Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-03
Your Press in Action

,,EUSpA PEP readers have noted many times during
~ the present war that the names of ne~spapermen'
reporters and photographers often well known TO them'
The authoritative and informative trade publication,
Editor and Publisher has compiled some lhler'S''nS
and startling facts about this phase of the war
There are about $50 accredited newspapermen now
serving abroad with the American armed forces, reports
the magazine and Of this number al least oo nave peen
Ten Of these men are dead 26 have been wounded
% are captves and two are missing
The others have been victims OF accidents or disease
which Editor and Publisher with good reason includes
in the permanent record because they are properly con-
sdered as press casualties.
ONCE this discoses casualties among newspapermon
y Of nearly 20 per out Of the total in service and
the proportion Of casualties the armed services is tess
than per cent the sacrifices and hazards attending the
gathering Of news are emphasized
The American reading public will not fail to see in
this proof Of the efficiency and courage and OF the
LOYALTY and great value. of the American press
The most casual reader understands that the great
volume Of adequate and authoritative war news assembled
BY newspapers represents enormous cost and effort.
OF course the majority of American newspaper
readers casual readers, but are ntehgent ana
thorough readers and are accustomed having adequate
news coverage of important events and INSIST on
having It.
Hence the reading public not merely understands
the tremendous time and resources required TO
sustain the fronts Of the but APPRECIATES It,
THE further evidence now at hand that the cost of
| war news must be measured in LIVES lends
significance TO the press free institution serving free
people.
In this war obviously, the free American press is
making the greatest contribution in terms of service to
the essential fund Of public knowledge and information
about the
And in addition. the free American press Is making
its greatest sacrifice TO preserve a free country
This is in keeping with the best traditions of the
press.
In all the wars in which American fighting men have
participated and especially in abroad American
newspapermen have shared their difficulties and dangers
in order keep the people at home Informed about the
progress conflict about the heroic deeds Of gallant
men, about their hardships and needs.
y ALL wars newspapermen among the casualties.
This exception, now have learned. and.
in fact being conducted completely and faithfully
in the tradition Of the press 1t is being fought success
fully and glorousy in the tradition Of the armed forces
The American people should reflect this, in their
appraisal Of the free press institution both worthy
Of them and essential to them.
THE people often hear misrepresentation and dspar-
l acements of the press usually by politicians and
bureaucrats whom free press IS an ANNOYANCE and
inconvenience and frequently source of embarrassment
and exposure
But the American press has proved itself in this
to be free and loyal institution rendering It's best serV
ices under all the conditions of sacrifice and peril
countered by fighting men, eXpendnG its resources
TO maintain those vital sorvicesand eXpendng the very
lives of competent and brave men TO maintain them.
The war has barred many truths to the American
peOple few truths essential to the enlightened
freedom of the people themselves than that revealing the
contributions of free press to free nation.