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Show j THE READER'S DATE BOOK 1 Freedom Is Theme of National Newspaper Weec, October 1-8 During the week of October 1-8 the readers of this newspaper, and thousands of other readers of publications like it in the small towns of America, will read the slogan, "Your Newspaper Lights the Way of Freedom." During the week the newspapers of America Amer-ica will tell their readers how they operate, the details of publication, publica-tion, what they stand for, but above all they will try to tell the story of freedom. And whether or not they succeed, or to what degree they succeed, may have an everlasting effect upon the lives of their readers. For the American press remains one of the great pillars of this nation's freedom. The word freedom is widely used today. It is a word every American takes for granted . 1 in all its meanings. A But sometimes it is an empty word, MfiBSV made so before the yTSSfTT reader or speaker trSH.! realizes the fact. FEATURE For instance, in I a southern town a battle between the community's newspaper and other elements of the area is underway that -nay well end in the silencing of that community's publication. The newspaper wants to tell the story of gambling in the community, commu-nity, and has atempted to do. so. There are elements in the community commu-nity that want it silenced. In an eastern town two editors of weekly newspapers are barred from attending at-tending and reporting the village council's monthly meetings. Public officials do not want the official business of the village published. True, these are isolated instances; in-stances; some may argue not of national significance. That is not true. Isolated, yes, but having hav-ing great national importance. For here are the first, perhaps, of a number of instances when the voice of the press would be silenced. If encouraged, then other communities would soon suffer similar activities of groups and interests not dedicated dedi-cated to the American way of life or the principles of freedom free-dom as understood by the average American. nation will trj to tell during National Nation-al Newspaper Week. It is an important im-portant story. It is important because be-cause that definition of a newspaper newspa-per is also the definition of freedom. free-dom. Without this free expression of ideals and thoughts and opinions there would be no liberty in this country. The men who helped form this nation thought it important, because be-cause they wrote into the constitution: constitu-tion: "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging freedom of speech and freedom of the press." Napoleon, one of the great dictators dicta-tors of history, knew its importance and took steps to limit the free press of France. He said, "Three hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets." It is probably one of the few times that Napoleon underestimated a potential enemy. In past weeks this space has been dedicated to special weeks and events, telling the story of how the reader, the newspaper and the merchant can put these occasions to work for their benefit and that of the community. commu-nity. But in the telling of the story of the newspaper and its relations to the community, it would be untruthful to leave the impression that all newspapers have been used for the best Interests of the community. In the past the free press of America has been used by selfish, and often, greedy men for their own benefits. Undoubtedly, in some communities, the press is still controlled con-trolled by those who do not use it for the best interests of the town. Such instances, however, are becoming be-coming more and more isolated. This does not mean the general T ( your newspaper irfMXumrs th way During the week of October 1-8 National Newspaper Week this newspaper and others like it will try to tell the story of what a free press means to this community, the state, and the nation. What does this newspaper mean to the individuals of this community? commu-nity? For instance, the merchant. To him it is an advertising medium, through which he tells the people of the community what he has to offer in the way of goods and services. Ct does a good job for him, but more often than not he grumbles when he has to pay his monthly bill. He sees the 10-inch ad as a 10-inch ad, nothing more. He doesn't stop to multiply that 10-Inch 10-Inch ad by the newspaper's circulation circula-tion and thus arrive at the actual advertising space he received. To the editor the newspaper is work, pleasant work or he would not be doing it. It is also the medium me-dium through which he often tries to express himself and it is the means by which he makes a living. And tc all those others the linotype lino-type operator, the pressman, the newspaper boy it is a job and a ihing in which they find satisfaction satisfac-tion and take pride. But your community newspaper newspa-per 's more than these things. It has an elusive, almost tangible tangi-ble quality. It is a reflection of the community itself its thinking, think-ing, its opinions, its activities; it is the focal point of all incidents, in-cidents, both tangible and intangible in-tangible which make and develop your home town; it is yru and your neighbors, who are actors across its pages; it is a history of you and the community. com-munity. This is part of the story newspapers newspa-pers in every community in the run of editors are "knights in shining armor" carrying a sword against the world's evils. They are hard working and often underpayed men who write facts about their communities. And once in a great while they find an injustice and campaign against it with the weapon wea-pon at hand their newspapers. But day by day the editor goes along telling the truth the facts of instances and circumstances in his community. Alone he can do nothing about them, but by telling the truths he hopes to arouse in his fellow citizens indignation against injustice and good wiU for righteousness. right-eousness. This is the everyday campaign of freedom. There is an often repeated story in newspaper circles that illustrates illus-trates how human an editor can really be. The paragraph appeared in the Melrose (Wis.) Chronicle and reads: "It is reported that one of the fastidious newly-married ladies of this town kneads bread with her gloves on. This incident may be somewhat peculiar, but there are others. The editor of this paper needs bread with his shoes on; he needs bread with his shirt on; he needs bread with his pants on, and unless some of the delinquent subscribers sub-scribers of this "Old Rag of Freedom" pony up before long, he will need bread without a damn thing on, and Wisconsin is no Garden of Eden in the wintei time." This is a part of the story newspapers news-papers will tell their readers during dur-ing the week of October 1-8. When the full story is told it will have created a grea'.er understanding for each reader of the things that make up his local newspaper and what it represents. |
