St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-06-23

JOHN H. SENGSTACKE
ton at its annual meeting here this
week. Cecil E. Newman, Mime
sofa publisher, was elected to the
Associations executive board.
Other executive board members
are: Mrs. Robert L. Vann, PITTS
BURGH COURIER; W. o. Walker,
CLEVELAND CALL; L. E. Austin,
CAROLINA Durham, N. c.
TIMES, and ]. E. Mitchell of the
ST. LOUIS ARGUS.
Vice presidents reelected were:
Alexander Barnes, Washington, D.
c., eastern region; Frank L. STAN
ley, Louisville, Central region, Car
ter Wesley, western region and
C. A. Scott, Atlanta, southern re-
gion.
A new Pacific Coast region was
set up by the association, and Leon
H. Washington of the LOS ANGE-
LES SENTINEL was elected its
vice president.
Taking an active part in the con-
vention, Newman served on the i'm
portant committee which revised
the constitution and bylaws and as
convention sergeant-at-arms. He is
the first publisher of papers hav-
ing less than 1000 circulation to
be elected to a national office in the
Association.
Proposals were made during the
session to establish news agencies
for Africa and India and continue
plans for a nation wide Negro
press service to be supported by
member newspapers.
Association members voted to in
crease the service of its Washing
ton Bureau.
Advertising practices, the accep-
lance of certain types of advertis-
ing copy was a subject of discus
sion. A resolution was approved
urging Negro publishers to refuse
certain Objectionable types of copy.
The association plans to survey
factually for the first time the ex-
tent of the buyers market among
the 100000 Negroes of the ma
ton and to present the findings to
national advertisers. Many of the
publishers reported that they were
gradually squeezing the objection
able advertising by constantly in
creasing the rates, but it was gen.
orally conceded that the quality of
the advertising was not equal to
news presentation.
Because the circulation of Negro
newspapers has vastly increased
since the start of the war, the pub
fishers reported a two-fold circula-
ton problem. Most of the larger
papers have both metropolitan and
national circulation. The metro
politan distribution profile m /,
through newsstands, was gradual
ly being ironed out, they said, but
difficulties arose in distributing
their papers nationally because of
the lack of a clearing house for
passing on agents.
Recommendations for the ap-
pointment of a committee to meet
with publishers Of non-Negro news
papers were made by a panel group
which explored methods of channel
ing more factual news of Negro
affairs into the non-Negro news
papers. The feeling of the publish
ers was that Negro news in nom
Negro papers was mostly of a
stereotyped character, which was
perhaps due to the failure of the
Negro people to make other news
of their achievements more access
ible. It was recommended that a
committee of Negro publishers
meet with groups of non-Negro
publishers in all the metropolitan
centers on this question.
News Reports Improve
A great improvement in the
quality Of news reports involving
Negro members of the armed
forces was reported as the result
of the appointment by the Army
and Navy of Negro public relations
officers.
At a cocktail party given by the
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