The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-11-14
THE RELIABILITY OF
NEWSPAPERS
ny ARTHUR l.. CLARKE


Editor. The San Francisco Chronicl,
1T's TINE for the newspaper worn
i to turn. Every so often some self
righteous individual with an An
growing disposition rears back OF
his hind legs and em.ts . dolefu
howl ancnt the uureliability OF tn
press.
lInadvertent publication OF an,
news story not strictly conformini
to the facts invariably Is the sigma
for n sweeping condemnation often
by those who know better.
In virtually every big city Of the
country men, and women Of more ol
less standing In the community are
prone to assume . smSg air Of wis
dom and to assert with conviction:
"You cant believe a word you read
in the newspapers"
IT has come to be quite the com.
mon thing with these volunteer cri-
tics not only TO disparage the press
In so far as concerns authenticity of
it's news. but likewise to impugn the
motives OF newspaper manasemcnrs
The most charitable thing they
find to say concerning the character
OF newspaper writers in general rs:
"oh. we'll; you can't blame the re-
portcrs so much. they have to write
what they're told by the men IA
charge
II statements OF this sort came
from ignorant people and reflected
only the attitude OF the uniformed
II would be folly to take cognisance
OF them. Unfortunately this is not
the case.
Bankers. lawyers. brokers. mer-
chants. railroad officials. politicians.
society womel. ministers Of the gos.
pei. steamship officials. ana others
who pride themselves on their prob
ity and personal integrity. too fire.
quently do not hesitate to lie incon-
tinently TO the newspapers,
a rumor reaches q newspaper or
flee to the effect that a bank mer:
ger Is TO be contaminated. A re-
porter is sent TO ascertain the facts.
Does the bank president admit the
truth - tha ruvunr hut ask that
for business reasons. the matter be
not made public for few days!
lie does not. He tells the reporter
there Is no truth In the rumor. A
few days later the deal goes through
and-thc newspaper knows the bank
president lied.
A public official grants sn inter-
view. In which he makes certain
statements. The next day political
or other pressure is brought TO bear.
Does he come out In the open and
admit his mistake or his change OF
heart? He does not. He promptly
repudiates the interview OF the day
before and--,he reporter knows he
lied.
A society matron's daughter be-
comes engaged TO a prominent man,
but the family Is not ready TO make
the announcement. Does the society
matron tell the truth and ask that
the matter be kept quiet for few
days? She does not. She pretends
surprise and denies there is any
foundation for the rumor. The fol-
lowing week the announcement is
made and---the society editor knows
the woman has prevaricated.
Soft goes on down the line. Peos
pie who would not think of deceiv-
Ing business associates. people wh1
woulS scorn to resort to untruth or
in ordinary affsirss men
and omen whose word literally Is
as gqtd as their bond In fin1ncial
mattsrsv-thsse are thespeopJe for
lhe Most part. who have no com
FUNCTIONS of conscience about delib-
erately lying to a newspaper repre-
The remarkable feature OF the
is that the very persons
Who so carelessly handle the truth
when talking to a newspaper repre-
sentative are the first to raise
iowl over the pnreliability and in
accuracy OF the press.
Every newspaper reporter in the
country knows his job Is not worth