Radio, Television Programs Expanded By University
By BOB NOLD
The University's radio and television program took a step forward during the past year with the establishment of a separate University Radio division directly responsible to the chancellor.
R. Edwin Browne was appointed
director of the University radio station KFKU, which previously had been under the direction of University Extension.
This new division of radio is responsible for operating KFKU and the new M station, KANU, and for development of television at the University.
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An inter-departmental committee has proposed to the chancellor the establishment next fall of a complete radio sequence leading to a comprehensive science journalism. The curriculum is now being completed.
As part of the expansion program, the University has doubled KFKU's door space with the addition of two new audio studios and seven new offices.
Construction is expected to begin about March 1 on a new transmitter building which will house the FM and AM transmitters. The FM radio equipment was a gift of John P. Harris, editor-publisher of the Hutchison News. Now he is chairman of the Allen White School of Journalism and Public Information. Mr. Harris is president of the William Allen White Foundation.
The radio tower, which was a part of the gift, has already been erected west of the campus on University property adjacent to the Old Pioneer cemetery. The transmitter building also will be erected on this site. The FM station is expected to go on the air about July 1.
The FM station will have a full-time license with the federal communications commission. This license will permit the University station to broadcast 24 hours a day. Mr. Browne said the station will broadcast only six hours a day in the beginning.
For operation of the FM station, the University is purchasing a $7,000 library of musical recordings. One of the rooms in the expansion program is being especially equipped for storage and use of these recordings.
This room includes turntables as a means by which recordings can be auditioned by program planners and builders.
Two offices in the new building are designed especially for writers and program builders and designers.
"Throughout the years," Mr. Browne stated, "KU has been restricted in broadcasting activities by the number of hours it has been on TV." The FM station will at last make it possible for KU to come into its own.
KU will be able to serve the people of Kansas," he continued, "as other state educational institutions served their residents for many years."
KFKU programs originate on the University campus; most of them in studios in the engineering experiment station. Programs are sent on telephone lines to the WREN transmitter in Topeka.
KFKU shares 1250 kilocyles with WREEN and rents the use of WREN's transmitter the hours the University station is on the air.
The University recently received delivery of a new AM transmitter. It was installed in the new transmitter building with the FM transmitter.
"The University intends to use this new transmitter for sending AM programs direct from Lawrence to KFKU listeners." Mr. Brownne said.
"The University also expects eventually to be broadcasting on an expanded schedule in AM," he added.
In addition to the expansion of radio broadcasting, KU has indicated a desire to belong to a national network of educational television stations which will produce and exchange their own shows.
Several years ago, recognizing the import of television as a tool of education, the chancellor of Kansas university took steps to study how this tool might be used by the University.
Mr. Browne said that with the coming of Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy, television activities at KU received new impetus.
R. EDWIN BROWNE
In the meantime, the FCC had tentatively allocated channel 11 for a non-commercial educational television station in Lawrence, Kan., but requested postponement of the filing of applications.
Chancellor Murphy had been the dean of the KU medical school when it became the first school in the country to operate closed circuit television on a regular basis for the purpose of classroom instruction.
"The FCC is expected to lift the freeze on television about March
KFKU Presents Varied Schedule
KFKU, the AM radio voice of the University of Kansas, provides many programs of education, informational and audul tural value to its listeners
In the afternoon, most of its listeners are children in elementary classrooms. KFKU has designed a series for them called Jayhawk Junior Classroom. On request, the University station sends out a teacher's manual which explains the programs and how they can be used in the classroom.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, KFKU gives a 15-minute dramatic program and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, it presents a half-hour show for children.
In the evenings, most of KFKU's programs are designed for a family audience and consist largely of classical music.
KFKU began a program this year especially for studentu. It introduced the KU Cavalcade of Hits, a compilation of the most popular songs at KU as determined by a campus-wide postcard survey.
R. Edwin Browne, director of radio, said the program gets a good sampling of the University's organized houses.
Mr. Browne said KFKU will introduce a new feature on this program soon. One KU student will be presented each week as an entertainment element of the show.
KU Cavalcade of Hits presents not only the hit songs but also the recording artists.
In the future, the station management expects to have journalism students give newscasts regularly. It also expects to present plays featuring students enrolled in the department of speech and drama.
Another aspect of KFKU is the workshop it provides for students interested in radio as a vocation or avocation. The University station has organized the Radio Players for this purpose.
The Players act in two of KFKU's dramatic productions each week, "The Flying Carpet" and "Prairie Footprints."
KFKU also cooperates with the KU athletic department in operating a sports service for other stations in this area.
1. " Mr. Browne said, adding, "At that time, KU expects to learn if the FCC has permanently allocated this channel to Lawrence.
Mr. Brown said the University plans to apply with the FCC to operate a television station on channel 11 "as soon as practicable."
The board of regents, which is the governing body of the University authorized the University to apply or license to operate a television station.
Friday, Feb. 22, 1952 University Daily Kansas
"Television, which has been called an expensive instrument, is actually one of the most inexpensive instruments ever devised for the dissemination of education," Mr. Browne declared.
"It is difficult to conceive of a less expensive method of pushing out the walls of the University classrooms to an area as large as the state." he continued.
Engineering surveys have been prepared. A University committee on television has been formed. Mr. Browne said plans are going forward to secure the assessment of this station soon after approval is granted by the FCC.
MEMBERS OF THE KFKU Radio Players rehearse "The Yeoman of the Guard" in the EES radio studio. Mrs. Ruby LeNeve Motta, writes, directs and produces the shows. The players (left to right) are Caroline West, college sophomore; Laura Price, education senior; Dorothy O'Connell, Dennis Henderson, John Eaton, Jerry Knudson, college sophomores, and Winston Deacon, engineering freshman.
He also said television could bring the great resources of the state universities into the homes of every
citizen in the state in a very personal way.
"The University professor comes as near to the viewer as if he were sitting in the same room," he said.
Ye Know By Cracky
Back in the days when Hank Maloy gave birth to the first Jayhawk, a prolific old bird with a heteronomous progeny as numerous as smoos and as varied as that of a modern social reformer illustrating her theories; during the days when Herb Flint was a suspicious character because he came from a town where a Socialist lived and when John Henry always had a good story; when Jack Greenleese shocked the faculty wives with his yarn about the ancient vessel unearthed on Mt. Oread; at the time when prim John Madden worried about Kansan finances and Paddle Palmer sang songs he did not learn in Sunday School; the gang around the Journalism department thought about the same things you do, including, getting a job. Those days it was officially decided in the class room that a weekly newspaper could not exist in Lawrence. The Profs were wrong. They are wrong again unless they tell you that income in a newspaper office must exceed expenses. Your employer must be able to sell your work at a profit. New fixtures in the School of Journalism cannot sharpen your intellect, the product you have to sell. YOU must do that and you alone can keep it up to date and worthy of wages.
Ed Abels, '14 and Marie Robinson Abels, '19, two grads who proved the Profs were wrong, at least one time, extend their best Wishes for your success. Come see us at
P. S. Look what Hank did—
The Lawrence Outlook
1005 Mass. St.
Phone 542 for printing
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