The Wrangell sentinel., 1954-10-22
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
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 We missed any comment on Ma tional Newspaper Week. observed in the nation two weeks ago, as our limited space was too crammed with reports of elections and poli- teal advertising. With the editor out deer hunting, the city affairs quiet and the Territory catching it's breath after the election, we'll belatedly observe the week by ex- plaining a few of the policies of your Wrangen Sentinel that keep the paper a community paper.
 Getting the roots
 Just because one is in the news paper business doesn't mean that he is given powers to know it all. Your newspaper has to be told q fact before it can print it. Some times We are taken to task for not printing a story a reader knew a. bout but failed to tells us Much of our news is given us by friends stopping in to tell something they just heard We check it for accur- acy before printing but We always are glad for your cooperation so we can let the rest of the eommun- ity know.
 Other news comes from passen- ger lists furnished by the trans portation companies. calling the. hospital and checking public re- cords in the Commissioners office or the City Clerks office
 Contrary to some opinions, re- cords of property transfers, crim- inal or civil actions. claim filing, are open to the public for anyone's inspection.
 Out of town news events come to us from the Associated Press. a non-profit organization of which The Sentinel is member. Unlike other strengthening agencies such as the United Press, International News Service. etc, which sell their stories for profit, Associated Press is made up of newspaper, magazine and radio station members that pay in a monthly dues to pay the HeWSsatHeflHS expense.
 What Newspapers Must Print |
 There isn't. a newspaper in the world that doesn't, many times, have an irate -or penitent -citi- zen come in and demand, or ask, that his name be kept out of the paper, generally on some law vio- latiOn. Threats are sometime made or caiolery used but all newspapers agree that If one is left out all should be left out" They further agree that it's in the interest of good government to print such items as do the law enforce ment agencies. Many times, furth- CT, it's to the persons advantage for rumOrs get started, grow, get distorted and when the real facts are printed "the record is kept straight" Particularly important are births, deaths, marriages, bap- tisms, etc. The Sentinel files have been consulted many times to prove birth or citizenship. |
 Every newspaper is plagued by
 
 the writer is libeling someone or entering into private contro- versy. An editor not thoroughly 1 familiar with the libel laws is in- deed vulnerable and private quar- rels should be carried on in private by individuals concerned, not in al family newspaper printed for all of its readers.
 Another taboo for newspapers, unless they have a special section and editor for the purpose is -I poetry. That brings up the old print them all or leave them all out situation. Limited space forces the bulk of newspapers to leave them out and besides, who ever heard of an editor having the soul of poet?
 Editors may not be poets but they are human and anyone hu- man makes mistakes Newspapers and magazines with trained and highly paid researchers come up with a bauble once in while. But any little ole editor will admit his mistake, make retraction and it's a safe bet THAT mistake won't be made again. All in a days work
 And so your newspaper goes on printing births, deaths, publicizing drives, meetings, programs, school events and the editor reads and edits, an thows them into the grist of his press impartially, un- biased and always striving to serve his community to it's greatest ad- vantage. Al
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