Change of Voice

When he took over in 1965, NBC-TV's John Chancellor was the first working newsman ever to direct the Voice of America. His intention was to help shed its "institutional sound" -- which too often was a bureaucratic defense of the incumbent Administration -- and steer it closer to realistic journalism.

Having succeeded in his goal, Chancel lor announced last week that he would return to NBC news. "I've decided I'm a writer and reporter, and that's what I want to do."

"I might have stayed longer," he added, "if I could have made a continuing creative contribution. But what I had to bring to it was brought to it. I hear next year's alarm bell ringing [the election], and I want to get at it." His new job: Washington-based correspondent with a worldwide beat. Terms were not disclosed, but Chancellor was already earning more than double his $24,500 VGA salary on his previous hitch with NBC.

Chancellor's successor, said USIA director Leonard Marks, will be from the same bracket--"someone who has been earning in excess of $75,000 in broadcasting and is an outstanding newsman known throughout the nation." Marks's coyness produced inevitable speculation that he might mean CBS's Eric Sevareid or Charles Collingwood, NBC's Nancy Dickerson or ABC's Howard K. Smith. Likeliest choice, however, is John Charles Daly, 53, onetime ABC vice president for news and currently the suave moderator of CBS's What's My Line? A son-in-law of Chief Justice Earl Warren, Daly admits that he has a yen for public service, but would like to see through his CBS show, due to wind up next September. For the moment, all Daly was willing to admit was, "Yes, I have been talking with some people in Washington."

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