Radio stations holding membership in the National Association of Broadcasters must refuse to renew their contracts with “radio priest” Charles E. Coughlin, a spokesman for the association told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today, following action of the group’s code compliance committee in barring from the air individuals buying radio time for controversial broadcasts.
Most of the contracts expire in the middle or the end of this month, so Coughlin will still have his usual chain of stations for several weeks and during that time, Washington circles predicted, he will launch a virulent attack upon the N.A.B.
Action of the N.A.B. will cut Coughlin’s outlets by about one half, including the largest stations now carrying his broadcasts, the spokesman estimated.
Also hit by the N.A.B. action will be Judge Rutherford, who has attacked the Catholic Church and the Rev. Walton Cole of Toledo, O., Unitarian minister who has often answered Coughlin’s attacks upon the Jews, the Administration and those favoring repeal of the arms embargo.
The committee took direct notice of the use of the radio to promote intolerance. It said: “Radio, which reaches men of all creeds and races simultaneously, may not be used to convey attacks upon another’s race or religion. Rather it should be the purpose of the religious broadcast to promote the spiritual harmony and understanding of mankind and to administer broadly to the varied religious needs of the community.”
The N.A.B. spokesman said the committee was moved to take action by the possibility that a group with unlimited funds could dominate the air by purchasing all available time on a great many stations. He estimated that Coughlin now has 50 or 60 stations under contract, although the N.A.B. has never been able to secure from Coughlin an accurate list of stations over which his voice is heard.
The committee’s action was in accordance with the code of conduct adopted last July at a convention of the association, to which all major radio chains belong. In its interpretation of that part of the code affecting Coughlin, the committee said:
“Under no circumstances will compensation be accepted by the station or network for time consumed by the spokesman of a controversial public issue unless the spokesman appears on a series of fair-sided discussions of public issues and when control of the fairness of the program rests wholly with the broadcasting station or network.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
