COMMUNITY VALUE OF BROADCASTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 8

COMMUNITY VALUE OF BROADCASTING

“The possibilities of radio are so stupendous, that anyone who has the job of directing its use, must feel humble and inadequate.” In these words, Professor Shelley, the newly-appointed director of broadcasting, revealed something of his capacity for the immense task he has undertaken. So much and so well-grounded has been the insistent criticism levelled at the New Zealand broadcasting service, that the Government’s appointment of a new director has been awaited with Dominion-wide interest. The choice of Professor Shelley will doubtless arouse some considerable comment, mostly favourable, but it is safe to say that no one in New Zealand is more deeply conscious of the value of radio as an instrument to provoke community thought and reaction: “The time has come,” says Professor Shelley, “when radio can be used as a stimulus to raise the standard of thought and of artistic appreciation in the whole community. Whether the people as a whole are equal to the demands of the age in the way of sympathetic understanding of modern problems remains to be seen, but at least they can no longer deny that they have not the access to the means of such understanding.” No thoughtful citizen into whose keeping has been entrusted such a wonderful instrument as the national broadcast service of New Zealand, could be anything but profoundly impressed, not only by the immense responsibilities the appointment of director of broadcasting imposes, bill, by the incalculable opportunities for com munity service and uplift the control of the invisible links that encircle the world, offers to a single individual. That Professor Shelley is not unmindful of the social value of radio is revealed in his first impressions following his appointment: “I think the world is only beginning to realise the extraordinary social value of radio. Radio is only beginning to struggle out of the period of childhood. It has in all countries been too much in the nature of variety entertainment. I look on radio as an instrument, in very much the same way as I look on books and printing as instruments in the hands of the community. Those powerful instruments could be used, for good or for evil, or they could be used as mere toys.” As has been suggested by some of the keenest observers, radio is like a new power liberated, and it remains for those responsible for the direction of this invaluable and popular social instrument, to ensure that it will not be misused or its value dissipated by Jack of vision on the part of those in authority. Obviously, the new director of broadcasting is alive to the opportunities to servo the community now placed in his hands. “Generally speaking.” says Professor Shelley, “1 want to build up the tradition, the consciousness in the minds of the community, of radio as an institution, to have the same importance to life as other big institutions, like the universities, the schools and Parliament itself.”