Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07

definition of news as that which
is unusual, and his classic ex-
ample of man biting dog is
still the best appraisal of news,
in the opinion of most American editors.
In Soviet Russia, however, news stand
ards are different. There man may
bite dog in public and yet remain OBJ
scure in the newspapers. However,
should physician in his private office
attend well dressed patient out of his
turn while workingman is waiting in
his reception room the "Rabkor" will be
quick to learn of the fact, public atten-
ton will be called to the counter
revolutionary tendencies of the medicine
man and the newspapers will play up
the story.
The "Rabkor" is a reporter at large.
He is one of an army of 100000 men
and women who daily keep the Russian
press informed of the important hap
penings in the big cities and small VII
lagos of the vast empire of the Soviets.
One metropolitan daily in Moscow
has 10000 Rabkors on its staff: the
Peasants Gazette has $4,000; nearly
$4,000 Rabkors cover every branch of
the army and navy for the press. In
the editorial Offices Of one Moscow
newspaper not less than 140 men are
engaged in rewriting the letters which
are received daily from Rabkors to make
their copy legible for the printer Os-
tensibly the Rabkor is the friend Of the
workingnnan and the protector Of the
farmland against their common ex-
sxa Iffxr de- - 1an
Communist party. eyes which look after
its members and watch their conduct
in office. He Is news reporter and a
secret service man in one.
Are Friends Of Workers.
In the factories the Rabkors are re-
spected by the wcrkingmen and de-
spised by the superintendent; in the
village the Rabkor Is looked upon as
a sleuth and informer. Nevertheless,
poor, illiterate peasants come to him
with complaints and he airs their
grievances.
The Rabkor is comparatively new
Institution In Russia. He is child of
the revolution. born in political ex-
pediency and desire for self-criticisrn.
The idea of self-criticism originated
with the Communist party as a means
Of combating the charges made by its
enemies abroad that under the COM
munist dictatorship the voice of Russian
labor is stified and criticism suppressed,
as in the days of the Gear. TO res
pudiate these assertions leaders of the
Communist party appealed to the peo-
! pie to write to the Communist press
letters Of criticism, not sparing even the
highest officials of the Soviets.
The appeal met with an immediate
success. Men and women responded by
| the thousands. They liked to see their
names printed and authority chal-
| lenged. The newspapers liked it, too:
| It brought them new readers. Al wave
| of criticism swept all over the Russian
press and gave birth to new army
Of reporters. They were christened
Rabkors, meaning rabtchihi korespond-
erat, or labor reporter
The Rabkor Is now an integral part
of every Russian newspaper: his serv-
ices are indispensable; many neWspa-
Fpers have established travelling schools
Of workingmerl, and peasants flock to
these schools. Indeed, the Rabkor in
dustry Is now one of the most thriving
In the Soviet Union, and possibly the
only one free from income tax, because
J It carries no income to Its workers.
The eject Of the Rabkor on the pub