Show I NEWS n 1 THE ft rN n t B By AUL LO N I Released by Western Newspaper Union FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND RADIO V WASHINGTON ASHINGTON The magpies' magpies limb has been rather contentedly quiet since election What few have emanated have however disclosed f that some curious curious curious curi curi- ous ideas about democracy and freedom freedom freedom free free- dom are developing in this coun coun- try For example it is the radio that thatis is free and the press is shackled says an unfriendly reader from a small Wisconsin community He reasons it out that the radio generally generally generally gen gen- does not take sides in political political political cal arguments does not criticize group actions of a political nature and therefore is free while the newspapers with their various editorial editorial editorial edi edi- policies express preferences and criticize political groups and therefore are The radio is not primarily a public public public pub pub- lic service It is an amusement business Its character is more that of a theater than a newspaper It handles news only as a minor side side- line Also it gets practically all its news from the same sources as most newspapers the press associations Chosen as its commentators are many many men who have a theatrical delivery style not always those who know most about news My Wisconsin friend is factually wrong also in assuming radio commentators commentators commentators com com- did not represent both sides in the last election They did and I hope will always continue to represent both sides strongly To keep political discussion free of criticism would bring a weak-ton- weak gued nothingness in popular expression expression expression sion and further enable selfish politicos politicos politicos poli- poli to work the people for them- them selves Here is the point where my Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin Wis Wis- friend and so many who believe believe believe be be- lieve as he does have fallen into undemocratic delusions Without controversy says Churchill Democracies cannot achieve their proc proc- esses Freedom is not one Politically Politically Poli Poll it may be that in Russia and perhaps other spots in the world but in this democracy freedom freedom freedom free free- dom of expression means the right to be in a minority Oppositions are not extinguished or purged after elections Indeed it means the right to be vitriolic or even the right to be wrong It requires criticism of all forces in politics Business Reasonable Generally most people in the far commentating far more than in the political business strive to be reasonable and factual but they have the right to be unreasonable and humorous There are all kinds of people on all sides of every ques ques- tion The very nature of democracy democracy democracy racy assumes that they will express themselves freely in their own way and from their debate hot or cold decisions will come The press is far more free than radio The air waves are under government government government gov gov- supervision supposed to be technical but you may have noticed the Democratic campaign publicity publicity publicity pub pub- director Paul Porter has been given the radio communications commission chairmanship Certainly radio has a constant fight on its hands to keep itself free as licenses must be frequently frequently frequently fre fre- renewed and the radio commission can at any time drive a station out of business Not so with the press Its primary business is news and it is not under government supervision although its newsprint is rationed and news censored by government Furthermore Furthermore Furthermore Further Further- more it has a heritage in news presentation presentation presentation pres pres- evident in the mind of any young scoop reporter anxious to get all the facts no matter who they help or hurt Competition is faster than in n any other business I know The fight for exclusive presentation presenta presenta- tion practical judgment better written newspapers more complete coverage is vicious and eternal Editorially every shade of public mind is presented By and large it itis itis itis is the newspapers which keep the intelligent people of the country in in- formed Radio cannot do it lacking a medium permitting thoughtful story or financial incentive for news development Only a few people seem interested in preventing the expression publicly public public- ly of any views except those with which they agree These people are not only undemocratic democratic but unwise They can never add to their own understanding or store of knowledge knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge by listening to those who agree with them They can learn much from those who disagree A restless appetite for something called freedom is loose in the land The youth wants it This is what war is being fought for Most of the internationally agitating agitating agi agi- ta tating ting societies in New York also have the word freedom attached to their titles titles Polish Polish Russian internationalist internationalist internationalist inter inter- nationalist what not But what is this freedom for which we yearn It must be something something something some some- thing different from that freedom which we have had It is not alone democracy for we have had that still have it We n nu n ad d a t definition of ot freedom |