Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1950-02-10
DISPL AGED EDITORS PUBLISHING
y PAPERS IN u. S. GERMAN ZONE

keep covered with printers ink
prompts the publication of q
newspapers and magazines by dis
placed persons in the u. S. Zone
of Germany alone, the Internal
ional Refugee Organization (IRO)
here reports. The papers and mag
azines have a total circulation of
72,25O and are directed to readers
of IL nationalities.
AS recently as year ago, refu-
gee editors were turning out &c
newspapers and magazines, quite
professional in appearance-and
a long step from the mineograph-
ed camp bulletins issued shortly
after liberation. Several months
ago, the rate of resettlement OF
subscribers and staff led to the
termination of some publications
and the consolidation of others, so
that only 35 appeared, with a
total circulation of 100000.
Refugee journalists have had a
hard time of it-despite some
material support, first from the
United Nations Relief and Re-
habiliation Administration and
later from IRO, a Nnited Nations
Specialized Agency.
An initial problem was to find
type and typesetters for news
papers printed in Estonian, ArmeS
nian, Kalmook, Russia, Slovenian,
Hebrew, Hungarian and many
other languages, Stocks of news
print were uncertain and expen-
sive, until IRO and some of the
voluntary aid agencies contrib
uted the major portion used.
Transportation for gathering
journeys was scarce. The cost of
news services was prohibitive.
Licensing regulations of the Oc-
cupation Authorities limited the
number of papers which could ap-
pear in any given nationality
group, as well as the contents of
such publications. Office space and
housing were difficult to obtain
when editors sought to bring staffs
together from various parts of
the zone.
After currency reform, difficult
ties piled up until editors feared
they would all have to cease op-
erations. The newspaper lost
their sayings, built up mostly from
subscriptions. German authorities
sought to in pose taxes, printing
shops increased their charges and
the cost of transportation even
for SO kilometer trip became ex-
orbitant.
referring to these problems, one
of the Latvian publishers noted
that "the publishing of DIP news
papers has been handicapped by
difficulties absolutely unknown to
any publishers in normal count
rieS."
Subsequently, as resettlement
opportunities opened up in various
lands, DIP journalists faced an
other problem-tlfat of morale.
They turned their columns more
and more to news of new lands,
SO that their readers would be
better prepared to make the ad-
justment when they were resettled.
But more and more, they realized
that their own resettlement
chances were limited by the same
ban on brains" which affected
other refugee professionals-ua-
less they were willing-and many
enrolled in vocational training
schools to learn skills such as auto
mechanics, clothing manufacture,
farming.
In the circulation heyday, edi-
tors published regular newspa-
pers and new magazines, as we'll
as religious magazines, women's
publications. In addition, the pub
fishers were usually textbooks
written by DPS to be used in
schools run by DPS.
Early in 1947, the editors band
cd together to pool their problems
in an Association of Authorized
DIP Publishers. Later, with the
help of the Association, IRO laun-
ched monthly press conferences
with DIP editors. 1t was thought
that refugee editors would well
come the change to quiz IRO Of
ficialS on matters relating to
everyday care and maintenance
problems as we'll as on future plans
settlement opportunities, restitu-
tion laws, workers rations and
the meaning of certain occupation
policy changes.
They did and they asked ques-
tions. They got no answers wheth-
crit had to do with why is it
that a goat was allowed to attack
an old man walking on hospital
grounds? or Are there labor
unions in Australia" or why is
it that German newspapers are
allowed to print anti-foreigner
stories and editorials,?" or What
will happen to the old and the
sick in refugee camps after IRO
ceases operations ?"
When the editors had grievan-
ces, real or imagined, they stated
them. When they had bouquets,
they tossed them during the press