THE INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 643, 21 October 1909, Page 5

THE INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS.

A QUESTION OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS. '' The ■ affairs of the Institute of Journalists , are generally .of little, public interest. During the ourrent year, however,' ..there.' has. been a rather.', serious disturbance of the institute's usual l serenity in which the public, and especially public bodies,, will be much interested. The trouble, of which an account is given in the just-issued report of the council, which is to. be presented at the annual meeting of the institute on November' 1, arose out of tho fol-' lowing, resolution adopted by the committee of the Wellington'branch-.—"That this branch of the.institute views with disapproval the recent action of an Auckland reporter in obtaining admission by' a false pretence" to a meeting which was not open to the press, and reporting the proceedings thereat."' The alleged false pretence was the . use of labourer's. clothes to gain' ah entry to a meeting of workers. The Auckland .branch'-of the institute, discussed this, resolution,* and notified tho council,that miless it-were unconditionally withdrawn by the Wellington branch the Auckland branch would withdraw from the institute. Some correspondence ensued;'-and the. Wellington committee made a statement in defence of its action, it was'submitted that "the council should realise that the Wellington- branch , has no feeling towards tho > members of the Auckland branch save one of friendliness." The committee, it was added, had acted on behalf of the profes-. sion as a' whole,- with the' object of. disoouraging tactics which would tend to lower the status of journalists in the eyes of the public, and''seriously' discount ..the 'trust and confidence reposed by the public in members of the. profession. .' In the entire absence ,of any reason why it should not be so, the letter concluded, "our committee adheres to its resolution, and submits that it is wholly inoffensive .'in form. At the isame time our committee is perfectly willing to reconsider the matter as soon as any argument against its resolution is forthcoming. The Auckland branch- declined . to give -,anj explanation of its .attitude, and the council accordingly adopted the following resolution on October 1 last:—"That, in view of the negleot of - the AncHand ■ branch to aocept the council's invitation to give reasons for requiring the Wellington branch to withdraw Its resolution and the fact ...of 'the justification submitted by the Wellington Committee, the council cannot, recommend the Wellington Committee- to withdraw its resolution. Further, tho council is of opinion that, on the information placed before it, after both branches had received ample ■ opportunity , to explain their attitudes, the' Wellington Committee was fully justified in . attempting to uphold the status of journalism, which was prejudiced by the. action complained of." , v , There are other items of general-intprest in the report. "At more than one meeting," it is 'stated,- "tho council diecuesed tho' fctatn's of the journalistic profession from an' internal and externnl (the general public's) point of - view, arid-' tho procedure which, from time vto. time,, might be advisable to safeguard members of tho profession. against, misrepresentation, but no definite policy was framed.- ■ . "Tho council_ taw cause for gratification in the fact that New' Zealand was invited to send delegates to - ; the Imperial. Pross Conference, but did not consider that the choice of representatives,. an a body, was perfect. The following resolution was adopted at a meeting on April'23:—'The council regrets time in the selection' of' delegates' .to, .represent' New Zealand at the Imperial Press Conference' the litornry 'sido of journalism did not receive sufii'cient consideration."' The finances of tho Christchurch and Wellington branches are in a ! satisfactory condition.' Thero aro now 52 membersi of whom four are ladies/ 'on the roll of : tho' Wellington branch : tho Christchurch members number 23.