The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-04-11
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This Rock
1S-s%7zh
Of Our"
BY BILL GLIB


ed an anonymous bill which
would subject newspapers, and
other publications 10 Regulation
BY the state" The bill is sifmlar
% various ones Governor Herman
Palmadge attempted tpsepass in
Georgia with the object iptNiew OF
controlling POLITICAL critIcism.S
1t isn't likely that anya man in
Tallahassee feels that he isl big
shot" enough Ito tackle such a
fundamental principle. of dfr gov
eminent as Freedom Of the Press.
The public is too aWaFesof, the
act that government Of the peo-
Die, by the people, and for the
people" is possible onlyxas long
IS newspapers remain free of re-
'trictions. The first move usually
made by a dictator is to silence
he press. %%Y
There is strict code Of gethics
allied the Canons of federalism
t was adopted in 1923 by the
American Society of Newspaper
Editors. When l went to school,
We were required to memorize
,hese Canons as an added insur-
lnce that they would remain with
is. They became as much a part
If our life as the Hippocratic oath
becomes incorporated into the
physicians life. i+1 ...ss
Item S. Canons Of Journalism:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 'prac-
tice makes clear distinction be-
tween news reports and expires
sions of opinion. News reports
should be free from opinion or
bias of any kind. This rule does
not apply to so-called special
articles enthusiastically devoted
to advocacy or characterized by
a signature authorizing the
writer's own conclusions and
Interpretation.
The latter part of the above
item is what an unethical politi-
ian objects to. He is afraid Of
any man who has an opinion and
he nerve to speak it out.
Columnists have entered the
picture of American journalism
since 1929. Completely of modern
politics, business, and life in gen.
eral has created a need for the
news to be interpreted In much
he same way, medicine has
broken down its field from the
general practioneer to specialists
who deal with only certain phases
of medicine. st.* II rs
Effectually gag your colamnists
and you will still get straight
news reports, but they won't pro-
vide you with a complete picture.
For every line the columnist
writes, he could supply chapter
If off-the-record material, study
and work. Besides the Canons OF
Journalism, most newspaper men
and women subscribe to and be-
iieve in The Journalists Creed
written by Walter Williams of the
University of Missouri Due to
| shortage of space. / VIII quote
only its final paragraph
l believe that the journalism
which succeeds best-and best
deserves success-fears God and
honors man; is stoutlY independ-
cnt. unmoved by pride of opin-
ion OF greed of power. con-
structive. tolerant but never
careless. self-controlled. patient.
always indignant at injustice: is
unswaYed by the appeal of priv
ilese or the clamor of the mob:
seeks to give everYs man a
chance and. as far as law and
honest wage and recognition of
human brotherhood can make it
so. an equal chance: is pro-
foundry patriotic while sincere
lY promoting international good
viii and cementing wozlH COM
Eadeship: is q journalism of
humanity. Of and Tor tcdaY's
world. 8
As said at the beginning of
this column, lido not think any
of our politicians have the nerve
or the power to seriously contest
Freedom of the Press. But it is
interesting to note and to re-
member that such an idea is be-
ing entertained. The newspapers
have simply exposed too much
crime and graft on the part of
politicians. If the present pub
licity continues, it's going to be
hard for a crooked politician to
make a dishonest dollar. Rather
an unheard of thing here in the
U. S.