Evening star., 1935-12-30
PRESS CENSORSHIP
DISCUSSED BEFORE
TEACHERS GROUPS
Joint Convention Is Told
Also of Propaganda
News Domination.
A. p. OFFICIAL DESCRIBES
REPORTING MECHANICS
Mackenzie Declares Correspond.
ents are Rhodes Scholars of
American Journalism.

Foreign censorships, propaganda
and domination of the press in some
foreign countries were discussed today
at the convention of the American
Association of Schools and Depart
ments of Journalism and the Ameri-
can Association of Teachers of Jour-
naliSm.
De Witt Mackenzie, director of the
Associated Press foreign service, de-
scribed the mechanics of foreign news
gathering and transmission. Some OF
his observations we're:
That foreign representatives Of the
Associated Press and other American
news services and newspapers are 'ths
Rhodes scholars of American Journal
ISM" high standards being necessary
because correspondents abroad are not
only reporters but, in a sense, "am-
basSadorS" Of their countries.
Officials Close With News.
That many foreign officials require
personal acquaintance with CORE
spondents before they will give in
formation
That to many officials abroad "all
affairs are private that do not fall
into the propaganda class"
That there is very little place" for
women in the field Of foreign CORE
spondence, due to the conservatism G:
European officials.
Mackenzie said the Associated Press
had experienced trouble with censor
ship in only few countries. Even in
Russia, he said, strict censorship is
exercised only on news of military Sc
crets and of matters that might be
dangerous to the security of the state.
Italian Muzzled Press Cited.
Seymour Berkson, managing editor
and director Of Universal Services
foreign division, said Italy presented
a fine example Of how a muzzled
press can be used to stir up senti-
ment for war, although the popula-
ton has no actual taste for war"
Mussolini. he told his audience. is de-
termined to make his people colony
conscious"
Berkson said Mussolini, the states
man, is very much entwined with
MuSsolini the journalist" He read
from II Duce's orders to newspaper
editors, instructing them what was to
be played up and what eliminated.
Leland Stowe of the New York
Herald Tribune foreign staff indicated
belief press handling of the war
debt question did much to prevent
settlement of the issue.
Foreign correspondents sometimes
permit themselves to be used" Stowe
said. Stories were written, he charged,
to serve the interests of the American
delegation to the reparations confer
ence.
Economic interpretations Discussed.
Editorial Interpretation of economic
problems was discussed by Miss Anna
Youngman of the Washington Post,
and Vernon Mckenzie, University Of
Washington Journalism School. men,
toned examples of how a regiment
ed press could be used as an instru-
ment for peace or war.
Other addresses scheduled for today,
the last day of the four-day conven-
ton, included one by Mrs. Eleanor
Medill Patterson, editor of the Wash
ington Herald; Walter Howey. editor
Of the New York Daily Mirror: Jack
Price. editor Of Price News Pictures,
Inc, New York, and Mrs. Laura
Vitray, Sunday editor of the WASH
ington Post, were to participate in a
discussion of New Trends in News
Pictures"
The convention will be concluded
with an election of officers and Sc
lection Of next years meeting place.