PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
MARCH 27,1947
Kansan Comments...
How Safe Is Your Freedom?
A quarter of a million dollars for freedom?
The report of the Commission on Freedom of the Press, released today, has cost nearly that amount. Established in 1943 and headed by Robert M. Hutchins, chancellor of the University of Chicago, the committee received grants from Time, Inc., and Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., and has made an extensive study of the problems of mass communication.
By "the press," the commission means radio, motion pictures, magazines, and books as well as newspapers. The study included interviews with 58 persons connected with the press and 225 with related agencies outside. In 17 two-day or three-day meetings it studied 176 documents prepared by its members.
Free Press In Danger
The recommendations of the commission are not startling—members admit thatbut their conclusion on the precarious position of freedom of the press is. The commission gives the following reasons for such conclusion:
ONE, while the importance of the press to the people has greatly increased with its development as an instrument of mass communication, the proportion of people able to express their opinions through the press has greatly decreased.
TWO, the few who are able to use this machinery of mass communication have not provided a service adequate to the needs of society.
THREE, those who direct the machinery of the press have engaged from time to time in practices which society condemns and which, if continued, it will inevitably undertake to regulate or control.
Free expression, the commission says, is unique among liberties because it promotes and protects all the rest. This is its responsibility as well as its privilege. The commission demands that the press strive for the following ideals: a truthful, comprehensive, and intelligent account of the day's events in a context which gives them meaning; a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism; the projection of a representative picture of the constituent groups in society; the presentation and clarification of the goals and values of society; and full access to the day's intelligence.
the technological revolution, although it has brought greater diversity and volume of communication, has brought concentration in fewer units. Monopolistic practices, as well as the nature of some communication agents such as radio, the cost of machinery, and the momentum of big, going concerns, have made it hard for new ventures to enter the field of mass communications.
Some characteristics of the performance of the press are (the report says): the word "news" has come to be judged as a scoop or sensation, rather than as important new information, by criteria which limit its accuracy and significance. Economic pressure is exerted on any publisher who presents what the public needs rather than what it wants. The owners of mass communication agencies are big businessmen and are so biased. Advertising may dictate to weaker units of the press. The press is unwill-
Commission Members
Members of the commission were Chancellor Robert M. Hutchins chairman; Zechariah Chafee, Jr., professor of law, Harvard; John M. Clark, professor of economics, Columbia; John Dickinson, professor of law, Pennsylvania; William E. Hocking, professor of philosophy, emeritus, Harvard; Harold D. Lasswell, professor of law, Yale; Archibald MacLeish, formerly assistant secretary of state; Charles E. Merriam, professor of political science, emeritus, Chicago; Reinhold Niebruh, professor of ethics and philosophy of religion, Union Theological seminary; Robert Redfield, professor of anthropology, Chicago; Beardsley Ruml, chairman, New York Federal Reserve bank; Arthur M. Schlesinger, professor of history, Harvard; and George N. Shuster, president, Hunter college.
mg to improve itself by mutual criticism among its agents. Complete information is not available on a quantity scale.
Legal Regulation
Although mobilization of the elements of society to act directly on the press is the most desirable means, the commission suggests that government may have to be used to break up private power where it is strong enough to thwart the aspirations of the people.
Proposals for government action are:
ONE, that the constitutional guarantees of the freedom of the press be recognized as including the radio and motion pictures.
TWO, that government facilitate new ventures in the communications industry, that it foster the introduction of new techniques, that it maintain competition among large units through the anti-trust laws, but that those laws be sparingly used to break up such units, and that, where concentration is necessary in communications, the government endeavor to see to it that the public gets the benefit of such concentration.
THREE, legislation, as an alternative to the present remedy for libel, by which the injured party might obtain a retraction or a restatement of the facts by the offender or an opportunity to reply.
FIVE, that the government, through the media of mass communication, inform the public of the facts with respect to its policies and of the purposes underlying those policies and that, to the extent that private agencies of mass communication are unable or unwilling to supply such media to the government, the government itself may employ media
FOUR, the repeal of legislation prohibiting expressions in favor of revolutionary changes in our institutions where there is no clear and present danger that violence will result from the expressions.
The University Daily Kansan
That where the private agencies of mass communication are unable or unwilling to supply information about this country to a particular foreign country or countries, the government employ mass communication media of its own to supplement this deficiency.
of its own.
Self-regulation recommended to the press is:
Voluntary Action
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
ONE, that the agencies of mass communication accept the responsibilities of common carriers of information and discussion.
Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Editorial Assn., Inland District College, Collegiate Press. Represented by the National Advertising Service of Madison Ave, New York City. Work at
TWO, that the agencies of mass communication assume the responsibility of financing new experimental activities in their fields.
FOUR, that the press use every means that can be devised to increase the competence, independence, and effectiveness of its staff.
FIVE, that the radio industry take control of its programs and that it treat advertising as it is treated by the best newspapers.
THREE, that the press use every press engage in vigorous mutual criticism.
The following action is recommended to the public:
ONE, that nonprofit institutions help supply the variety, quantity, and quality of press service required by the American people.
TWO, the creation of academic-professional centers of advanced study, research, and publication in the field of communications. We recommend further that existing schools of journalism exploit the total resources of their universities to the end that their students may obtain the broadest and most liberal training.
(Editor's note: The new William Allen White school of journalism at K. U. is being planned with this aim in mind.)
THREE, the establishment of a new and independent agency to appraise and report annually upon on the performance of the press.
These suggestions are not too concrete, but they are a beginning. By discussion and organized specific action, the public can make proposals to the proper agencies to insure a free and responsible press. The liberty of every individual depends on it.
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Spring Jobs
To Student:
The employment bureau would like to get a list of men who will be available to do this type of work at 60 or 65c per hour.
People all over Lawrence are wanting students to help them with their spring yardwork.
All you must do is leave your name and schedule in 228 Frank Strong Hall, stating that you are some free time and are interested.
To Employer:
Very many students are still interested in permanent school jobs and you may contact them by phoning the Men's Student Employment Bureau on K.U. 10.
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