Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1950-10-05
Nofjonol Newspaper Week


Emphasis during National Newspaper Week, October
to- will be on services performed by the newspaper
for its readers and its community Slogan of the 1850
observation will be American Newspapers to
Free People"
1--WE hear great deal about freedom of the press
AND of ALL the liberties protected by the Bill of
Rights important than the right to print
and circulate news, advertising and editorials any
subject that the editor thinks the public should know
about 1t hard for us to realize that other countries
the press cannot attack disease sums gambling rackets
and corrupt legislatures.
I'D like to quote few paragraphs from the Mary
land Press Association Bulletin the subject of Free
dom of the Press -
Liberty is not in laws it is in men, in their ira
dtons in their breeding in their blood Liberty is part
of the Cosmc Urgethe eternal and unrestricted quest
for truth and bettermen In the battle for progress
your newspaper editors have given the people much
wisdom and comfort as school teachers or the clergy
Your editors are always sentry duty constantly
guarding the rights of the people against all encroach
ments of subversve interests pressure groups and pot
cal highbnders From the great metropolitan daes to
the smallest agricultural weekly, there code of ethics
and honesty among publishers that shames many of
their more pretentious associates
"'Your editors fight predigested propaganda they
combat warfare, they believe that public opinion
will drive on the right side of the right road if you show
them the way. Newspaper editors put the pop in vox
popu and abbed the sense into the CENSOR says the
bulletin.
Are weekly newspaper editors kidding ourselves
when speak of the influence WELD by editor
als? believe to great extent that are-that
stories well written, unbiased carrying factual nforma
ton-truth which to base intelligent public opinion
-s the greatest service render readers. Of
course, must fight to maintain the dignity of the
individuaE6ght the encroachment of government in
this paternastic ageand look out for the little
with the little business. But believe that people of
today prefer to make their decisonsthat they do
sounds like heresy to of my fellow editors
Each paper, to some extent, has its rules of
ethics and good tastefor instance is the policy of the
Sentinel not to embarras advertisers people who
are in the meght by asking them to sponsor religious
pages, page ads for savings bond drives anything
Of similar nature. 1t is entirely against the Sentinel
nQ nnn nonp m an ntciHn For 10
As said before each paper has its set of ethics,
some written, some unwritten
'The American people enjoy poitics-one of their
favoe sports to criticize their government national
state county and surely nowhere in the nation
are people more poitca-mnded than here in Montgom-
cry County We all freely exercise right to criticize
mot always in the formal editorial Most of the county
editors have column in which from time to time
they give friendly pat the back to favorite little
dig in the ribs to another the saying goes they
skin the opposition and dry his hide on the fence of
publicity.
hostile newspapers are more to be feared than thou
sand bayonets? Oscar Wilde said, In the old days
had the rack-now they have the press
Our publisher reminds his staff from time to time
that freedom of the press is obligation well
privilege-whie under freedom of the press enjoy
full privilege of giving expression any public question
or about any public official We also legally respon-
sibe for our expression and be proceeded against
through the courts-therefore we must be careful as
to criticize comments from selfish standpoint alone
We, must be absolutely and completely fair big
order, don't you think?
AS we told you last year In the hrSt OF The Editor
Speaks" broadcasts the weekly newspaper field is not
one in which to gain financial riches. However it is
rich in service contacts and experience and rich in oppor
tuntes to do something worth while for respective
communities. Mr.. Stromberg the present of the
Sentinel who State Senator from Howard County,
says No business profession provides greater oppor
tunes to practice the Biblical Injunction of charity
X I'm summing up: We believe an editor should APP
pfoach his newspaper work from an dealistc stand
pointwe should recognize that the primary function of
newspaper is the dissemination of informaton-the
subscriber is the person who is entitled to primary
sderation-one subscriber multiplied by many is
our stock in trade-our circulation.
THE Stromberg publications have been built on an
attitude of service to the subscriber 1t is true from
financial standpoint that the two dollars per year sub
scripton price provides only small percentage of the
gross income. Yet advertising income which is the
major source of revenue based entirely the list of
Subscribers 1t is better for u.s. feel to please