The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-04-04
Publicity and Air Accidents

In dealing with . newspaper reporter. nobody ever lost
anything by being fair, frank and candid. The primary
purpose Of the press Is to print the news as quickly and
correctly as possible. and the more assistance that is given
q reporter the more chances he will have to state the
facts correctly In his story.
Aviation executives, after q long period Of trying to
clamp down an immediate lid Of censorship and secrecy
whenever an airplane accident occurs are now being
called to task by one Of their own number. He is Charles
A.. Rheinstrom, general traffic manager for the Thomp-
son Aeronautical Corporation Of Cleveland and Detroit.
His company is one Of the biggest passenger carriers In
the nation.
w believe We are safe in saying that newspapers
have done more for aviation than has the industry itself
in the matter Of making the public air reminded" writes
MI. Rheinstrom in the current issue Of Aviation. How
else could Iindberrhs flight to Paris have focused the
eyes of the nation on aviation had there not been news
papers to carry accounts Of his marvellous feat?'
Turning to the newspapers treatment Of arplane ac-
cidents. Mr.. Rheinstrom goes on:
Remembering the cooperation and worthwhile pub
licity the. news papers have and are continuing to give
aviation. are We right when We say that they are unfair
to aviation?
I'm our opinion we are not right in saying they dhe
nevspapers) have been unjust in their treatment Of &C.
cidents. An accident story is news. just as is the story
Of some outstanding feat. The newspapers have always
printed the facts Is they found them. And if inaccur-
acies have crept into some Of the stories it is the fault
Of those Of us In the industry. $50.
have had dealings with many newspaper men and
reporters Not one that we have ever known has been
malicious or would write an Intentionally ~derogatory
statement about anyone without it being absolutely war
wanted. There are few professions with a stricter code
of ethics !. Hence, II one makes 1t . point to treat
the reporter fairly. he is bound to do the same for you.'
The same goes for newspaper cameramen, he adds.
MI. Rheinstrom closes with this bit of advice:
IAN operator is hurting rather than helping himself
and the aviation industry when he makes a deliberate
attempt to hide the facts and to prevent publication OF
the account Of q ~crack-up. To keep an airplane accident
out Of the papers is impossible. And the quicker all Of
us realize this and help the newssathers acquire the cor
rect information. the better 1t will be for all concerned"
49,
On behalf Of the newspaper fraternity, we desire to
thank Mr.. Rhe6nstrom for stating the facts clearly and
fairly.
The aviation industry has no greater sympathizer,
friend and supporter than the daily newspaper. Yet. the
newspaper has its obligation to its readers. It must
print the news-all the news. It cannot chronicle ayia-
tions achievements and ignore its occasional nisfortunes
and Be fair to its subscribers.
The public realizes that occasional airplane accidents
are inevitable. just as are railroad wrecks and steam
ship disasters. Many Of them. Of course. are unavoid-
able. But In any case. when . cloud Of secrecy Is thrown
around IN airplane accident and information l. refused
It raises the suspicion In the public mind that somebody
has been criminally negligent /. . . that somebody has
something to hide.