Milford chronicle., 1957-02-01
A NEWPAPER's RESPONSIBILITY

A NEWPAPER'S RESPONSIBILITY
1t is unfortunate that we have witnessed
several instances of major newspapers be-
ing used as weapons ofs personal reprisal in
recent weeks Newspapers, as the reader
may or may not know, are supposed to print
the news in the news columns and express
opinions only in the editorial columns.
The entire justification for our system
of private ownership and a free press in
the United States is founded upon the faith
of the people in the newspaper owners and
operators to print the news fairly and print
all of it-nOt just what would serve a special
interest.
What has caused concern in the United
States in recent years is the growing num-
Der of chains, and their own growth and the
use of such chains to reflect a certain editor
ial opinion. In the case of a city or town with
only one newspaper, foreign ownership and
chain editorial policies are often bad for the
community.
In recent instances, we have seen some
newspapers used as instruments to blacken
the reputation of certain men in public life.
We do not take exception to editorial attacks
against politicians, public officials, or any
one else, on an ethical level. However, when
a newspaper attempts to smear a public
official only because it opposes his policies,
and attempts to smear him by rejecting on
his personal integrity, his honest or his
truthfulneSS, without having any proof and
without getting his side of the story, then
such newspapers threaten the American free
press system.
We must all remember that with free
press go certain responsibilities Among.
these is the obligation to fairly print the
news in the news columns, on both sides of
the issues. When it fails to do this, it is en-
dangering its own status and repudiating
our democratic system of government.
6SZ@&%
ON WEEKS AND MONTHS
Promoters have done pretty thorough
job on the ffty-two weeks in the year, and
the twelve months For example, in addition
to the charity drives and major celebrations
and events during the month of January, the
month was also Golden Rule Month and Su-
permarket Month.
In January, certain weeks were Odorless
Decoration Week, Take Tea and See Week,
Idaho Potato and Onion Week, and so on. A
national Potato Chip Week was also thrown
in.
February is the Apple for Teacher
Month, which we are not able to explain,
and includes such weeks as National Weight
Watchers Week and National Pimento Week
In March comes Return of Borrowed
Books Week, as well as National Peanut
Week There is also National Smile Week,
and a Pancake Day.
immediate future, although we know our
readers will want to start preparing now for
National Domestic Rabbit Week, which
falls in May.
Another period to look forward to is
National Dents Out of Tenders Month,
which comes in June In fact, June has lot
of stunning celebrations for the feeble-mind-
ed, such as American Fresh Water Pearl,
Dairy, Portable Radio and National Rag
weed Control celebrations. Thinking that
list over, we can hardly wait for June to
come.
WHY FIRMS SEEK SMALL TOWNS
A national weekly newspaper recently
reported on the trend of big business to move
its new plants into smaller towns. The re-
port was highly enlightening.
One firm which had operated in large
metropolitan area for half a century has
recently erected plants in two small COM
munities and the company head reports that
the concern is delighted with the results.
In the first place, he said, the business
had been virtually unknown in the large city
and workers were not in touch with the needs
of people in smaller towns who used the
product manufactured. In the small towns,
where the two new plants were opened, citi-
zens were eager to have the new plants To-
cate in their community and helped raise
money for the building, on loan basis, and
took great interest IN She business enter
prise. They were happy, contented, good
workers and had the interest of the busi-
ness at heart.
Labor relations in such plant, and in a
community which appreciates the location of
such plant, are the best.
These are the reasons, in brief, why Sc
many big corporations are building plants
in the nations smaller communities. This
is good for the nation and produces good
management-labor relations, and for that
reason the trend will probably accelerate in
the coming years