The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1910-03-17
MISLEADING THE PRESS.

Newspapers are often criticised for
errors they make: errors for which
the editors or reporters are not re-
sponsibie; they often complain that
this item or that item of general IN
terest is not published, and charge
that the publishers withhold such
or ever does a newspaper reader stop
to consider the fact that the only
way a newspaper reporter can get
news correctly is from those who
know the facts and will relate them
for publication. No newspaper ever
Intentionally publishes an item of
news that is not absolutely correct.
When an error is made, it is either
the fault Of the giver of such news
CT Is done Internationally by the writer
or malicioasly by misleading report
ers.
The only way a newspaper has of
obtaining tle facts in any case is go
ing directly TO those connected; if he
is refused by the proper authority,
then it is that he gathers the facts
as best ne can, and gives them to the
puslic.
Withholding the truth from the
newspapers by people in position to
know the trVe facts causes more err
rors, more misstatements than is Gre
ated in any other way.
For instance, on Tuesday evening
a prominent citizen was stricken with
apoplexy and was removed to the
city hospital The News force. of
course, was in touch with the stu
alton detailing reporter to cover the
story, as the managing editor knew
that hundreds of friends of the strick-
en- man would naturally look to the
paper for news the next morning.
the gravity of the case and
the critical g ambition of the citizen,
the reporter waited until a very early
hour on Wednesday morning and then
'phoned the hospital for information
as to the condition of the afflicted.
The nurse on duty replied that none
of the physicians were present and
she could not say anything about
AT that very hour, however, the pa
tient, a popular and esteemed bust
ness man was cold in the embraces
of death and this nurse knew it only
too we'll! Yet she deliberately misled
the reporter by giving him to under
stand that there was no change for
the worse in the condition of the
patient or else the physicians would
OF have left his bedside.
Consequently, The News was forced
make its appearance four hours af-
er the death OF the patient, with
What it thought to be the real intel
igence that ne was still in a critical
condition This is not the first time
these misstatements have come from
the hospital to the press of the city
and IL these nurses are acting under
any such ridiculous instructions from
those in charge it's high time such
provincialism and actual misrepresen-
tation were stopped Imagine the
shock, if it CHANGED tC lie a near
and dear one of your own within
those silent walls, lowering betwixt
life and death, to take up your US
'ually faithful morning paper and note
that he or she was still critically ill,
but still living and later to learn that
this loved one had entered into the
Great Beyond, prior to even the writ
ing Of the news story and that the
truth of the situation mad been wan
TONY and curelly withheld.
AS stated, If such a bar5arous, an
truthful system prevails at the city
hospital it is time little enlighten-
ment was thrown in that direction
In cities the press has always access
to hospitals, reporters are assigned to
this special work and the truth is
never Intentionally withheld or a
campaign of deception practiced as
seems to be the rule with the local
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