Evening star., 1952-02-28
Heating Defends D. {.
Press and Radio as
Exposers Of Crime

IN PVSVIS VI VIIIIIU
Representative KeatinR OF New
York, q ranking Republican ineFis
Der Of the House judiciary Com
mlttee, which IA 10 investigate the
Justice Department, last night de-
tended the press and radio against
accusations that these IltsdIa have
not done Il responsible Job Of eEs
posing crime and corruption In the
District,
Hs waS a member OF q panel
which discussed the tOpleI "Fhe
Press ana Radios Responsibility
Tor Crime and Corruption" 'fhe
discussion was held In the National
Press Club auditorium, under aus
pleeA 0i The Washington FpOfAas
sl0hAl Chapter OF HlalnR Delta OH,
the journalism fraternity,
0lleAtl0nA came from on Audls
ehee 0f about 400 persons, Include
I'M journalism students from
American University, the UnlVapa
lAlW 0f Maryland and deOpae|
washington University
Others on Panel,
IN addition 10 Representative
keatlna, the 0thaP forum members
were y M MeKelWaV, editor Of
the STAR dPlfiing Bancroft, COM
mentat0p for the Columbia BTeadu
casting system, and Wallace Wepu
bley editor Of Frpsg Reports,
IN defending the press and Tau
ale, Representative Heating said
many crime exposures have
stenmed from newspaper articles,
but libel laws probably dateFFed
newspapers sometimes from going
|all out,
He suggested that newspaper
stories OF the future should accent
compilations OF events, leaving
spot news coVefage more and
more to radio and televIsion, He
outlined the basic job of q news
paper as encompassing three func-
tions; To inform the public, toI
interpret the facts In proper pros
pective and, on editorial pages, to |
guide the public by discussing
fully subjects at hand and then
taking position,
Mr.. McKelway cited instances
In which he said he thought the |
press had done q good Job of
exposure. As an example oil
this he cited the revelation by the |
New York Herald Tribune of the
Washington ave percenters, 81
which led to q congressional in
vestigation. forerunner of current
investigations Of irregularities inI
Government. He also pointed out
that newspaper stories led to the
congressional investigation of the
Reconstruction Finance Corp.
Protection Questioned.
Commenting on the case of
Robert j. Barrett, former District
police superintendent, Mr.. Nickel.
way questioned how MIR. Barrett,
as head Of d 2,9D0=man f0rce.
e0uld protect gamblers.
II don't think he could get away
With IL very long" MIR. MeKeiwaV
declared "T'he Senate crime In
vestlgsti6h In the District has
produced q lot OF headlines, but
hasn't placed The seeds On any
one YET"
Responsibility for Exposure, |
Mr. WeFble sise declared II isI
the responsibility OF the press teI
ekp6se crime and eeFfuBtien, and
he raised this question hWhV
should lt take The KefauVeF and
ether committees 10 BRING II eVt9D
LutheF Huston OF the Washing
ton bureau Of the New YapkI
Tlmesr whe WAS moderator, said
lt has beeh established that both
newspapers and radio are VlEereVsI
factors IN determining how The
public makes up lta mind ON euFs
FeBt news issues,
Howard kanv, radio representa-
Tive OF The Associated Press and
head OF The Washington profess
Hlphal Chapter OF SIGMA Delta
Oil, presided,