North Dakota State College of Science - Agawasie Yearbook (Wahpeton, ND)

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PAGE 6 THE 1950 AGAWASIE Magazine Editors Praise Newspapers; Point To Importance Of Free Press In This Country Probably no one commercial item has become a more established tradition in the United States than a publication founded in 1728 by Benjamin Franklin. Throughout the world the Saturday Evening East has long been recognized as an important part of America. Being editor of this American tradition , Ben Hibbs is in an excellent vantage point from which to survey the importance of the American newspaper in the development of our country. He has set forth his views on the subject in this comment for the 1950 .1 gaicasic: the importance of a tree press is so obvious, and lias been so widely recognized tor so many years, that anyone who sets out to pay his respects to America's newspapers is almost certain to end by offering a tribute that has been offered before. Consider, for example, the press as the great protector of people’s liberties. The events of recent history have clearly shown that the first step a Mussolini, a Hitler or a Stalin must take is lo throttle the people's newspapers. Their dread of a free press is. it seems to me. as fine a tribute as can be paid. Hut this tribute, too. has been offered before. It was offered by a man ivho spoke from experience and who phrased his tribute thus: “Tour hostile newspapers.” said Napoleon Itonapurte. “are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.'' lien Hibbs. Editor The Saturday Evening Tost V V i? One of the leading American magazines to develop during the lifetime of the average student of the Class of 1950 at the North Dakota State School of Science is Look. The picture magazine capitalized on America's growing acceptance of the old proverb. A picture is worth 1.000 words. Growing tip along with the members of the Class of 1950, Look is now read by approximately 20.000. 000 Americans every other week. Published in Des Moines, Iowa. Look has utilized some of the down to earth living that is I ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ typical of the Midwest in the development of its successful format. That same formula has been applied to other publications of the Cowles family such as The Minneapolis Star Tribune and The Des Moines Register-Tribune: and more recently, to Quick. Not only as publisher of the succesful Look magazine, but as a newspaperman, himself. Gardner Cowles is qualified to speak on behalf of the American press. In commenting on the role of newspapers in the development of America, he prepared the following statement for the 1950 Agawasie: Freedom is never won permanently. It must be worked for constantly. In this country a free and enlightened press has been one of the most powerful agents in working to preserve that freedom. It is no accident that in a dictatorship, the bulwark of a free press is one of the first things to be destroyed. This country owes an overwhelming debt to its newspapers with their great traditions of independence and courage. It should be clear to all by now that the preservation of democracy, and perhaps of civilization as ice know it, depends on an unfettered and responsible press. (lardner Cowles. Editor Look Magazine 1

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UJSeaLi . Lw - • ‘ - » - Ik . • THE 19S0 AGAWASIE PAGE S New York Editor Cites Serious Newspaper's Importance in America The serious newspaper—the one that seeks to inform its readers rather than solely to entertain them—is an essential adjunct to our democratic system. Those comments by Arthur Hays Sulzberger. publisher of the AVie York Timex, In a letter to the 1950 Ago-(Mtfe. not only point out an important phase of the newspaper's role in America, but describe the AYii’ York Times, itself. No newspaper in the world rivals the famed Times for complete reporting of the news. Its far-flung system of correspondents throughout the world provides it with top-notch coverage of the news. It is a newspaper of distinction. and although it is not the most widely circulated of the American newspapers, it is probably known and respected in more places and by more people than any of its contemporaries. Mr. Sulzberger's full comments on the role of the American newspaper in the development of our country: .-Is people mature, they have the choice of being followers or being leaders, tf they choose the former role, chance alone determines what leader they will follow. It may be a Stalin, a Teron. or a Franco. If. on the other hand, they choose to be leaders, then they must be informed for only an informed electorate can make wise judgments. The serious newspaper—the one that seeks to inform its readers rather than solely to entertain them—is an essential adjunct to our democratic system. Without these serious newspapers, without readers who hare the intelligence to comprehend them, democracy as we know it is doomed. That's why think newspapers are important. ☆ ☆ I • »; . n r jc ... »»» | W.N-M ..... !• - • i MU in’ -m» u m i ir—l - M kl •IsXtH '« « « m mutliuis I »• • L .. v ■ vu. ] Mt I OK . vr “A'fiWSPAPERS — KEY TO AMERICAN FREEDOM ☆ ☆ i . ☆ North Dakota Congressmen Praise Press For Freedom Protection Role Continued from page 3 From earliest recorded limes, since man first began to scribble on care walls, the communication of information and ideas has gone hand-in-hand with man's progress. After the invention of the printing press, it is not entirely coincidental that man began to advance himself more rapidly through the more efficient interchange of progressive ideas. Newspapers, from the very beginning. have been much maligned by governments. Some newspapers, indeed, by their irresponsible tactics. have deserved criticism. The lighting editors of the early newspapers of this country did much to promote and encourage the formation of a new empire in the North American wilderness, and the early settlement of lands that were to become what we now know as the United States. One well-known chain of newspapers has a slogan, dive light and the people will find their own way. It is significant that newspapers in some countries of the world today, under iron government control and censorship, are unable to give that light, and so it is not without cause that the people of some of those countries are having trouble finding their own way. The responsibilities of a free and unfettered press are great in a liberty-loving country. It is to be hoped that the American press will continue in the great traditions it began to establish during revolutionary times. Sincerely yours. I'sher L. Burdick There are many institutions in this country which we have come to look on as a pari of our way of life without fully realising their importance and contributions. For example, our newspapers fall in that category, and even though they have effectively disseminated truth and knowledge for years, we oftentimes overlook this singular contribution. It should always be remembered that an enlightened electorate is democracy’s strongest hope. In that great challenge, the newspapers of America have had a leading part, and for that reason freedom of the press” and all that goes with it should be preserved and strengthened. Sincerely yours. Milton II. Young ☆ ☆ Freedom is not always free. Even when once acquired it must be guarded by vigilance and some personal sacrifice. The freedom that we acquired when we threw off the British yoke is still ours because it was guarded by freedom of speech and defended by a free press. That freedom is threatened today by governmental bureaucracy. If we are to continue freedom of speech, then we must never surrender the right to say what we think. If the free press is to continue. then it must not permit its policies to be dictated by governmental agencies nor by advertisements. The individual must never permit his lips to he sealed, nor must the press surrender its independence. Sincerely yours. William Lemke

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THE 1950 AGAWASIE PAGE 7 Trade Press Speaks Up For Country's Papers Although somewhat of an unknown quantity to the average layman, the publishing trade press has played an important part in the development of American newspapers, and consequently has been an important factor in the development of America. Probably no one group of individuals can speak with more authority on the subject of the American newspaper than the editors and publishers of such magazines ns Advertising Age. Editor and Publisher, Printers’ Ink and The Publishers’ Auxiliary. The editors of these four trade magazines in the publishing field prepared special comments on the role of the American newspapers for the 1951) Agaieasie. G. D. Crain. Jr., publisher of Advertising Age. stated that newspapers might be called the indispensable media of communication. Robert U. Brown, editor of Editor and Publisher, pointed out that the daily and weekly newspapers of the United States are the guardians of all our freedoms and the cornerstone of our democracy.” C. B. Larrabee. president and publisher of Printers’ Ink. commented: “Too often we overlook the great importance of the newspaper as a steady purveyor of information about the vast number of products and services that con-tibutc to increasing the American standard of living. George H. Bechtel, editor of The Publisher’ Auxiliary, stressed the importance of the weekly newspaper in America, or the so-called grassroots press, and pointed out that everyone knows America progresses from the grassroots Newspapers might be called the indispensable media of communication. Issued daily, they provide the major means whereby the citizens of a great republic, responsible by their votes for governmental policy. may keep informed regarding events of local, state, national and international importance. The local newspaper informs and stimulates, helping to create public sentiment which will support improvements in government, administration of local vital services, schools, public health and hospital facilities, recreation, transportation. etc. Only through the local newspaper can the citizen and his family know what is happening of interest to themselves, their friends and their communities. The great expansion of newspaper circulations, now at an all-time high. h:rt taken place in an era when magazines were also growing in circulation, and radio listening and Ictviewing became almost universal. Yet the indispensable character of the services of daily newspapers brought them more readers, paging a higher price per copy for the service, than ever before in history. One of the great values of newspapers is their advertising. The needs of the household are met through information on store offerings. Home improvement and personal satisfactions are provided through the information furnished by advertisers in every field. Advertising research has translated this service into information which enables manufacturers and merchants to utilize newspaper space to the best advantage of all concerned, readers us well as advertisers. Along with the information and entertainment provided by newspapers has come a broadened social concept which has led nespapers into the forefront of those working for progress in every field affecting human happiness, safety and well-being. The support given by newspapers to every worthy cause, from the American lied Cross to the local community fund drives, is an essential part of their success. American would not be America without its newspapers. (',. I). Crain. Jr.. Tublishci Advertising Age The daily and weekly newspapers of the I'nited States operating under the free press guarantee in the Eirst Amendment to the Constitution arc the guardians of all our freedoms and the cornerstone of our democracy. Our newspapers are the auditors of government. If the people of the I'nited States ever lose the privilege of a free press, it will be the first step toward the sacrifice of all their freedoms. Because of the rapid system of communications, which the newspapers themselves have largely developed, the people of this country are informed instantly as to what is going on around the world an:l in their own country. Because of this speedy publishing service, also, our vast sales and distribution system works to best advantage in keeping our tremendous production machine going at lull capacity and providing the jobs for America’s millions. Robert V. Brown. Editor Editor and Publisher ☆ ix .•is a continual carrier of news a';oul events and products, the newspaper is one of the great uniting forces of our nation. H e all recognize the great value of newspapers as a source of information about events in the overlook the great importance of the newspaper as a steady purveyor of information about the vast number of products and services that contribute to increasing the American standard of living. Without this service from our newspapers, our country doutless would not have attained its present standards as quickly or as easily. C. B. Larrabee, Publisher Printers’ Ink There arc many segments to newspapering in America today. All arc important but there is none so close to the soul of this nation than the so-called grassroots press. Any comment about the newspapers’ contribution to the progress and up-building of America must include a salute to the nonmetropolitan editor. Frequently he is the entire staff, working alone. Sometimes lie needs a force of several people. In any case, his eternal interest is the prosperity and success of his community—and everyone knows Arnica progresses from the grassroots up. (ieorge II. Bechtel. Editor The Publishers’ Auxiliary