WOMEN ANNOUNCERS NOW PROMINENT IN BROADCASTING WORK

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 August 1950, Page 4

WOMEN ANNOUNCERS NOW PROMINENT IN BROADCASTING WORK

To hear a feminine programme announcer from 3YZ, Greymouth is unusual, but radio listeners in recent weeks have noted that a female announcer has conducted a number of programmes. Although only an experiment as yet on the West Coast, the time may not be far distant when women announcers will be heard more often from the Greymouth station.

With members of the permanent staff taking holidays, it has been found necessary at 3YZ to employ the services of a woman announcer for relieving purposes. It is a new departure at Greymouth, but not for some other centres. On commercial broadcasting stations, women announcers are employed on a full-time basis and they also are working almost fulltime on some other city stations. _ Announcers, it was stated this morning by Mr H. C. O’Loughlin, sta-tion-manager at 3YZ, have to undergo very stringent tests before joining the broadcasting staff. The number of applicants who passed the audition test was almost unbelievably low, as there were so many different requirements which decided whether or not a person was suitably fitted for announcing, he said. The person’s voice had to possess a suitable timbre, modulation and pitch. Also, the person had to have the ability to read clearly, and had to posses the right temperament, as well as having a sound general knowledge. Mr O’Loughlin said that it seemed probable that women would soon make their appearance in greater numbers as radio announcers, adding that there were certain sections of the work which were particularly suited to women.