Imperial Valley press., 1930-02-21
FRANkNESs WITH REPORTERS PAYS


Notnlns Is more Irritating to newspaperman than
the withholding OF news information, particularly
on the part of public officials and especially when the
news is something the public is entitled to know
such suppression is due perhaps to the false impress
sion which many people have derived of newspaper
ing the fourth estate
The old picture of the newspaper reporter taking ev
erythng that comes his way and putting it into print
regardless OF what it is and what concerns is as dead
as Labrador herring. Particularly is this true out
side metropolitan areas
on smaller papers much consideration is given to the
eI1ect story may have the individual concerns on
Ine puDllc morals and the good of the community
flaying up story to make person appear ridc-
uous or rakng up ancient history that does no good to
anyone, is paSse
IN other words both reporter and editor mass onid
cradle Judgment upon a story before II annoorn u;
;.: Iney are concerned primarily with getting and
piItg the facts and letting the embellishments a,ore
II IS When an effort is made to conceal nou,s - I;
reporter feels he is entitled that he becomes ;4
t. ing IL and being only human he resents tbe o.
tba e oe 10 deceive him. He is certain to do 50 if
e news concerns public officials or inforno W 30
h -. kenefa pucllc is entitled to know And if Tho ~
4; zen opened tor other papers to obtain the INFORM
might -wrathy about it. "i"hy leels
success is not founded so much unon hi;
sn ~ mI,Ie or TO gather news it is upon the conf
comes ; onnta 20 MN oy the people with whom he
,f, ~ contact He is trained never to betrav con
ueice ana no minister physician or LAWYER can loon
a secrel sec better than newspaperman ~ N'op
ms 1aet is recognized by business leaders and r
oiaihg nign public office. They realize that the n
,aperman Is entitled to the utmost considera+io, 80
ia lahKness with him is the best policy to nurSue
ivy nave Information which is not vet ready for nub
catc' they make known to the newspa and
'h n TO hold 1t confidential until such time a they
iIleese IT, mat confidence must be respected nv the
man and breaking it is the surest way for
nm to begin looking for another lob -O-
Equally confidential to the newspapernan ,ro +bo
o ms information, especially if revealing the
dehy OF his informant is likely to cause troubie for
tle HIoTnler Recently three newsnapermon served
JA, sentences In Washington for holding fast TO this
Iuie VI thelr PROFESSION Last summer another news
apernan defled the entire United States senate when
AZ oolaileo aVotlng list of senators on secret ballot
ho refused TO tell the Of his information The
b beiaee couId not make him reveal it. and his action
ofoke gov" custom that had existed since the govern
nent was founded. It resulted in modification of the
senate rules SO that the public night know how it's rep
resentatlves voted on matters of public interest
Inc fTess makes an earnest effort to live up at ali
tles 10 the ethics and ideals of the profession and if
strongly resents efforts the part of public officials
70 conceal or withhold which if believes the public
is entitled to know. 80
1hs week it was supplied with information concern
ing valley citizen much in the public eye at present
whlch Weuld not have done him nor anyone else anv
sooo and might have caused him considerable embar
lassnent had%lt been published The nforna-
tion was not printed though it would not have
oeen llbeious to do So Again local citizen
INFORMED US OF project that is to develop short
~ ana asked that nothing be said until he released the
information Nothing has been printed on it nor will
IL De until the citizen says to go ahead
Inc pubic official or the citizen in public life who
refuses to treat reporter with consideration and
1rankness, makes mistake. There always comes a
time when they need the newspaperman and the latter
cannot be blamed II ne eXerciss human frailtv and
refuses TO forget that he has been mistrcatcd