The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-02-06
HIGH IDEALS OF
NEWSPAPER ASS0.
OREGON ORGANIZATION FOR
TRUTH, JUSTICE, MERCY
AND KINDLINESS.

Eugene, Oregon, Feb. 5.-Setting a
standard based upon truth, sincerity,
thoroughness, justice, mercy, kindli-
ness, and moderation, the Oregon
State Editorial Association adopted
recently at a meeting here a code OF
ethics intended to be a guide to the
profession of journalism in the state.
The code was prepared by Dean
Colin Dyment, of the University of
Oregon, at the direction of the asso-
citation, and was unanimously ap-
proved by representative gathering
of Oregon editors and publishers who
pledged themselves to adhere to it's
precepts.
There are seven sections to the
code and they go in detail into all
practices and relationships of journ-
alism. The first is headed Sincerity
and Truth" and declared for accuracy
in editorial, advertisement, article or
news story.
Care, Competency, Thoroughness''
is the caption of the second section
which includes among it's declarations
the following: "By study and inquiry
and observation, we will constantly
writings may be more authentic, and
of greater perspective, and more CON
ducive to the social good
Protection, within reason, of the
rights of individuals mentioned in
public documents, regardless of the
effect on good stories or upon edit
Orial policies, sis principle included
in the section devoted to Justice,
Mercy, Kindness" This section also
declares against making privileged
utterances'' a cloak for unjust attack,
or spiteful venting, or carelessness in
investigation, in the cases of parties
or persons.
''We will endeavor to avoid the in
justice that springs from hasty con-
clusion in editorial or reportoria1 or
interpretative practice" is a principle
laid down in section a, devoted to
Moderation, Conservatism, Proper
ton" This section also provides
against distortion of news by i'm
proper emphasis, skillful arrange
ments or by devices of Typography or
rhetoric.
The section declaring against par
tisanship and propaganda sets forth
the following: I'VE will not permit,
unless in exceptional cases, the pub
fishers of news and editorial matter
not prepared by ourselves or our
staffs, believing that original matter
is the best answer to the peril of
propa ganda."
"No man who is not in ethical ad-
vance of the average of his commu
nifty should be in the profession of
journalism" is a declaration in the
section devoted to Public Service and
Social Policy" 1--WE will keep our
writings and our publications free
from undefinement. except so far as
we may sincerely believe publication
of sordid details to be for the social
good says one article of this section.
On advertising and circulation the
code pledges the Oregon newspaper
men to cooperate with those special
agencies whose business it is to raise
the ethical standards of advertising,
and to bar such advertising which the |
publisher has reason to believe will |
deceive the reader
eve will not advertise our own
or its circulation boast
fully or otherwise in terms not in
harmony with the clauses of this
code of ethics,'' is another provision
of this section which concludes with I
the following: 1--WE will not make
our printing facilities available for
the production of advertising which
we believe to be socially harmful or
in its intent