NEWSPAPERS AND THE PUBLIC

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 1, 16 January 1937, Page 4

NEWSPAPERS AND THE PUBLIC

After tweiity-six years of publication under its original tille "THE HAWKE'S UBAY TRiBUNR" appears to-day for tlie first tirne under another ^designation. The original name is, however, iiot to disappear, but is merely to be used in conjunction with that of a much older and a highly esteemed contemporary, "THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD." For sorue few years noW bijpth journals, though maintaining independent existence, have proceeded from the same printing press. To-day and henceforward the association will be very much more intimate, taking shape in an amalgamation with but the oue daily issue. In adopting this course we are but follciiying the teiidency of the times to seek at once gfeater ecoiiomy and greater efficifency through a Combination of forces. It is only after long dediberation that the conclusion has been reached that the interests of the many readers of both papers, as well as of their adVertising patrons, will thus be best served. Nor? so far as the latter are concerned, need there be any fear that the joint circulation will suffer, but rather is it likely to expand. Similar amalgations have oi recent years taken place both in the Old Country and the United States, an outstanding example being that of two great New Yofk dailies under a like title to that which now heads our owti. Nor is there anythiiig in the past history of either local paper that is incdhsistent with the cdalition now carried out. Both have held to purposes and policies that have had very much in Common, with only occasional honest and friendly differences of opnion on matters of public intferest. Each has set and kept a course Stidh a» is dictated by clean journalism %nd by sincere conviction. That is the course which will still be pursued, adways with at heart, not only the immediate but also the more distant future of the towns and distriets served and of the country as a whole. As heretofore, one main object^to be aimed at will be to stimulate public interest in matters affecting the public welfare and to afford all reasonable opportunity for their discussion from varying points of view. As was sald in the first issue of the "Tribune," we believe that "the columns of a newspaper should be a medium for the discussion of subjects of general and local interest — that they should be open to all without reserve so long as there is anything to be said that is worth saying.'' All encouragement will be given to the free expression of contending views which is the best way of arriving at sane conalusions. That liberty we shall claim for ourselves while extending it to our correspondents and contributors. In the conduct of the "Herald-Tribune" as a daily newspaper we can scarcely do better than follow the maxims laid down for itself by the Londdn "Times," still the most influential journal printed— "To be the first but not the hastiest with the news; to be serious without dullness or solemntity; to persuade and not to dogmatize; to be emphatic without sensationalism; to give the stoxy and reject the 'stun^'; to iniss nothing that is amusing and to keep the trivial in proportion; to give the news faithfully and fully without 'featuring' the worst side of human nature." To these it will be our continual endeavour to adhere. The "freedom of the Press" is one of the most precious privileges enjoyed under a truly democratic rule, though^ like every other good thing, open to abuse. Its value may best be gauged by noting the promptness which dictatorships display in muzzling or assuming control of the country's newspapers. As an American writer puts it, "dictators know what many still enjoying a free press may forget, that without an alert, free press the public cannot be correctly informed, nor democracy endure." It is for the newspaper that enters into the daily lives of the people to*realise this, and, while exercising its own function of criticism, to give free play to critics holding different opinions. Above all, perhaps, is it necessary that readers should be guided into taking the longer view for the future of themselves and their country and not to content themselves with seizing eagerly upon what is only of immediate bul still transient advantage to them. In this respect democracies may be as easily dazzled as any that fall down in worsliip of the* most autocratic dictator. %