Show T STRONG SMALL TOWN PAPERS FOUND IN ONLY TWO COUNTRIES S world on only y in two countries of the nid rid the united states and canada does docs there exist a small smail 5 m a ill ili to town w n journalism a ism of any consequence on x q e n professor thomas F barnart of the university of r minnesota school of believes that much of the reason for this development of thousands of community newspapers Is reflected in the slogan of 1940 1040 national newspaper week freedom goes where the new imper paper poes small town newspapers flourish in this countr country because the setting Is right do narn Barn barnhart anhart hart hurt points 6 ints out we have developed chand hand in hand a democratic form of government a free press tradition widespread pubic education and a private enterprise system of business out of this combination have conic come other factors which enable the united states to have more than weekly newspapers as the backbone of american journalism barnhart declares niese rhose factors include the building of thousands of small towns in the count rys immense rural areas with the community newspaper playing its part in such a development the creation of a vast network of rural free delivery routes and the establishment of postal rates in keeping with a national policy of encourage ment of dissemination of information A social environment I 1 n which citizens have a friendly interest in the everyday activities of friends a and nd neighbors barnhart author of several books on weekly newspaper editorial and management problems believes that the small t town own newspaper currently is improving mp roving its historical position as a community leader and as a business enterprise |