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Show At1i8 MMSQdrt by Senator Ornn UUch Free press preserves 1 a free people I think it's interesting that Superman, the mythical protector of pence, freedom and the American way, works on the side in a newspaper office. The press, after all, is one of the greatest safeguards America has for guarding its peace and freedom and way of life. The awareness and expression expres-sion it provides helps maintain a strong nation through an informed public; people peo-ple know what their government's doing do-ing and they're free to examine it, support sup-port it or challenge it in a way that breeds communication and consensus instead of conflict. A number of other functions are served serv-ed by the press, functions that bear reviewing today In conjunction with National Na-tional Newspaper Week, Oct. 11 to 17. First, the press preserves an informed inform-ed electorate, which is important to the survival of any democracy. In order to make wise choices in the voting booth, people-voters-need to know what their representatives are doing, or not doing. That information is provided by the press. Second, the press gives those who lack power a voice; it allows debate and discussion where there might otherwise be only silence, and provides the enlightened choices debate permits. People who opposed President Reagan's budget cuts, for example, could not match the President's power or communicative resources, yet they .were heard through a news media that sought them out. Third, the press, almost by nature, Is an adversary of government; it probes motives, illuminates leaders and sirs mistakes. The result Is a generally honest government-thanks to the fear of public scrutiny -one that knows It will be held accountable it If steps out of bounds. Contrast those advantages with free expression in the Soviet Union. Writers there cither write what will , 1 ;; please the government, or ; tW '. write at all. Membentap ; writer's union is a Pre b, : -publication, and appr 'c 1? government is a Prf : membership. Those who ar ;. ed, aren't published. ; Dissident writers face tMV imprisonment or M-; ; writer faces a term m a bw . camp after writing his g,,, . : previous 15-year term. W- ; of citizenship or remaining few write nai . ment wants. . v. The result is h Wa.erga.es and Abscarn , whose darker deeds are s ... curtains of government (,. people are not " and injustices of not address them or cha" - they were. -v "A free people, and when that n , goes any other 'JVu-Kichard 'JVu-Kichard Buys, publjj Utah weekly "'V' domination of th" P" tlon of people's mlncis- |