Thomas, Alan William
Description
During the 1930s and 1940s , members of the Australian
Broadcasting Commission believed they could uplift theĀ· cultural
standards of Australians. In their attempts to create an
antipodean BBC, William James Cleary, R.J.F. Boyer and their
fellow commissioners evolved policies and practices which
continue to affect ABC operations.
From its inception in 1932, the ABC met strong
resistance both to its stated purpose and its very existence.
The bulk of the population were more attracted to...[Show more] the commercial
stations . Established media and entertainment interests,
particularly the press and sporting and theatrical organizations,
did not we lcome a new competitor, especially when they were
feeling the effects of an econo~ic depression . The ABC found
that it faced considerable government interference. It was
forced to adopt a cautious approach to contentious material and
tended to censor itself in advance. Many of these problems
intensified during the war of 1939-45.
Added to the external pressures were those from within
the ABC. Cleary's highly personal and centralized organizational
structure ensured that his policy directives found accurate
translation at lower levels. However, some ABC employees did
not share the cultural zeal of the commissioners , and were
more concerned with their conditions of work . As the ABC took
on new functions and extended its sphere of influence, both
programming and staffing policies were questioned by the staff.
Unions were established. By the late 1940s , the commissioners
were forced to modify their policy ideas and opt for pragmatic
compromises . This helped to ensure the ABC's continuance
against pressure from the community, from governments, and from
within its own organization.
Throughout the period 1932-48 , although ABC policies
reinforced some of the divisions between Australia's cultural elite and the rest of the community, new areas of common
appreciation did emerge . The ABC played a highly .innovatory
role , patronizing music , drama, literature and the arts to
a degree never before witnessed in Australia, and it evolved
a model of 'high culture' , setting standards both of performance
and of appreciation , which many Australians still observe
as the desired level in a cultured society.
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