largely supplied by well-known firms, who pay for the use of the air in order that they may give their selections to listeners whom they hope will be future customers, “It is true that the 1 latter save their 10s license fee. At the same time they have no real ground for complaint because they do not pay for what they receive. “ There is no occasion to compare British and American programmes. The two nations are different in outlook in many directions. But it should be realised that the American Press, which is very sensitive to . advertising and the necessity to pay for it, does not devote much free space, by way of cither-praise or blame, to the doings of those who ‘ hire, the air.’ Many of the firms that five programmes also advertise in the Tess. Obviously they are not likely to be called to order.”