Evening star., 1951-11-09
Area A. P. Newsmen
Plan Continuing Study
OF News Suppression

Formation of a permanent com.
nittee to be on the lookout fol
incidents of news suppression ir
the District and Maryland was te
be proposed today to the Chesa.
peake Associated Press Associa.
ton.
The association. comprised o1
Associated Press representatives
of member newspapers in the Dis
trict and Maryland, is conducting
an all-day discussion of news
gathering problems at a meeting
in the Washington Post Building
Newsmen from Virginia, West
Virginia and Pennsylvania also
are attending.
At the opening session, repre-
senting the regular fall meeting
of the groups Continuing Study
Committee, the news executives
centered their interest on the issue
OF closed meetings by local govern
mental groups. and measures
taken to gain access for the press
to such sessions.
Resolutions Committee.
The proposal for a permanent
anti-suppression committee, Of
flcials said, will be submitted by a
resolutions committee. Its mem
bers are Oscar Morris, managing
editor of the Salisbury (Md)
Times; Ben Gilbert. executive city
editor of the Washington Post,
and Eugene Cunning, city editor
Of the Cumberland CMd.D Times.
Before heading into the dis
cussion of area problems, Herbert
F. Corn managing editor of The
Star and president of the Associ-
ated Press Managing Editors AS
sociation, discussed President Tru-
mans controversial new security
order on classification of Govern
ment information. The APME
opposed the September Is order
"as a dangerous instrument OF
news suppression"
In a review of the Washington
area, Mr.. Gilbert discussed efforts
of local newspapers which ended
a long standing policy Of closed
meetings by the District Commits
sioners. He said he thought the
city heads have played fair" re-
Gently in opening most 81 their
sessions to the press and holding
executive meetings only when
subjects for consideration demand
1t. -..
He also referred to the Mont
eomery County Council, which
makes most of its decisions in
private and announces them at
later public meetings. Mr. Gil
bert said this procedure blocks
public knowledge of background
data about new policies being
formulated.
Former Gov. Lane of Maryland,
publisher of the Hagerstown
lMd0 Herald-Mail, told the group
ne believed the issue ofsopen
meetings by public officials is a
two-sided problem. --.
If officials fear open meetings
because of any dishonesty, he
said, they certainly should be
found out" But, to offset feel
ings that reporters have not given
fair reports, newspapers must
guarantee capable and under
standing reporting" of the ses-
sions. he added.
Frank Knight, managing editor
Of the Charleston. (W. Va Ga
zette, described operations of
special watchdog committee" set
up in his State, and cited exam
Piles of its moves to break down
suppression of news at it's source :.
The purpose Of his committee is
similar to that proposed for the
Chesapeake Association.
Naval Academy Problem.
In other talks. Whitney Shoe
maker, Associated Press reporter
in Annapolis. described public re-
lations problems at the United
States Naval Academy, and Mr..
Morris described the victorious
fight in Salisbury to open the City
Council meetings there to the
public.
The study committee also voted
eo sponsor tour of all military
installations in the Maryland area
IN an attempt to open more news
sources. The group authorized
similar trip last year by Huel
Warren, Baltimore Associated
Press reporter.
At the full association meeting
this afternoon, the main address
was to be delivered by Alan j.
Gould. executive editor of the
Associated Press. w. T. Della
plaine of the Frederick (Md.)
News-Post, association president.
presided.
Between the two sessions, the so
newsmen attending were taken on
a tour of the new Post Building.
The meeting will end with a cock
tail party and dinner tonight at
the Hotel Statler. with the three
Associated Press member papers
In WaShintqnn serving as hosts