Radio: Peabody Picks

Radio gets more awards than students at a high-school graduation. Most of them are insignificant; none stack up with journalism’s Pulitzer Prizes. But the Peabody Awards *announced this week by a jury of educators and journalists headed by Atlantic Monthly Editor Edward Weeks, are a cut above the crowd. The Peabody picks:

DRAMA: Mutual’s Arch Oboler, for “pioneer . . . efforts … to create a dramatic form especially for broadcasting”; NBC’s Edgar Bergen, for his “original wit.”

JOURNALISM: CBS’s Paul White, for building a “preeminent” reportorial team; Des Moines’ KRNT, for recording “the only on-the-scene broadcast of the atomic bomb on trial.”

EDUCATION: ABC’s George V. Denny, conductor of America’s Town Meeting of the Air.

Music: NBC’s Symphony of the Air; Dr. Howard Hanson and Rochester’s WHAM, for promotion of creative work by young artists.

REGIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE: Los Angeles’ KFWB, for “coverage of the United Nations Conference at San Francisco.”

LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICE : Oklahoma City’s KOMA, for “a campaign to reduce traffic accidents.”

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM : Omaha’s KOWH, for We March with Faith, an educational program.

* Given since 1941 in memory of Manhattan Banker George Foster Peabody by the University of Georgia, which he endowed.