Distinction in '41

Radio's annual George Foster Peabody awards, ambitiously planned by the University of Georgia's School of Journalism as the Pulitzer Prizes of radio, were conferred for the second time last week. The Peabody plaque-winner who would most have pleased the late Joseph Pulitzer was lean, long-nosed Cecil Brown of CBS (TIME, Dec. 22). His news reports from

Cairo, Singapore and Australia, the citation said, "were remarkable for their ac curacy and their courage." After giving the audience (on the Starlight Roof of Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria) a little col or on the sinking of the Repulse -the orange-bright explosions of Jap torpedo planes above the calm blue China Sea - greying Cecil Brown remarked: "I think it ... brings more grey hairs to your head to resist the pressures ... of offi cials. . . ." The award to Brown reflected rightful honor on U.S. radio newshawking abroad, which reached its peak in 1941. Other awards showed an equal sense of the significant:

>For excellence in the field of education, to the University of Chicago's eleven-year-old Round Table (NBC), which en joyed, like other such programs, a great year of discussion.

>For "the most worthwhile innovation of 1941," to all six U.S. short-wave broad casters (NBC, CBS, World Wide, Crosley, Westinghouse, General Electric), which swung into concerted action last year with the Donovan and Rockefeller Committees.

>For merit in radio drama, to Sandra Michael's Against the Storm (TIME, Nov. 10), which emerged from the ruck of soap operas to prove that pap and pandering are not requisites in that field; and to Norman Corwin's eloquent Bill of Rights anniversary program (TIME. Dec. 29).

>For music, to canny, brilliant Alfred Wallenstein, musical director of Mutual's Manhattan station WOR, who recognized that for good radio musicianship the distinction between "classic" and "modern" music has ceased to exist.

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