Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-29
On the Air


of communication which can
help bring light. stimulus and
knowledge to the minds of men
must be kept free and open
to all points of view.
The words are those of DR..
Frank Stanton, president of
the Columbia Broadcasting
System. They were spoken
last Thursday night on both
the radio and television net
works of CHS in the first
self-labelled network editorial.
DR.. Stanton's talk had sig
nificance beyond the fact that
a networks executives had for
the first time used the net
work to express it's point of
view, however. Here, for the
first time, was a man Of au-
thority in broadcasting getting
to the center of the problem
of televiSion in the congress
sional hearing.
Small, VitoI Difference
For all too long, too many
of broadcasting's spokesman.
authentic and Self-appointed,
have rested their case in a
phrase, freedom of the press"
To bar the TV cameras from
the hearing room. they say, is
infringement of this freedom.
This may win the broadcasters
allies in other fields with a
stake in freedom of the press.
but it muddies rather than
clarifies the problem.
For this freedom is not
based on any right of a re-
porter or radio announcer or
TV cameraman. to get into a
hearing room and report what
is going on. This freedom is
based on the right of a people
in a democracy to know what
is going on.
This is a small difference.
but an important one. In rec
ognizing it, DR.. Stanton has
stated broadcasting's case with
logic, force and clarity. 1t will
be interesting to hear what
Judge Harold R. Medina has
to say in rebuttal next Thurs
day night over CHS. For DR..
Stanton was not demanding
television's rights, he was de-
manding your rights as a
citizen.
Reporters will be there" he
said of the Senate committee
hearings to start Tuesday on
the resolution to censure Sen
ator Mccarthy. "A small num-
Der Of other people who hap
pen to live in Washington or
can afford to journey to our
Capital and can squeeze into
the hearing room will be there.
"But you Of the radio and
television audience will not be
there. This is because it has
been ruled that although the
hearings are open, radio and
television-and hence you lis
teners and viewers-may not
enter. You viii be barred from
hearing and seeing part or all
Of these proceeding in your
own homes. -"
~ Quickened Interest
A bit further on. DR.. Stan
ton cogently pointed out the
television function that makes
the case strong. for its admis-
sion to these or other hearings.
radio and television." he
said, "by letting people see and
hear for themselves-by hav-
ing enlarged the hearing room,
so as to speak-have greatly
'quickened the peoples interest
in, and knowledge OF. the gov
ernmental processes. In that
way. radio and television are
contributing to Q better Gov
eminent because as James
Madison long ago said, "A
popular government without
popular information or the
means Of acquiring it. Is but
a prologue to a farce or q
tragedy. or perhaps BOTH"
In other words, it is your
right to attend these or other
open hearings in person.
Your inability to be in Wash
ington at the time does not
deprive you Of one Of the
rights of citizenship. II you
can attend onag by television
and television is banned.
somebody is depriving you Of
fundamental right.
AS the CHS executive said,
These are not judicial court
PROCEEDINGS. These are pro-