The B.B.C.'s Second News bulletin seems to be beyond all
hope—simply because whoever arranges it remains convinced that he ought to provide entertainment instead of instruction. The fiasco on the night of the Peace-Plan debate in the House of Commons ought to bring things finally to a head. I happened that evening to listen to all three news broadcasts, at 6 o'clock, 9.30 and 10 o'clock. The 'first, taking the debate as far as it had then gone, was evidently based on the ordinary news summaries from the Press Association or some other agency. So was the 10 o'clock bulletin, giving four hours more of the discussions. Both summaries were admirable, and both were admirably presented by the usual announcers. Of the 9.30 account given by a "special observer" in the House of .Commons it is charitable to say nothing at all. Indeed, it is difficult to judge of its quality, for the speaker went at such a pace that he was virtually inaudible. A. few •minutes later we were switched over to Geneva.to.hear a ", special observer's " accounts of events there. He was perfectly' clear, but his story was not a scrap better than the news summary given in the 10 o'clock bulletin'. When will the B.B.C. 'earn that listeners who switch on for news want just news ?
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