Evening star., 1954-04-28
Freedom Of the Press
BY the Asseeiated Press

BY the ASsoeiofed Press
When the Nations founding
fathers established freedom of
the press. How far did they in
tend that freedom to go?
Where. if any place. did they
intend to darw the line on press
coverage-and thus public know
ledge-of the functions of the
courts, public officials and pub
lie agencies?
The press has long battled to
protect the public's interest in
The pubIie's right to knowledge Of the
functions Of the courts, public
agencies and public offieioIs is. in
proctice, the right Of newspapers to
thot information. Yet the press is
not oIwoys oIlowed access to whot
is troditionoIIy the public record.
Here, in the first of two articles. is
Nationwide summary Of recent VIC
tories and defects in the continuing
bottle for freedom OF the press.
public matters-especially to in
sure that it is fully informed on
all such activities.
A survey of the Nation shows
that considerable recent prog
ress in this respect has been
made. Some notable efforts have
been lost. too. But the fight
goes on
Any question as to whether
public boards and commissions
should be open to press and
public was settled in Ohio last
year by the Legislature itself.
The Legislature passed a law
requiring that all such State
groups-there are more than 100
Of them-hold open meetings
with the exception of the Pardon
and Parole Commission. The
latter can have closed meetings
when interviewing prisoners at
penal 1nStlCuClOnS.
Two NewSmen Evicted.
The open door policy resulted
from the eviction of two news
men from a meeting Of the
Wildlife Council with the State
Conservation and Natural Re-
sources Commission in 1852.
This subsequently touched off
a drive to make boards hold open
sessions, and legislation to this
effect was approved by the 1858
Legislature.
Meanwhile, the Columbus City
Council also approved an ordi-
nance making public all meet
ings of municipal boards and
commissions.
George S. Smallsreed. sr.. edi-
tor of the Columbus Dispatch
and chairman of the Ohio News
paper Associations Freedom OF
Information Committee:
1.-THE Freedom of Information
Committee is making an inten-
sive study of the existing stat
utes to see what laws, il any,
are necessary to open all public
offices in all townships, counties,
municipalities and school dis
tricts."
In Arkansas, the last Legis-
lature also passed a bill requir-
ing all public board meetings to
be open-but left a loophole.
Such sessions may be closed
during consideration of person.
mel or "other privileged mat
ters."
Reports from other areas:
New Jersey-The State Su-
preme Court requested newsmen
to delay reporting hearings
in disciplinary cases brought
against lawyers.
Chief Justice Arthur T. Van
derbilt said that when stories
about the alleged wrongdoings
of these attorneys are carried in
the press and they are later ac-
quilted. they are done irrepar-
able harm"
He asked the press to carry
no details until the cases were
decided.
The New Jersey Public Infor-
nation Committee. made up of
press, broadcasters' and photog-
raphers' associations, asked the
Chief Justice for Qualification of
the matter. The committee,
headed by Hugh Boyd, general
manager of the New Brunswick
Home News, also took it up with
the Governor.
A few days later. the courts
request was withdrawn. The
Chief Justice gave no explana-
ton except to say that there