The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-08-17
HIS
ROCK
OF
OURS
BY BILL GLIB


Ashe.
Your comments with regard tc.
the press brought up subject
dear to my heart-nanely, ethical
problems involved in newspaper
publishing.
Permit me to inject a little
/. personal history at this point so
that you can better understand
the basis Of my opinions. right or
wrong,)
I'm not what might be termed
Joiner and there are few out
fits that ! can support whole
feartedly ia ali matters. How
ever. do belong to Sigma Delta
Chi, professional Journalism
fraternity-not because Of the
honor attached or personal bene-
fits derived, bat because the exist
ehce of SDX acts as sort Of
beacon. It lights the way toward
q professional conduct that is
beneficial to its own members as
well as the general public
Several months ago. Sigma
Delta Chi's publication, THE
Quill carried ar editorial 10 the
effect that 2 profession does not
work in an ethical vacuum Since
this IS evidently true, no hard and
fast rules can be laid down as to
individual conduct and methods
Of work.
Most Of US in the field Of jour
nalisnn are highly independent
characters We feel satisfied with
ourselves If we've acted in ac-
cordance with what we think IS
right. This, in spite Of the fact
that were dependent upon car
readers appreciation for continued
existence.
Too often, We lay the news on
the line with an uItimatlum Of
take 1t or leave IL, thereby
creating feeling IF rebellion On
the part of the reader He neither
has the time or interest TO check
the background ard capabilities
If various reporters, Therefore,
he can't understand how most
newspaper folk are aiming at 3
common goal--public welfare
when they take completely op-
rosite stands
In the recent case ct which
you spoke in your letter, this
c0l4nnrizt investigated 81 angles,
decided circumstances had forced
ire local policeman's course Of
action. and wrote the story in
such . vein
He felt the public could not be
benefited by any challenge q the
local police as long as they were
Going their duty. However,
check with Chief Of Police Kemp
VIII reveal that this column in
formed hin Of It's intention u
+ cllrno all over" the police if. and
j s. A~v 49, of them ever got out
Of line. The Chief apparently an
! rsrscaated such frank attitude
He knows that If anything ex-
cept intratiepartTental Difficult
ties arise, This Rock is going
70 deal itself . hand in sEe game
Without doubt, Miss McAyoy
wrote her stories with the same
interest toward public er1llghten-
rnent. She writes spot news
stories, though, and this column
is written from igfo days % two
weeks in advance. There IS ~
way 9e can slant cur stories -
sgTsssssy ssa-. -...s -.s-
Nv hair Is rapsdlg1 turning gray
from sweating ostp sorne 81
these advance gsesdiines The en-
tire political plct&gre or course Of
events can change overnight sIas'
cause the column 70 blow up in
/ my face
If B3enveni8o Perez bad been
I found guilty u unnecessary
brutality. ny column, which va
! written OF Monday and published
"Wednesday. woesla have been re
laughing stock Of the to~n. Foi
this reason, I try IL CONSIDER al
! known factors before writing.
IncidentlY. cur editor could
make every story and editorial
opinion coincide By posting
such an order. He firmly es'
Iieves that the public IS best
served whsn il is given all SIDES
Of a question and allowed 10
make SIS cwn decision
Ever rgoflce the resultant faazF
occasionally between TIE CIS.zef
] eaisrial columns and hA
} Pockr7