THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1210, 29 July 1884, Page 3

THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.

An American paper gives the following account of the troubles of one of its reporters : “ We haven’t any further need of your services, *’ said the managing editor of a city daily to a reporter who had been at work only a week. “That’s rather sudden, ain’t it V replied the startled reporter. “ Haven't I dene all I had to do?"

“You have done the work, but not properly, sir.” “ What’s wrong 1" Well, you wrote up Mrs Parvenu’s ball, and there wasn’t a word about its being a brilliant affair."

“That’s just what it wasn’t.” “ The lady, sir, takes several copies of this paper, and her husband has his printing done in our office, and ordinary common sense should teach you to understand your duties under the ciraumstancee.” « But—»

“No excuse is necessary, sir. Then you brought in an article on the arrest of young Mr Fresh, for drunkenness. His father is one of our patrons, and we have a sufficient independence to disregard the wishes of the curious public to get an item of news when our patrons are interested in its suppression” “ i understand ”

“No, you don’t; for you wrote Mr Jones’s obituary without saying he was a distinguished citizen of large influence, and a man of great goodness of heart.” ,l I thought be was anether kind of ” “ You rausn't think. The independent spirit of the Press is not to be governed by reporterial thought, sir. Did you think when you wrote of Miss Angelina Shoddy’s departure to the seaside without referring to her as the charming and accomplished daughter of one of our most select families?” “ Who said she was the ?” “Do you have to hear what other people say in order to know your business 1 Who told you that Mr Bottle, the councilman, was a rough t Don’t you know his influence is worth money to the paper ?” “ I wasn’t aware that ” “Of course you are not aware of anything. If you were, you might bt useful to us. No, sir ; you are not the kind of man we need. *■ We want a man not to know what he knows, and know what he does not know. The liberty of the Press is not to be trifled with by irresponsible reporters who think, nor is its freedom to be restricted by young men who let the actual facts of a case interfere with the requirements of the occasion. You can get your pay, sir, by calling at the office.”