Norwood High School - Tiot Yearbook (Norwood, MA)

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CLASS OF 1937 a certain candidate, that candidate can reach a greater number of people through the mediums of the radio and the motion pictures, As a matter of fact, both parties spent more money for radio time than for newspaper space in the last election. Of course, the Re- publicans did not have to buy l-learst's or Knox's editorial space. Recently, a bill has been introduced before the French Chamber of Depu- ties to overcome this very same evil. What appeared to be honest-to- goodness news was really propaganda of some political party which had bought the space. lt was proposed that newspapers be required to keep books for government inspection, so that there would be a list available, showing the sources of revenue of the paper. It is hoped that this plan will also clear up the scandal about the munitions firms buying space in the news col- umns and the editorial pages. ln fact, all sorts of bugs were crawling into the pages of the French press-even pro-Cermanist propaganda. This new curb on the French press while it would not hurt the freedom of the Press, would put to an end such 'gross slander as made Salengero commit suicide by making writers liable for slanderous writing. Little as we would like to turn any grayer the hair on the heads of those grizzled, old publishers, who are now hovering around the eighties, we can- not refrain from wondering aloud how anybody fbe he even a newspaper editorj would have audacity to claim to be the sole instigator who caused our country to enter into War with Spain! Even the French munitions makers try I3 to keep their war propaganda a secret! One of the chief faults of these editors who feel the patriotic blood stirring in their veins is in the inconsis- tency of their attitude. I quote the famous Horace C:reeley's words, which he uttered in a flaming editorial, just before the hrst battle at Ball Run, Cn to Richmond! What were his words, however, after the first defeat to the North? The power of the Press is also wan- ing in our law-making houses. No longer does Congress feel itself obliged to pass legislation which the publishers are trying to push through. Time and again, laws have been passed fwith no evidence of public opposition, which the Press has strongly protested. Per- haps our Congressmen have discovered that the Press no longer represents the will of the people. The public, in truth, has very little opinion, Only a very small minority of our population puts itself to any effort in thinking over the words that the editorials hurl at them. This is at- tested by the words of a leading jour- nalist and editor. Tremendous as the power of the printed word is supposed to be in directing the course of events, this editor has found that the words have to be of a rankling nature. The words have to be deeply prejudiced to something that directly hurts the people, whether it be religion, class distinction, jobs, pension, or a privilege of the people. The power of the Press is teetering on a delicate balance. Some assert that it is waning: others maintain that it is as strong as it always has been. ln one country there is a movement to curb

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I2 YEAR BOOK Q THE POWER OF THE PRESS The Press has extended itself as a permanent guest into our homes. lt is like a bossy old aunt, who tells us what we shall eat, drink, and wear. lt tells us what we dog where we gog and how we act. The newspaper dif- fers from most aunts in that it is a really welcome guest. We await the coming of the paper more eagerly than the arrival of any friend, for it is indeed one of our best friends. Our aunt tells us what to do, but the moment that she is gone, we pro- ceed to follow our usual habits, The newspaper, however, controls our thoughts to a much greater extent than does our aunt. Of course, if you curse the paper boy, who is late on account of the weather, merely because you cannot wait to read the funnies, the more serious editorial page very likely holds little control over your thoughts. Most people never read the editorial page. I have a curious habit Cperhaps l have an oriental background, of going through magazines and newspapers backwards. l do this with magazines because it is easier for me to Hip the pages from the back cover to the front. As for the evening paper, the only explanation is that the funnies are at the back. The next section, going back- wards, is the sports page, and then, the editorial. Here, on theeditorial page. l spend more time than on either of the other sections. Considering the time spent, one might conclude that this section influences me the most. For the past century, the Press has held a tremendous influence in politics. The Press has elected its candidates for the highest office in our land, as it has succeeded generally in breaking the opposition. lt is known by all now how that political influence was wrecked fat least temporarilyl in the last election. Never before had the Press unleashed its resources so vig- orously to attack a presidential candi- date. Publishers and editors, who had been thoroughly Democratic four years ago, were totally opposed to Mr. Roosevelt. The slaves of the Press fi. e. the editors, the journalists, and the reporters, were forced by threat of being discharged, to write all sorts of slander. After the election, the papers tried to make the importance ol Roosevelt's victory at the polls seem small. That vote against Landon was really a vote against the Press, The public at last saw the Press as a tool of the wealthy, who are afraid of Roose- velt and his liberal ideas of sharing the wealth. A certain periodical hails this defeat of the Press as an indication of com- ing disaster to the big publishers. It may be as serious as that, or it may merely indicate a waning of the po- litical power of the Press. Two decades ago the Press was able to defeat Bryan by closing all its advertising space to him. Bryan turned to the only alterna- tive-speaking at open-air rallies and from the rear platforms of trains. He could not, however, reach a fraction of the number of people that his op- ponent, McKinley, was able to reach through the papers. Today, if the papers close their advertising space to

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14 YEAR BOOK the power of the Pressg in another country there is a movement to give the Press more freedom. lt remains to be seen whether the Press will retain the freedom and the privileges which it has hitherto enjoyed. ln this respect very much depends upon its own be- havior. The Press itself must try to reform the chief faults which are now weakening its prestige. The fourth estate must learn to be less arrogant. Writers have to dis- continue breaking good reputations by employing slander as a means to defeat their opponents. The publishers must cease being so tyrannical over their own employees, No axe should be held n GRADUATION over the head of the editor or writer in order to induce him to write what the publisher wants. The publishers have to become less greedy. They fought the N. R. A. like wolves because it would have interfered with their exploitation of children. The owners of the big newspaper chains maintain lobbies in Washington to protect their own interests. Laborers, farmers, and political lib- eralists do not believe that they will ever get fair play from the Press. The Press has continually scorned all rules of the game. It is only for its own good that the Press should try to remedy these basic reasons for its waning power. Einari Kinnunen '37 Song and laughter, Students and clowns, We surrender all For mortar-boards and gowns! Days we've spent here ln moderate content, Laboring at studies With firm intent. Blue skies above, Dank earth below, Nothing to spur us, just on we go. Now we leave s With looks of scorn, Part We must For Time marches on! To Juniors and Sophies With smiles and tears, We wish good luck ln the coming years, Dorothy McDermott ' 3 7