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Show - - . ... w.tf Utah's Weekly Newspapers Recognized By Officials LeRoy Yorgaion The principle of a free press in the communities of Utah has taken on special significance this week as several govern-ment officers acknowledge the service of the state's weekly newspapers during National Newspaper Week. Gov. Scott M. Matheson said, "As governor of, Utah, I am keenly aware of the eminent role played by our 50 members of the Utah Press Association, and their weekly newspapers. "Our weekly newspapers are the vital link between public servants and their con-stitutents and reflect the community sentiment which public officials and state leaders need to understand In our decision making process." Gov. Matheson then quoted Adlai Stevenson who said, "The free press Is the mother of all our liberties and of our progress under liberty." Concluding, Gov. Matheson said, "Without .our community newspapers, those of us in public offices would lose our best voice to communicate with the people of our state. The people would be cheated out of their privilege of having a local, interested, community based news outlet, which mirror community needs and concerns." James V. Hansen, speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, ssald weekly papers . . . "Provide an excellent service to the communities regarding local events, the general spirit of each community, and are very important tools to the citizens which they serve." Hansen also said papers "are an especially important part of the culture of our area." Senator Jake Gam expressed a very high regard for community papers when he said, "I am well aware of the vital and invaluable service weekly newspapers perform for the residents of Utah communities. A community's identity and values are transmitted within this weekly publication, along with the necessary news and information. A weekly newspaper's local focus enables it to give space to events directly affecting the lives of its readers, from weddings and sports activities to town celebrations, school happenings and local controversies. "But beyond the traditional informational role of the press," Senator Gam continued, "weekly newspapers are able to communicate with their readers on very Ec 4c 4c 4c tc 5k 5lc 5tc 5lc tf)c 5lc rfc jIc 5 basic Issues In a comfortable, conversational way and then assess citizen response a true two-way relationship which often doesn't occur with other media. In molding themselves to the specific interests of several thousand readers, weekly newspapers exist to serve the public in the truest sense." Congressman Dan Marriott explained why he reads Utah's weekly newspapers In his Washington office. "It has been my experience in Washington," he said, "that when they are at their best, reporters and editors play a key role in conveying information and events to the public and returning public opinion to those who govern. Without this vital link, there would be a serious lack of knowledge on the part of the public and public officials. "I've also found that newspapers piuyiuc valuable forum for the presentation of all sides of the crucial Issues of the day. An educated, informed public Is the single most Important deterrent to bad government, and as long as newspapers continue to serve the public In a responsible, professional - - way,. we will have a better government and a better society." Senator Orrln O. Hatch paid tribute to the community papers by saying they . . . "are at the forefront of a number nt hattiM for the free enterprise system." He said weekly papers do an excellent job. "I am always concerned about what Is going on with people In Utah, and the weekly papers give me more information than any other source. I don't know what I would do without them." he said. |