The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
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u Luc7us 1Nelanchou Zones I9g II
Earl Brown, Amsterdam News Managing
Editor Fired For LIFE Story On Joe
Louis, Victim Of "T00 Drastic Action"
M Luuus Melanohozy Zones

YOU PROBABLY reac che exhaustive eight-page fea
ture Joe Louis in June issue Of LIFE magazine written
by Earl Brown then managing editor of the New York AM
STERDAM NEWS who worked his way through Harvard
and graduated there in 1924 later attaining his Masters
degree
The feature was the result of collaboration of Brown
LIFE candid cameraman, and CoManager John Roxbor
ough the Joe Louis staff in the atters Detroit home
required days to corral the details of the
national feature and Mr. R0XbOrOugh extended Brown the
hospitality of his home during the period required for
petion of the material for publication
1t is understood agreement existed between Mr.
Roxborough the LIFE colaborators that upon compile
tion of the feature manuscript would be sent to him for his
personal censorship.
1t develops according to Mr. Roxborough the promise
of bis censorship not kept The time he the
material he states, in the magazine after its pubca-
tiOn.
Failure to permit Mr. Rozborough the courtesy of
sorshp indeed grevous error because matters
turned out the prominent Detroit lawyer claims faith was
broken with him. that he double by Mr. Brown,
and that many halftruth plain ies appeared in the
article constructed by the newspaperman
Mr.. ROxbOrOugh INDIGNANT and, according infOr
nation, insisted Brown had deliberately written with
toward sensationaizng his material and thereby ncreas
ing its commercial value to his particular client
In his charge Mr. Roxborough may be right Certain
~ deny he was entitled to see the material in
finished form prior to its publication if that the agree
ment.
thing freedom of the that the affairs Joe
Louis like those of any other nationally eminent person in
the American spotlight are public property.
1t would have been good taste for Brown to keep his
material uplifting in nature, especially il of his being
q member of the his subject But the
paperman insists Mr. Roxborough 'has wrong thinking
my intentions weren't the very best Brown admits using
many facts he didn't through Mr. Roxoroughs
operation the Detroit visit.
Mr.. Brown, far be learned has been offered
opportunity for defending his position Pressure brought
about through Mr. RoxbOroughs wounded feelings has
suited in firing of the newspaperman.
The drastic action the writer's curiosity to
thorough and detailed ereadng of Mr. Browns elaborate
treatise Joe Louis This observer, cannot to save his
has with his IN
formation.
One cannot deny discretion is the better part of vaor
and that Often is virtue to leave unsad certain things
But the column has yet to dscOver-and Mr. ROxbOrOugh
until ye has not shOwnany specific case of error or mis-
information 1t Mr. ROxbOrOughs charge in the main
concerns motives He alleges Mr. Browns motives were not
the very best In view Mr. Browns claim that he meant
no harm to the reputation of Louis his handlers
the rival positions would entte the newspaperman chance
to defend or prove his contentious.
Certainly, the burden of proving Mr. Browns motives
weren't the very best should be borne by Mr. Roxborough
Just what the statements that are implications or in
situations upon the character of the subjects?
Mr.. Brown does inappropriatey use the term "pick-
annny in referring to Joe Louis humble birth in LAFAYETTE
Alabama the of parents But to observer
that was Browns of depicting from how meagre to
how exalted place the Brown Bomber ascended
Just about everything the writer observed about Mr.
Browns article seemed to him the wrer) essentially
rect 1t debatabe issue to this observer as
whether Mr. Browns motives not good because he
fails to detect damaging statements at ALL In saying
Louis spraws the eating table, and like Mack
truck Mr. merely figures speech to make
more effective narration.
Until light upon the entire matter comes this
remains the unaterabe opinion of the column
Earl Brown has been made the goat in the whole matter
Naturally, holding such view, the thinks action
against Brown too drastic
Mr. Electromagnetic anyone ese-wOuld have difficult
time trying prove to the writer Earl Brown
tempted anything other than exhaustive, truthful and
uncomprOmising view of the world heavyweight boxing
champion and the personalities of his pugstc sphere If
he elected to do this by inserting both the pleasante and
the unpeasantres, the sweets and the bters WE'LL
impartial might readily exercised that
inalienabe right known the freedom of the press
newspaperman must, of course have discretion and
common but he must also have moral and
fearessness to present the truth Joe Louis is model
champion and model gentleman, but he has minor
flaws Also We all do A true biography presents all the
facsreaes all the traits just the virtues Mr. Brown