The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-09
Freedom Of Press Must Be Guarded
Hartford Times Editor, Charles C. Hemenway, Gives Bromley Foundation Lecture at Yale Today

Ia part of the modern challenge to the press, that it shall preserve its own character in the face of condi- tions that bewilder the world and stampede it in a thousand direc- tions; that it shall forfeit neither its right nor its ability to lead"
 Not only do newspapers reflect changing conditions, report oiscov- cries and innovations, but they themselves have launched upon many avenues of experimentation, he said.
 "Novel and bizarre typographical arrangements proclaim some of them to the casual observer. The informal picture, the novel arrange ment of type, the gossip and poli- tical column, presentation of in- innate news and more intimate il- 1ustrations, increased resort to so- called human interest, the personal touch in writing, all reflect the great effort to be bright and to be interesting as they also reflect the pace of life with which the news paper is trying to keep up.
 'It is the age of youth, in news papers as elsewhere. Gone are the long years of apprenticeship before young man could be regarded as competent reporter, the even longer years before he could be en- trusted to write headline, to say nothing of assuming executive au- thority. The star reporter whose qualification was that he knew the town and everyone in it and whose acquaintance and contacts were such that he could get to the bot tom of any story no matter how assiduously the facts were concealed is no longer the star reporter.
 "The stars of today are the young men, and also the young women, with flair for writing and an un- quenchable enthusiasm for the ex- citement of newspaper work. They may know little about their town and indeed little about newspaper work, but they can take a prosaic item and make literary gem out of it."
 The competition to attract atten- tion has led many newspapers into practices which MT. Hemenway be- lyieves are not "wise," He de- nounced the candid camera which more often shows man as he usually isn't".
 "The subject, perhaps he ought to be called the victim, may be caught gulping down a mouthful of food. His face may be half hidden by the hand raise dto his lips. What is there realistic about such picture? How much does it convey as to the mans real appearance as he moves about in his daily busi- ness? Yet it seems to be great shot if a man can be caught with his face screwed into a grotesque grimace.
 "A public man of national prom thence dozes at congressional hear ing and the picture showing him asleep appears in every paper in the lanl. I do not believe there is any, thing i'll the obligation of news paper to print the news completely an dtruthfully, and to illustrate 1t in telling fashion, which warrants pillorying the ordinary citizen in 8 photograph any more than it would be done in print"
 MT. Hemenway warns that if this continues to the point where no citizen anywhere has any right to privacy, those few who believe that there ought to be some restric- tions" on the press will gain re- cruits.
 Criticism of some newspaper practices which result when zeal and enthusiasm outrun balance and judgment is not to be taken as sigh for return of the good old days The present days in journ- alism are definitely better than the old. Since the last presidential campaign some have questioned if newspapers have not lost their in- fluence. The discussion is profit less. One may prove whatever he will from analysis of figures. A newspaper may not always carry every point for which it contends. There is plenty of evidence that newspaper influence is still an im- portant factor in public opinion"