Evening star., 1951-11-10
'N,IkRI|Eiityst'
Suppressionof
News Launched
Committee Set Up
BY D. c. and Maryland
A. P. Association

nent committee to combat Incl
dents Of news suppression in the
District and Maryland.
In voting to form the special
committee, the newsmen yesterday
registered specific oposition "to
all closed meetings. executive ses-
sions and 'off-the-record' remarks
by public officials and Government
agencies"
The action was taken at an all
day meeting of the association,
which is composed of executives
of Associated Press member news
papers and officials of the press
service from Maryland and the
District.
Instances Discussed.
Earlier, the group heard
lengthy discussion of specific in
stances of news suppression. The
speakers centered their talks on
problems of closed meetings by
local governmental groups, and
measures taken to open such ses-
sions to the press.
Former Gov. Lane of MARYLAND,
publisher of the Hagerstown CMd.)
Herald-Mail, pointed out that one
element in officials reluctance to
open their deliberations to the
public might be fear Of unfair
press reports.
To offset this. he said, news
papers should guarantee capable
and understanding" reporting of
the sessions.
Text of Resolution.
Text of the associations anti
suppression resolution follows:
Whereas, it is the unanimous
opinion of the Chesapeake Asso-
clation of the Associated Press
that there is a growing tendency
toward censorship in the United
States, and:
Whereas, it is also the unani-
nous opinion of the same group
that censorship is on the increase
in Maryland and District of Co
lumbia governmental agencies,
and; -
Whereas, there have been
numerous examples of this prac-
1tice in recent months which have
caused great anxiety in the news
paper profession. and;
/ Whereas, this association feels
lit is its obligation to report all Of
1.-THE news, without bias, to all
Icitizens; -
Nov: therefore. be it resolved
that the Chesapeake Association
Iof the Associated Press does here
by go on record as strenuously op-
posed to all closed meetings,
executive sessions and 'off-the-
record remarks by public officials
and government agencies.
Committee to Be Formed.
/, BE it further resolved that the
association designate a committee
to serve the A. p. members in the
Chesapeake Association for any
kinds of suppression Of news or
censorship and that it be the
tduty of this committee to advise
any public official or agency Of
what it believes to be violations
of a free press.
Members Of the committee will
be appointed by w. T. Delaplaine
Iof the Frederick (Md.) News Post,
association.
I Its functions. officials said. will
be similar to those of a watch
dog committee" set up in West
Virginia last year and headed by
Frank Knight, managing editor
;, of the Charleston CIV. Va.) Ga
Izette.
Operations Described.
! Describing operations of that
group. Mr.. Knight said the COM
mittee has gone directly to Of
f1cials involved with complaints Of
news suppression. In one instance.
| he said. the group was able to
.Igain access for reporters to meet
| Iings of the State Board of Edu-
cation, which for 80 years had
maintained policy of closed ses-
Isions.
! The association devoted part Of
Its meeting to a discussion of the
new teletypesetter circuits being
installed by the Associated Press.
Press service equipment. under
:. this system can be installed in
newspaper Offices in such a way
that linotype machines automati-
Ically transfer wire service stories
into type. ready to be printed.
| Associated Press officials an
nounced that one wire circuit
,lServing newspapers in this area
Twill be ready for conversion to the
Inew system next March. The
.. first circuit was started in North
Carolina last April.
News Gathering Problems.
The conference also heard dis
cussions of news gathering prob
+ lens which arose at the recent
San Francisco convention of the
Associated Press Managing Edi-
tors Association. The convention
matters were reviewed by Alan j.
: Gould, executive editor of the
Associated Press, and Herbert F.
Corn, managing editor OF The
Star, and president of the APME.
Business sessions of the meeting
were held in the Washington Post
Building. The conference ended
with a cocktail party and dinner
at the Hotel Statler, with the three
Associated Press member papers
in Washington serving as hosts.
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