FREEDOM OF PRESS

Chronicle (Levin), 26 November 1946, Page 9

FREEDOM OF PRESS

Press Assn.

Vital Safeguard Of Life PART IN DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM

By Telegraph

- Copyright

Received Monday, 7 p.m. , . SYDNEY, Nov. 25. A free press was one. of the most vital safeguards of life and an essential function of our democratic system, said the general manager of Reuter's, Mr. Christopher Chancellor, in a7 broadcast address as the guest of hqnour on the national network. Mr. Chancellor said the battle for truth in the news was being fought all the time and that victory or defeat i would depend iinally on the vigilance « and understanding of the citizen. As . . an institution the citizen must supporf, ; and strengthen the free press, but he -" > must also understaud it — the way in which it works and the prineiples . underlyiug it. He must be vigilant, must learu to evaluate and must insisl upon knov^ing the sources of his news.

•' ' I see great danger in the arguments of tliose who, because they see impcrfections and blemishes in the working of this institution, seek toN undermine the institution itself. My job is running a world news service. It's name — Reuter's — has become identificd all over the world with truth in the news. Reuter's is owned cooperatively by tlie newspapers of the United Kingdom , Those newspapers have voluntarily bound themselves by a legal document ■ called the Reuter Trust to maintain and develop Reuter's as the greatest news service in the woild. "They have also pledged. themselves- • to preserve for all time the integrity and independence of this news service. - They liave solemnly undertaken.to oper-, ate Reuters on a non-profit making basis. They feel that a world news agency has duties and obligations different from thone of a commercial concern. I have come to Australia to talk r' to. the men who run the Australian newspapers about the problems of international news distribution in this part of the world. We are discussing ways and means of establishing a standard of truth in news in the eountries bordering the Pacific. We are determined to work with each other in maintaining our Briti,sh conception of news freedom in this very important area. My j'ob is to do my best to ensure that one of tlie inain sources of world news is maintained in full vigour and on a basis of uncompromising loyaity to the principle of honest and unbiased news. "It is certainly true in Britain, and I think it is also true here, that people who read the newspapers have very litflfl uiulerstandini'- of the tremendous-

ly painstaking effort made by the vast - majority of newspapers to present faCtual news impartially and truthfully. Tlie public is apt to forget that the etliieal conception of truth in news is deeplv instilled into the minds of the men who serve the public through the newspapers, yet even in our own British eountries the battle for truth in tlie news is being fought all the time. Tliere is niore than one^kind pf trutlu There is truth that means accuracy, which is simple, but there is also truth that ineans refusing to suppress news, whicli is not so simple. For most people truth in news is a splendid thing until they come up against it themselves— great trade corporations and trade unions, politicians and sportsmen, religious bodies and individual sinuers — there is hardly a seetion of the community that does not at soine time or other nonestly believe tliat it would be betcer if some item of accurate information were suppressed. They believe tliat from the highest motives of eourse— public coniidence, national interest, private reputations, good taste. Every day those who wosk for newspapers or news services have to face this problem squarely an.d deal honestly with it. Those who liave to face it know that ! i\o compromise is possible because il! vou onee begin to comproruise, if you once start tamperiug with the news for whatever reason good or bad, then you start rolling down a slippery slope which will lead you into a niorass of f alsiffcation. "