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Show The National Enterprise , March 23, 1977 Page two Pragmatic Dogmatics abhorrent to mainstream Americans that, in its name, they are disposed to endure the vilest trash to insure its absence. On the other hand, when First Amendment freedom is placed in the context of the increased concentration of media ownership and direction (through merger, cooperative arrangements and the like), there can be no denial liberty of the press can - and sometimes does - border upon license. A little known watcher of the watchdog is the National News Council. With support from a consortium of foundations, it was established in 1973 to fulfill two purposes; "To examine and to report on complaints concerning the accuracy and fairness of news reporting in the United States, as well as to initiate studies and report on issues In its involving the freedom of the press. quasi-judicirole, the NCC authors a body of opinions which, although they lack force of law, do provide guidelines for responsible journalistic behavior. Through the good graces of the Columbia Journalism Review, available on local newsstands, the public now may become privy to significant NCC adjudica Watching the Watchdog by Kent Shearer The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees against laws abridging freedom of speech or of the press, and it is part of the cant of our Republic that the media is the watchdog of our liberties. A typical laudation is that of Jefferson, who wrote, Were it left to me to decide whether we should have government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. Only an occasional cynic has dared mock the fourth estate. An Agnew of earlier day (in pertinent sentiment, if not in other was Sir Henry Wotton, who reflected, An Ambassador is a man of virtue sent to is a lie abroad for his country; a news-writman without virtue who lies at home for w-ay- al er himself. As usual, the truth probably lies somewhere in the grey area between adulation (a la Jefferson) and condemnation (a la The thought of censorship is so Wotton). i mpbmopC'A6WSTA - tax car. $ eXPERB iIU am&n FAVOR A W6 Rtr, so IH suiPrrms. tions. The Review believes that its readers will find some fascinating insights into what goes on within journalism and hopes these special sections contribute toward the aim of providing the kind of attention the Council has not heretofore been accorded. g and The initial selections are provocative. They include such diverse subjects as the propriety of a "60 Minutes home for problem expose of a children, and the chilling effect of the Broward County, Florida Medical Associations code of ethics. Although neither the New York Times nor the Associated Press approves of the NCCs activities, it does have the endorsement of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. To this layman, its value as a sensible critic of media practices is For one, I look forward to a closer personal acquaintance with its ongoing works. Only then can I judge for myself whether the NCC in and of itself satisfies the national need for press evaluation, or whether its efforts should be supplemented by like councils in the several states and wide-rangin- tax-support- ed self-appare- nt. their subdivisions. opti&etT.so OF i AUPPHGF oppose it. (OR IT W 9mt MkPi i asmax-- ftjr 0 B-- l mv EXR5RTS WAKIT &MBER rr, s?r mIwtit vm vec&ms if tom cor to ee hk A) S Di Whjv0.mrr HTKPI&- - trur ITS MOT AS oor IF im cuAuna? au tweer. m UROK& )T ifMe- - UL, 3 20 A Meeting That Never Took Place by Lionel Frankel There is a story circulating about a recent meeting between Congressman McKarriott of Utah and Mayor Beame of New York City. The story is completely false and as a public service to our readers, we report it verbatim so they will know what not to believe. Congressman McKarriott of Utah and Mayor Beame of New York City met in an ante room at the White House, waiting to meet with the new President on fiscal matters. Congressman McKarriott, an open friendly man, struck up a conversation. Rep. M: ( introducing himself) Arent you Mayor Beame of New York City? Ive seen you on television. Mayor B: A pleasure to meet you. What are you doing here? Well actually Im here for two reasons. First, to urge President Ford - uh - Carter to balance the budget and cut down on federal spending. Second to urge President Ford - uh - Carter to change his mind about the Central Utah Project. Mayor B: Whats the Central Utah Project? Rep. M: A project to make the desert bloom like a rose by watering it with federal money. Well take water from the Ute Indian Reservation and spread it on the fields of Delta and Mona. Where Im from, water means growth and growth is life. Mayor B: What else will you do with the water? Rep. M: Well pump it into the Great Salt Lake and then we'll pump it out again. But first well use it for Rep. M: development. There'll be shopping centers, tract houses and condominiums on land now just used to grow things, and we'll put ranches and farms on land where nothing has ever grown before. Water is life where I come from. Mayor B: Beautiful, beautiful. But whats your problem? President Ford - uh - Carter has said he wont Rep. M: fund the Bonneville Unit because its not economically sound. But well pay for it eventually with water use fees and mill levies and capital gain taxes from land speculations. Water is life where I come from. But tell me more about the Central Utah Mayor B: Project. Rep. M: ( warming to the subject) The project goes back but twenty years building costs have risen, and interest rates, and now President Carter is claiming the project will cost more than the value of its benefits. He doesnt count the value of those new shopping centers and the capital gains and he doesnt understand that water is life where I come from. Mayor B: Will the cost exceed the benefit? Rep. Ms No: if you calculate the interest rate on the use of the money at 2 percent per year the project will return $1.40 for every dollar invested. And thats the interest rate you should use because that is what the interest rate on federal money was in the 50s when the project was first proposed. Mayor Bs But the federal government will have to borrow 2 per year to pay for the money at 2 project. Water is life where I come from. Rep. M: Mayor B: Listen, Ive got an idea. You borrow the money from the federal government at 2 and you lend it to us at 2 and well use it to buy treasury notes at and well use the profit to get ourselves out of hock. Rep. Ms That sounds like the American way, but w'hat will we do for water? Mayor Bs You lend us money at 2 and well eive vou 3-1- 6-1- 3-1- 4-1- 6-- 12 4-1- the Hudson River. |
