The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-09
RADIO LISTENERS HEAR STORY OF
ASSOCIATED PRESS ORGANIZATION

Thousands of radio listeners
throughout North Dakota. and other
states in the middle and northwest
last night heard by radio the story
of the Associated Press, one of the
most stirring romances in modern
publishing history.
Speakers who went on the air from
KFYR, Bismarck; WCCO, .Minnea-
polls; WMAQ, Chicago; KSD. St.
Louis; WDAF, Kansas City; WOAW,
Omaha, and other stations, described
in detail the formation, growth
and method Of operation Of what has
come to be recognized as one of the
worlds greatest examples of success
full cooperative enterprise.
When the newspaper business was
new, the speakers outlined, pub
fishers found news gathering an
expensive proposition and depended
on forces of only few men to get
out their papers. Slow-going stcam-
ers brought budgets Of news from
Europe and one part of the world
knew little of life or conditions else
where. Before telegraph lines and
cables were constructed it was weeks
and even months before one section
Of the country learned Of an import
ant event in another part.
Even then. however. the "nose for
news" was working and alert news
papermen resorted to the use of car
rier pigeons to get their stories to
their offices ahead Of their COMPETE
tors.
Telegraph Helped
With the advent of the telegraph
however, newspapers found the trans.
mission Of news easier but it was
expensive. Large corps of correspond.
ents were expensive and telegraph
tolls were high. The New York news
papers, which now count as . beat
stories placed on the street minutes
or even seconds ahead Of their corr
petitors, first felt the pinch and sfw
the need of an agency to collect news,
both domestic and foreign.
They formed the first press ass6cia-
ton. The idea spread to the North
and South and was well received.
Publishers were glad to cooperate
in sharing what had been q big and
costly job.
The telegraph and cable Stimulate ]
interest in these news associations.
There were news associations in New
York, New England, thu South and
/ West which were pattSfne after the
original .organiza lion And exchanged
their news through Mutual agreement
the Foundation stone on which the
Associated Press is built.
But news knew no boundary line
and the needs ofall newspapers were
| too common toJpermit Of continuing
alone. IA ! natural result there de.
veloped the Associated Press rs it is
today, without any sectional qualifica.
tions in its name and covering every
state ia the union. Publishers re.
9srled It % . big achicvem mont, for il
brought together in instant touch
every state in the union and gave ia
America the prestige Of having the
First Thoroughly equipped machine
with which to exchange the happen.
ings Of this biggest Of world neigh.
bofhoods.
News Ii safeguarded
Early in the life Of the Associate
Press the newspaper publishers o,
the ctuntry who organized II, deter.
mined that news should be pure =,
the Source. They included some 3,
the kreatest men Of our century anG
tActE was no argument on that point
Otter things came up to test theiI
st4unchncss but they agreed that II
pews were not accurate tremendou.
| Injury could be done to the people
M6om they served.
Designing politicians or business,
men With pet schemes to foist upor
| the public might use such an prgani
xation Tor their selfish gain unles!
news Was safeguarded.
"Can you think Of anything Iior'
| destructive to the welfare 81 on
| country than that its eitixens sh0uls
have placed before them in thei
daily nswspapers false news ahop