Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-14

vancement IN foreign news re-
porting was presented to $50
members of the Associated
Press Managing Editors Associ-
alton, an organization that
works year-round to improve
services to the Nations news
paper readers.
j. Edward Murray Of the Los
Angeles Mirror-News told his
fellow editorial executives
something has been wrong
with much American press COW
erage Of Russia" He added:
1.-THE Americans, who read
our newspapers, go to Russia
and are extremely surprised at
what they flnd-at how good
things are for ordinary Rus
slams.
II. as an American editor,
went to Russia - and was
equally surprised"
Coleman A. Harwell of the |
Nashville Tennessean COM
mented:
II say there are too many
places in the world in which
America has vital interests,
and on which we are not
providing adequate informa-
ton. That's our job. That's our
role in democracy"
Tourists Surprised
The surprise for American
tourists in Russia. Mr.. Murray
said, came as the result Of per-
sonal discovery that Soviet cit
liens generally seemed to be
much better off than they. the
Americans expected to find
them" He added:
THE Russians didn't seem
enslaved or wanting to escape
across the nearest border. They
seemed we'll fed, adequately if
not very stylishly dressed, and
about as happy as people any
where"
Mr.. Murray, who has visited
Leningrad, Kiev and Moscow,
said with some exceptions the
Russians seemed to feel that
they were as free as they
wanted to be-" In addition,
they appeared to be patriotic,
to support their government, to
feel that they were living under
the best of all possible systems,
and they were making good
progress toward a better
world"
But in reporting the story Of
Russia, Mr.. Murray said, the
American press was so busy
presenting every detail Of the
fierce and real cold war that we
had too little time, or enthusi-
ans, or space left for present.
ing the good things to keep the
picture balanced"
Not Enough on People
1--WE have been so busy cover
ing the story Of what govern
ments and diplomats do that
we have had too little time for
the story of the people," he
added.
Newspaper readers are more
interested in people than any
thing else," said Mr.. Harwell.
"And they have a tremendous
stake in the world"
The Tennessee editor added:
$50 it makes sense for us to
cover the news of the people Of
the world-what they think and
what they do. AS we come to
understand the people of other
countries, we will be better pre-
pared to deal with them and
look out after our own in
tereStS."
fdHel OIScuSSlOn
The discussions by Mr.. Muir
ray and Mr.. Harwell came dur
ing a session on humanizing
foreign reporting. moderated by
Robert Notson of the Portland
(Oreg0 Oregonian and includ-
ing as paneliSts Yves Gallagher.
assistant general manager of
the Associated Press, and Will
liam Ryan, rowing correspond
ent for the news cooperative.
Mr.. Harwell cited Afganistan
as a specific example in his
talk calling for broader COW
erage of the world news.
"A distinguished professor
from Cambridge University,
speaking in Nashville recently,
said he considered it absurd
for America to be doing any,
thing in Afghanistan. He said
AfghaniStan is under the wing
of Russia and we can have
no possible position there"
He added:
But the fact is we are there
800 Americans from Mon
tana, New York State and
many other places"
Such places, he said, were
among many in which America
has vital interests, and too lit
tie regular, reliable sources
of news"
ReStOn Speaks
James Reston Of the New
York Times was scheduled to
follow the conference or for-
eign reporting with a talk on
the need for hard, aggressive
coverage of the news.
In another session Al Perrin,
managing editor of the River
side (Calif.) Daily Press, told
newspaper executives that en-
ployes want recognition
sometimes even more than
money.
"You ask people who quit
why they are leaving" he OBJ
served, land they often will tell
you more money because they
don't want to offend you. What
they want more may be rec
ignition"
Mr.. Perrin spoke on man.
power problems in the news
nnoYan. fold ct,,dinI L.. -.