Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-18
Americans Grid Globe to Obtain News
Of World for U. S., Told Without Bias
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Continued From Third Page)
its contracts for exchange of news with
Reuters, Havas, Wolf and other lead
ing agencies Of the world. From So
papers at the time Of its organization
it has grown to be a cooperative asso-
citation of 1926 daily newspapers. 1t is
one Of the worlds most conspicuous CO.
operatives. It Is not operated for profit
and has no capital stock. Its organiza-
ton is similar to that Of a gentleman's
club and its annual expenditure Of
nearly $40 10000 is apportioned among
its members according 20 the possibili-
ties Of the field in which their papers
are located.
The United Press and International
News Service came into the United
States field later. They both are cper-
ated on commercial lines. In other
Press merely exchanges news. Each
member paper of the organization
pledges itself to supply the news of its
own locality in exchange for the news
supplied by other members. The report
Of the Associated Press Is controlled by
its members through officers they elect.
It's member papers are of all political,
religious and economic beliefs and con-
sequently facts and not opinions are set
forth in Associated Press dispatches.
U. S. Papers Change Policy.
The impetus given news collection
by the telegraph and the cable was fol-
lowed by the spur Of telephone, radio
and wireless telephone. And now nearly
all ships at sea and in the air are with
in almost instantaneous communication
with news agencies. News photographs
now are clicked across the Atlantic.
Makers OF newspaper machinery have
kept pace with the scientists who have
speeded up communicative. with the
result that readers must wait only a
few minutes for bulletin news of out
standing importance from Europe.
With the rapid improvement in trans
mission facilities and the development
OF equipment for speedy and extensive
newspaper production newspapers pass
ed into the realm Of big business and
intensive organization became necessary
all along the line. Papers Of Importance
ceased to be mere organs of some politi-
cal group and sought a broader fol-
lowing. This change in the policy Of
american papers became noticeable
about IS years ago, but has been es-
pecially marked in the last 80 years
Meantime the American public schools
were creating newspaper readers by the
millions and extensive illustration and
popular features attracted the attention
Of a public which had little interest in
newspapers devoted largely to political
discussions. Papers began to record the
doiTys Of the people of all the world,
rather than the doings Of rulers, presi-
dents and political leaders.
Today 1t Is not unusual for the AsJo-
ciated Press to have 10000 word of
cable news in a day. The annual volume
of press news brought to the United
States from Europe by one important
cable company is 100000 words. This
figure is probably exceeded by the COM
bined file Of news carried by other cable
and radio companies.
The volume of news between Europe
and the United States is at least twice
as great as the amount Europe receives
from this country. With three general
news agencies and scores Of special cor
respondents Of American newspapers
pouring dispatches into the United
States from European capitals. Aneri-
can newspaper readers are offered a
great variety Of dispatches on outstand-
ing European news situations.
Americans Eliminate Bias.
American correspondents in Europe
who devote their entire time to serving
news to the United States for outnum-
Der the European correspondents in the
United States, and for the most part
important European news filters through
the hands of American citizens before
II is filed to the United States which
insures to considerable degree the elimi-
nation of matter with European bias.
All the bureaus of the Associated
Press at important foreign capitals are
headed by American-tr aimed newspaper
men with American citizenship. Most
of the bureau staff members as well are
Americans. Associated Press dispatches
concerning the League of Nations are
organization carries concerning repara-
tions from Berlin or foreign debt settle
mentS from Paris Is prepared by Ameri-
cans and freed as far as humanity pos
sible from possible foreign prejudice.
It has been my privilege to know
many of the correspondents of other
American news agencies and of impor-
tant American newspapers in the lead
ing European capitals. They are Ameri-
cans for the most part, and good Ameri-
cans who make an earnest effort, in my
opinion, to keep their fellow-country-
men accurately informed about Euro
pean affairs.
This large corps of trained American
observers is of prime importance to
American affairs. 1t would be folly to
pretend that the news the United States
gets from Europe is without flaw. HUI
man endeavor can never be free from
error. Much of the news from Europe
may seem trite to specialists who are
interested only in universal disarma-
!nent or reparations payments. But
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