The chronicle=news., 1914-07-31
The Associated Press
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tFrom Golfers, June 6, 1879
In Justice to the "A. p
The officers and members OF the
Associated Press have heen Kept busy
lately repelling attacks upon that
organization. In SO far as they are
defending themselves from the
charge of witful distortion of the
news. we sympathize with them. Six
or seven years ago we printed Sc
ries of articles which dealt with the
general subject of tainted news, -
and from time to time since then we
have pointed out examples of this in
siduous practice. During this time
not less than a score of person have
come to us with alleged examples OF
tnmpcring with the news on the part
OF the Associated Press. All OF these
cases we looked into with care and
pains. and many of the same cases
were investigated by other publica-
tions and persons. we have never
found n case that justified us in pub
fishing the details or In making any
charge of wilful distortion against
the Associated Press. A very differ
ent point is this: The Associated
Press gets much of its news from
CRITICAL sources, and the news. MS
given out by headquarters. is apt to
be colored the way officials Hike It to
look. 1t is entirely natural for the
Associated Press representative at
st. Petersburg, for example. to keep
in close touch with Russian Officials.
for they are the source OF nine-tenthA
OF the news which he must send out
I'm less degree. the same is true OF
Washington. The information sent
over the Associated Press wires is
likely to have. a slight official bias
But that the Associated Press
changes it or colors 1t in the process
we do not believe. That the agita-
tors, who are the most conspicuous
assailants OF the Associated Press
should confuse these two very differ.
ent things is characteristic OF their
wobbly cerebration.
Is There News Monopoly?
The Associated Press is also de.
Tending itself against the charge OF
being a monopoly. MIR. win Irwin
for example. says that the Associat.
| ed Press ought to be required II
give its services, under proper re-
strictions and conditions. to any
newspaper which asks for It. TO this
the president OF the Associated Press
Mr.. Frank B. Moves OF Washington
d. G., replies that: r
A competitor has as much right
to demand and receive the same news
service as he would to demand and
receive the use OF the other paper
press. composing room. editors and
reporters. Just as much right and
no more. And that is absolutely nt
right. .'t
This is the way railroad presidents
used to talk few years ago. On
this point Mr.. Irwin is clearly in
tune with the time. and It is only q
| matter OF time when the Associated
Press will have to conform to the
| current beliefs about monopoly
Where city has only one morning
paper and where that morning pa.
per. possessing the Associated Press
franchise, is able to keep the fran
chise exclusively and prevent any
arise all the mischieYs which attend
monopoly. Indeed. we think the sub
lection OF the agencies for distribut-
ing news to the public may go even
farther. A single newspaper in q
city, or two or three newspapers
can inflict iniustices and discrimi'
nations quite as intolerable as the
worst practices OF street car or pub
lie lighting monopolies. we think
the time will come when newspaper.
will be recognized as having quail
tics OF n public utility. and will b,
subject to inquiry and regulation b!
commissions similar to those whicl
have arisen in many states durins
the past few years to supervise rail
road. telephone and lighting corpo
rations. VIZ
Reply.
Editor Golfers: -. -. -. -.
have read with interest the edi.
torial upon The Associated Pres.
which appeared In your issue OF June
6th. While recognize an evident
purpose to be Just. 1t seems clear Il
me that your suggestion that the
/ Information sent over The Associated
Press wires is likely to have u slight
official bias" lacks force. The dis.
patches OF the association are very
widely published. II there is the
| sort OF bias you intimate, 1t should
be easy to furnish some illustration
>>Such evidence would certaffiy he
more convincing. In truth there Is
no basis for the idea. as can be DEM
onstrated, l am confident, In any spe-