BROADCAST ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Announcements of instructions to the public from Departments will become increasingly important as the war develops, and this paper sets out arrangements which will allow these Announcements to be heard by as great an audience as possible. The B.B.C. has revised its programmes to include Government Announcements at one of the times which now command the attention of listeners, and a daily fixed period will replace the present three periods a week. As from Monday, July 29th, therefore, Departmental Announcements will be broadcast on weekdays in a five minutes Announcements Period immediately after the 6 p.m. News.

This Bulletin will be drawn up and completed by 5.15 p.m. daily and the B.B.C. must have all Announcements before that time. To meet this executive need, Departments are asked to give their Announcements to the News Division of the Ministry of Information not later than 3.30 p.m. daily, but it will help if they aim at earlier despatch.

Where the need for an Announcement which demands instant public action cannot be foreseen, it will be included, as an emergency measure, if it is given to the News Division not later than 5.45 p.m. The Department should tell Broadcasting Division (Mr. Fergusson) of the despatch of any such Announcement and of the reasons for urgency.

Similarly an Announcement which demands instant public action can, as an emergency measure, be included in the next News Bulletin to be broadcast if it is given to News Division not later than 15 minutes before the time of that Bulletin. In this case also the Department should tell Broadcasting Division (Mr. Fergusson, or Duty Officer after 6.30 p.m.) of the despatch of such an Announcement and of the reasons for urgency.

The inclusion of instructional Announcements in News Bulletins will be exceptional, and to leave a reserve of time (and of space in the 6.15. p.m. period) to deal with urgent and unforeseen Announcements, News Division will expect most broadcast Announcements before 3.30 p.m.

Under the terms of W.P. (G) 40 (144), if there are too many Announcements for any Announcements Period, the Broadcasting Division will establish priority among the Announcements and will be responsible for shortening the Announcements to make room for as many as possible: the Broadcasting Division will also be responsible for re-writing Announcements to meet the needs of the spoken word.

If Departments wish to discuss the form, length or timing of Announcements they should discuss their problems with the Broadcasting Division. In this connection it should be remembered that in many cases some form of broadcasting other than announcement may be a better way of informing the public, and Departments are urged to consult Broadcasting Division (Mr. Fergusson) through their Affairs Sections, where these exist.

15th July, 1940.