OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THETA SIGMA PHI FOR WOMEN IN JOURNALISM - Alice Keith

Sep 29, 2026

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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THETA SIGMA PHI FOR WOMEN IN JOURNALISM outlines why women must gain greater control in radio programming. It argues that existing discrimination goes beyond personal grievances, since radio shapes public opinion and could benefit from women’s ideas. The piece stresses practical action: women should influence policy by controlling advertising “purse strings,” pursue station ownership, and commission content that is financially sound, educational, and culturally enriching for adults and children.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time37 min

AccessFree to download

Women’s Place Is on the Air

Financial control and station ownership

Program aims for entertainment and stimulation

Suitable children’s programming

Encouraging local talent and civic unity

Post-war media role

# OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THETA SIGMA PHI FOR WOMEN IN JOURNALISM that group served its purpose,publicizing worthyprograms,but women should have much more tosay in regard to the policies and programs ofradio. Womeri themselves are partly at fault for theposition of inferiority they find themselves in.Timeand again they make it difficult for their own sex bysaying,"I don't like a woman's voice on the radio."They mean,of course,the saccharine type of voicethat used to tell them condescendingly how to makechocolate cake and take out coffee spots.There aremany fine feminine voices heard on the air —fromDorothy Thompson on down,and,to be perfectlyfair,there are a few masculine performers a littleless than perfect in their broadcasting technique. Unquestionably women are discriminated againstas radio performers just as they are in newspaperreporting,but the problem goes much deeper than amere injured sense of justice.The world needswomen's ideas. With the advent of Frequency Modulation,tele-vision,and broadcast newspapers,which will followrapidly upon the heels of war,radio will rise to toprank as a disseninator of information and entertain-ment —a molder of public opinion.Broadcastingtoday is a most remunerative business.In fact,the WOMEN'S PLACE IS ON THE AIR by Alice Keith major control of programs isby advertising agencies with boxoffice motives and "trade areas"are the official units consideredby the Federal CommunicationsCommission in granting li-censes. OMEN in the post-war world must play amore important role inradio than they have in the past. Because women are primarilyconcerned with the home,theeducation of their children,andthe welfare of humanity,theyshould not supinely accept the"status quo"of radio as if theywere powerless to determine thesort of program broadcast intothe home daily. "But what can women do,"is the natural question,"to playa more important role in radio?"There is but one answer,"Con-trol the purse strings."Womenown sixty percent of the wealthin the United States.Since thebroadcasting business is nolonger a hazardous venture,in-telligent women should set aboutto own their own stations fromcoast to coast. A few years ago,a Woman'sRadio Committee was formed,composed of representatives ofleading federations of women'sclubs.Its chief function was tocommend or condemn programsconcocted by advertisers.For atime,before its gradual demise, They should have as theiraims: Alice Keith 1.To operate on a firm financial basis,advertisingenough to insure a fair profit to the investor. 2.To offer programs,entertaining,but definitelystimulating,with good music filling most of thehours rather than vapid chit chat and dramatizeddime thrillers. 3.To give children suitable programs.(Mothersand teachers more than young men writers ofadvertising copy know how to entertain young-sters with programs suited to their age,programsthat build character and develop a sense of civicresponsibility.) 4.To encourage local talent —not of the amateurcrooning variety —but real talent in music,acting,and speaking. 5.To pull together consciously for a more un-selfish world where world peace will be possible. In short,women,who are leaders in their com-munities,should organize and form companies withthe backing of progressive,civic,social and educa-tional agencies.Frequency Modulation Stations areto cost so much less than the A.M.type now prev-alent,that ownership will be a matter chiefly ofobtaining a Federal Communications Commissionlicense. (Continued on page 12) # THE MATRIXA Magazine For AIl Women Who Write | NO.6
VOL.30
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER | | --- | | WoMEN's PLACE IS ON THE AIR… …………………… … ………Alice Keith
2 | | 3
THETA SIGNATURE … ………… …… ……… … -- …… | | FRONTISPIECE …… … … … … …Marjory Hendricks
4 | | ARC IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC …… ……… ……Marjory Hendricks
5 | | 7
TRANSLATING DEMOCRACY…………………………………………

FAQs

Why does the text say women must play a more important role in radio?

Because radio is expected to rise in importance after the war as an information and entertainment medium, shaping public opinion; women’s ideas are needed.

What does the author suggest as the main way women can gain influence in radio?

Control the purse strings—women are described as owning a majority of wealth and should use that power to influence broadcasting.

What program goals are recommended for women-run or women-influenced stations?

Operate on firm finances for fair profit; offer stimulating programs with good music; provide suitable children’s programming; encourage real local talent in music, acting, and speaking.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by McGucket