Evening star., 1952-04-21
Text of Annual Report by Associated Press Board Of Directors

no mistakes or shortcomings. The
news report was subjected to
critical scrutiny, both within and
without the areas of management
and the membership. The con-
tinuing studies undertaken by
Associated Press managing editors
once more contributed substan-
TALLY to the improvement of the
service.
The executive editor points out
/ that the Associated Press today
has a larger staff of foreign CORE
spondentS than it had before
World War II and is spending
nearly three times the 1898 figure
for obtaining and transmitting
foreign news. Nationals, employed
as correspondents by the Associat-
led Press, frequently have an ad-
vantage not enjoyed by foreign
Inewsmen. The Associated Press
lis indeed proud of the work done
Iby its correspondents, who are
persons of varying religions, color
and nationalities. All are drawn
together by their common pursuit
IGI honest news.
The perennial difficulties in
7olved in producing a rounded
news report in a world full of
sharp conflicts were illustrated
over and over again during the
year. Yet, the editors of the Asso-
Iciated Press have not shrunk from
the areas of controversy. Quite
the reverse, they have moved into
these fields often before the news,
as such, has actually developed.
The membership widely applaud
ed stream of enterprise" stories,
reports on conditions and situa-
tons that are broader and deeper
than any single news story. Spe-
Icial correspondents were appoint
led. more than a year ago, to con-
Iccntrate on this type of reporting,
tand staff members everywhere
have been called on, from time to
time, to contribute to the effort.
There was enthusiastic member
response to a five-part series on
the history of the relations be-
tween church and state. written
by George Cornell of the New
York bureau. It grew out of the
controversy that arose when the
President attempted to send Gen,
Mark Clark to the Vatican as Am
bassador. No adverse criticisms
came from any of the major
churches or church groups.
Symposium on Peace.
Other samples of enterprise 'in-
cluded a series on narcotics, a
symposium on prospects for peace,
conditions on the island of For
mosa, the United States mobiliza-
ton effort and conditions in the
Army training camps. Editors
consciously sought out the fields
of major public interest. The
members response clearly shows
tthat long-standing need is being
met.
The Associated Press has un-
dertaken a wide range of special
reportorial enterprise in covering
political news in this presidential
year. With the full cooperation
of the membership, a series oi
preprimary surveys has been con-
Quoted. te-by-State roundups
have covered all major campaign
developments. Special correspond
ents have been assigned to the
actual elections, conventions and
all other aspects of the national
political campaign.
Correspondents also were sent
overseas to assist in coverage OF
the British elections last October
and to travel over the whole oi
Western Europe, skirting the Iror
Curtain countries, with specia
attention to information about
them. William L. Ryan of the
New York foreign desk. who
speaks and reads Russian. spent
several months in Europe, con.
tributing notably to this effort.
The story of A. P. coverage of 9
great human drama, the battle tt
save the Flying Enterprise. ha.
been told and retold.
Letters of commentator from
the members themselves on these
stories, as well as about the re.
porting Of the Korean War, the
Macarthur hearings, the death o1
King George, the development o1
new weapons and the formation o1
the North Atlantic Treaty Organi-
zation are eloquent testimony te
the work of the news and photo
staff during this past year.
Three Pulitzer Winners.
Three Associated Press men
Don Whitehead, Max Desfor and
Relman Morin-were awarded
Pulitzer Prizes last May. White
head also received citations from
Sigma Delta Chi and Long Island
University for distinguished for
eign reporting. John Hightower
head of the APPS State Department
staff, was Sigma Delta Chi
award winner. The Omar Bradley
medal of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars and the Overseas Press Club
prize both went to Hal Boyle fol
war reporting.
The board feels it speaks fo1
the membership generally when il
expresses great pride in these
citations and in voicing confidence
that the staff and management
will continue as in the past to
keep all critical factors in proper
perspective during the coming
year.
| Rising operating coosts have
been and continue to be a matter
of deep concern to the board and
management. Expenses of news
collection and distribution have