University Daily Kansan
Friday, December 9, 1977
5
Press faces fight for credibility, news freedoms
Bv CLAY STAUFFER
Guest Writer
Complacency among news writers, editors and publishers gave way to introspection during 1977 as newspapers found their place in a changing and economic underpinnings criticized.
Laurels bestowed on the press after Watergate and the publication of the Pentagon to fade during August, when a Yankers, a police force to be the "14-nailber killer," was arrested in connection with the separate six people and the wounding of seven others.
"Son of Sam Telsi of Plan for One Final Slaughter" proclaimed a headline in the Aug. 12 edition of the Detroit Free Press. Treatment was similar in other generally accepted formats, including the Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Constitution and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
RUPERT MURDOCH, the Australian publisher who had closed deals a few months before on the New York Post, the Village Voice, and New York and New West newspapers from within print media for the Post's treatment of the "Son of Sam" case. Asked whether suspect David Berkowitz had been convicted by newspaper, Murdoch replied, Yes, and that 'the too bad,' noting that New York had also blamed for the hysteria about "Son of Sam."
August was also Bert Lance's month. Though maintaining that Lance, former manager of the Rangers, remained a firm
Budget, was treated unfairly by the press,
President Jimmy Carter, cautiously
and with patience.
"IN GENERAL, I think the media has been fair. There are some exceptions." Carter said at a news conference called to announce Lance's Sept. 21 resignation.
But Carter suggested that publicity, whether favorable, objective or critical, had little effect.
"I think," Carter told reporters, "to be perfect frank, the constant high publicity that has accrued in this case—even if completely fair and unbiased—creates a very bad impression, among the people of this country about the integrity ... of me and our government."
In early April Rep. Morris K. Udall, D-Ariz., deplored the national trend toward what he termed "chain store" journalism at a National Press Club luncheon. While representatives of media giants Knight-Lee and Cox newspapers sat at the head table, Udall identified his concern with newspaper group ownership.
"WHAT DOES bother me is that there is an increasingly prevalent pattern here that in the social implications, Udall said, remarking that the dependent spirit in the community" and the disposition to blow the whistle on the officers or "compromiers" characterized his apprehensions.
Former Secretary of the Treasury John B. Connally charged the news media with excesses and inconsistencies in a speech before the Press Club of Houston Forum in
Changes in coaching staffs characterize KU athletics
Perhaps the most interesting trend that developed over this past year was the continuing changes in many of KU's coaching staffs.
The 1977 sports scene at the University of Kansas was active but not overly successful for the athletes who competed in the major Jayhawk sports.
Coaching changes were made in football, basketball, men's swimming, men's tennis, and women's volleyball.
The changes made in the basketball staff were possibly the most important, because the resignations of assistant coaches Sam Miranda and Duncan Reead came at a time when head coach Ted Owens' job was in jeopardy.
Guest Writer
By ANDY RILEY
Although Owens did keep his job, the "Gong Owens" movement that began as the Jayhawks were suffering through a winter season raised a storm of controversy.
Another surprising resignation was that of Dick Reamon, who had led KU's swimmers to the national title.
The year started with the limelight on basketball, and, as the year closes, attention is once again focused on Owens, his new staff and the players.
The best effort by any member of the men's teams was that of Bob Timmons' team.
Indoors, the Jayhawks won the United States Track and Field Federation championships in Oklahoma City last February, and captured their eight Big Eight Indoor title in 12 years. That squad was also fifth at the NCAA Indoor championships.
The outdoor season was highlighted by the
1977 in Review
In his third year as head football coach at KU, Bud Moore suffered through his first losing season. The Jahywanks finished with three victories and a tie against seven opponents. However, KU did win both of its big rivalry by beating Kansas State and Missouri.
The Jayhawks were shut out in the relay races but three individuals won winners: Tad Scales in the pole vault, Jay Reardon in the shot put and Wiley in the both 100- and 200-meter dashes.
dist running of the Kansas Relays. The Relays once again were plagued by rain out west, but the runners had a good chance.
Sylvester Stallone, in pursuit of an acting career, starred in the box-office hit "Rocky," which won the Academy Award for best motion picture. More a box-office hit than its title ("Star Wars"), which was expected to gross more than $100 million by the end of the year.
A strong women's swimming team won its third straight Big Eight title, and went on to win the AIAW Regional meet last February. In 2016, they were in the AIAW national meet in four events.
For his effort Wiley was voted the outstanding performer of the 1977 Kansas Rival.
While the men had trouble in 1877 the KU women came through with several outbursts.
In softball, the Jayhawks won the Big Eight title and the state championship. The tennis squad won the state large school championship last month and the field hockey squad won the Kansas Conference title. The cross country team captured the AAU National Championship a month ago in Tulsa.
The women's softball, tennis, field hockey and access court tennis always winners.
Year of quiet expectancy fades into year of caution
AND 1977 WAS full of those. Elvis Presley died, Ding Bros cried. So did the Volkswagen. The millions who had convinced themselves to take swine-flu shots, suffering the 24-hour ill effects, were told not to take them—they caused some to die.
ONE OF THE MOST controversial shows to appear on television this year was "Soap," a situation comedy that unabashed uncritics in its plots such things as homosexuality, infidelity, impolence, promiscuity, psychosis and organized crime.
KU golfer Bello Bozo made the news during the summer months. She finished 20th in the AIAW National Tournament in Iowa and 13rd in Kansas Women's Amateur golf title in July.
No. 1 on television was Alex Haley's "Roots," which appeared for eight consecutive nights and one night captured more than 80 per cent of the viewing audience.
They soon were disenchanted. Carter was continually slapped in the face by a Congress that refused to support his legislation. Korea was caught apparently trying to start another mass political buy-off on Capitol Hill. Prices and unemployment are falling. And in the American people continued to freeze one of the coldest winters ever recorded.
By SANDY DECHANT
Coet Writer
Encouraged by the revisionist preachings of President-elect Jimmy Carter, the American person entered 1977 full of hope. "Quet expectancy," Time magazine called it.
Guest Writer
The militancy of the '60s and the agitation of the early '70s were replaced with a mild case of lethargy. What it took to shock them was the insensitivity wasness conscious things they could feel.
March. Connally told the club that the press insists on his rights and sources of content being disclosed.
But for many people, traumas of real life exceed any of those portrayed in "Soil." The U.S. Department of Labor estimated that 500,000 workers were laid off their jobs because of the harsh winter. A harsh winter in Johnstown, Pa., the deadliest flood in U.S. history, killed 46 persons and left 500,000 people homeless. The third largest wheat crop in history was destroyed at a time when wheat prices were considered low, than the cost of wheat production.
"Today's free press is a far cry from the fragile, almost endangered species whose perpetuations were guarded by the precious safeguards of our Constitution," Connally said and asked listeners to "get in clear touch with new industry today is big business."
THE PANAX Corporation episode, which haunts critics and proponents of group ownership, developed as Udall and Connally made their opinions known. Two editors of two small Michigan newspapers owned by Panax, the Escanaab Daily Press and the Marquette Mining Journal, left their jobs after protesting that two stories designated
"must run" by Panxan President John P. McFotlock belongs on theDIT page, if he wants to see it.
One editor was fired after refusing to resign or run the stories. The other editor was fired.
1977 was indeed a year of quiet expectancy, as most post-election years are. It was a year in which hopes were not shattered, but simply dulled. What will be carried into 1978 won't be dismay, just caution. A cautious expectancy.
The National News Council同志 group for an affirmation of its "watertightness," and the Council had ignored the principle of resident editorship that newspaper groups publicly maintain as policy. Panax was censured for accepting American journalistic standards."
AMERICA'S "QUALITY" weekly, Dow Jones' National Observer, ceased publication after its July 2 final edition. The Observer, despite efforts by its sister Dow
censoring of television news content,
repeating of equal time rules and rules
related to audio or video records.
Jones newspaper, the Wall Street Journal,
to bolster advertising revenues. had suf-
In September, the Reporters Committee or Freedom of the Press 'News Media Alert publication warned newsmen that 98 new bills regarding news gathering and dissemination were introduced in the first week of October. The proposals include measures such establishment of an official secret act, curtailment of news coverage of terrorists,
Designed to assist a limited number of individuals during their first year of graduate or professional study.
If interested, contact PROF. DENNIS LANE 4002 Learned Hall elephone: 864-3731 - 864-3759
“If history is any guide, when you see this many danger flags waving, you know at some point these proposals are going to work,” said Jack Landau, committee director.
The Wildest Ever!!
The new version of the Nixon era S-1, known as S-1437, the "Criminal Code Reform Act of 1977," contains several sections curbing the media.
Remember what your Mother told you . . . ?
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