The Role of the Newspaper - RBC Role of the Newspaper THERE ARE, TO NEWSPAPERMEN, three personages of particular distinction in history. Edmund Burke, great parliamentarian, flattered

VOL. 55, No. 7 HEAD OFFICE: MONTREAL, JULY 1974

The Role of the Newspaper

THERE ARE, TO NEWSPAPERMEN, three personages of

particular distinction in history. Edmund Burke, greatparliamentarian, flattered the press gallery by pointingto its members and naming them the Fourth Estate,far more important than the other three estates inParliament. Thomas Jefferson said that he wouldprefer newspapers without a government to a govern-ment without newspapers. Voltaire set a standard forfreedom of speech by telling Helvetius: "I disapproveof what you say, but I will defend to the death yourright to say it."

Canadian newspapers, by and large, accept andremain steadfast to these three eighteenth centuryauthorities. Their virtues deserve to be recognizedbecause they are greater than their faults.

Most reporters and editors are able, responsible,and ambitious to do a good job. They believe that theproduct of their work is vitally important to theirreaders and to Canada. They justify their freedom toreport by writing accurately and interestingly and byinterpreting fairly and intelligently the significanthappenings and trends of their time. They cannot belegitimately blamed if people do not desire the best,but settle for debased reading matter.

Lord Hewart, Chief Justice of England, declared:"In a country that enjoys, or has, or is supposed tohave representative institutions, the newspaper is, ofcourse, a necessity."

A newspaper cannot please everyone every day.Here is a situation wherein each side benefits byhaving knowledge of the needs and difficulties of theother. It has been said often that the newspapermanmust know his public: it will help if the reader knowssomething of the problems of the reporter and theeditor, and how they go about solving them.

The newspaper is produced for commercial gain,sold under highly competitive conditions, and musthave careful busihess management. If it is not issuedfor sale so as to make a profit, it is not a distinctindividual, but a part or adjunct of something else.If published to advance any cause, it is an organ, nota newspaper. It cannot be independent unless it earnsits living.

The perfect newspaper will be the voice of the lowlyand oppressed and forgotten people, champion of theunder dog. If, in discharge of its responsibility, itoccasionally troubles the public conscience, that isnot to its discredit. If it is a defender of civil libertyand a friend of righteous causes it is performing aworthy service.

Its chief function is to hold up a mirror to thehappenings of the day. If it is careful to keep the mirrorclean and as flawless as possible, the reflections willbe honest, clear and interesting.

Any list of qualities that makes a show of beingideal in all characteristics may be unattainable inaction, but failure should be due to impediments inthe process and not to neglect of the purpose. Whenseeking to form principles there is no use in lookingat any but the best practices as aiming points.

People want news

People are hungry for news. Ever since articulationcame to primitive man, he has been asking of thosehe meets: "What do you know?" In Paradise Lost,in which Milton reported the first sensational humanstory -- one having to do with the probationary appletree and the serpent--Adam and Eve welcomedeagerly the arrival of Raphael with news from Heaven.In this twentieth century we ask everyone we meet:"What is new ?"

It is not surprising to find that readers should lookupon those who mix the magic newspaper potion withsomething of the awe and frustration of Faust as hewatched the witch concocting the golden drink whichwas to give him happiness, love and knowledge.(Parenthetically, it may be noted that Faust remarkedof the witch: "What balderdash doth she recite?Methinks I hear in chorus, quite a hundred thousandidiots prating.")

Newspaper writing and newspaper reading are notjobs for people who cannot, when necessary, look ata subject objectively. The reader needs to distinguishbetween knowledge and guessing, between trained andcasual observation; between verification and credu-

lousness. Learn to appraise the piece you are reading:is it statement of fact, interpretation, opinion, argu-ment, or special pleading? In an important report, issomeone named as authority ?

You will find the news of the world reportedbroadly and objectively in virtually every Canadiandaily newspaper, large or small.

Our country has a broad and tolerant outlook onthe world. Its people have learned to be friends ofgreat nations that are not always too friendly with oneanother. Its newspapers report their political, economicand cultural affairs as being matters of interest toall Canadians.

This is a spirit and a practice that might withadvantage be applied to national and provincial newsmore widely than is done at present.

The Chairman and President of this bank touchedupon the matter in an address before the Chancellor’sClub, University of Calgary, in March. He said:"While I am encouraged, indeed bullish, on theprospects for Canada as a single, unified nation, I amnevertheless discouraged and alarmed by the degreeof mischief which may be done in the short run bythe zealous action of those whose vision is limitedeither in time or geography."

Commenting on the sheer difficulty of commu-nicating with one another because of the vast size ofthe country, he asked: "So what do we do about thecommunication problem? Clearly, we must improvethe mobility of people, facts and ideas across Canada.A truly national newspaper would be helpful, butperhaps this is just wishful thinking. While we wantnational unbiased news, we want it delivered to ourhomes while it is still news."

A courageous publisher, supported by an inspired,intelligent, and dynamic editorial staff, might findhis greatest fulfilment as a newspaperman and as aCanadian in making his publication desired by thepublic outside its present limited circulation areabecause of its authentic and well-written reports aboutnational matters.

Criticism of newspapers

It is commonplace for a writer to be surprised bywhat some critics find to be critical about in hisarticles. They are likely to see in a reporter’s story notwhat he has written but what they are looking for.They may have purely local knowledge, and may beunlearned outside their own particular fields, and talkabout a piece of writing with the perspective of awasherwoman talking about Niagara Falls.

Anyone can make complaints, but criticisms thatarise out of positive, constructive thinking may yieldvaluable guidance. Knowledge, and therefore civiliza-tion, are advanced by criticism and negation as wellas by positive suggestion.

Probably the complaint most often heard is thatthe press is sensational. Reporters on a good storyare reluctant to prick the bubble that reflects the

world in brilliant colours and turn it into a little soapand water. Some persons mistake this addiction tobrightness for sensationalism.

Critics seem to imply that in some way the promi-nent printing of dramatic reports is not a very goodor decent thing to do.

Looked at without prejudice, this charge boils itselfdown to an allegation that newspapers recognizehuman interest values and play them up, realizingthat their readers are intelligent people, interested inthe colourful truth revealed in world happenings everyday. Objection may be made legitimately to themanner of reporting or the over-emphasis givenreports of violence and crime in some newspapers.

Passion, force, outrage and tumult have becomepart of today’s life, if not universally approved atleast widely accepted. Lucille Ball, for 23 years pastthe "first lady of television", said in an interviewpublished by the Christian Science Monitor: "Rightnow, I’m beginning to be shocked that I’m not asshocked as I used to be." As one writer put it: "Thegrandchildren of the kids who used to weep becausethe Little Match Girl froze to death now feel cheatedif she isn’t slugged, raped, and thrown into a Bessemerconvertor."

The urge to play up conflict in print and in con-versation is widespread, and newspapers might im-prove their image by curbing it. If at an interprovincialgathering there is agreement on something, anddisagreement on something else, a newspaper is likelyto mention first and point up in its headline the matteron which the provinces did not agree. This is, ofcourse, appealing to a low estimate of the readers’sensibility, but it seems to some newspapers to berealistic.

In 1971 a paper called Good News was launched inCalifornia to print all the bright, happy doings whichmost newspapers cannot spare room for. After sixteenmonths it had to throw in the towel, thousands ofdollars in the red. People did not want Good News.

Advertising and propaganda

Another complaint is that the newspapers containtoo much advertising, but advertising is necessary notonly to provide revenue for the paper but to giveinformation to the reader. We need to know, so thatwe can plan our day-to-day living, what things areavailable for our convenience, comfort, and efficiency.

Advertisements have circulation value, as one largeCanadian newspaper found to its cost. When a bigstore withdrew its advertising from the paper, thecirculation slipped until it was far below that of arival paper, formerly in second place. This fact, ofthe circulation value of advertising, works two ways.It is indicative of the value of advertising to thenewspaper, but it is also evidence of the value of thenewspaper to the advertiser and to readers.

There are some variations in the treatment of

advertising by newspapers. Finland’s Helsingin Sano-mat throws out advertising to make space for latenews, while the Argyllshire Advertiser has been knownto announce: "To avoid disappointing our ad-vertisers a number of news items have had to be heldover this week."

A criticism levelled at some newspapers is that theyare organs of propaganda. Propaganda is anythingyou read that makes you feel some action should betaken, and it would be a poor news sheet that nevergave that feeling.

On the other hand, newspapers are criticizedbecause they do not print things that people want tohave printed free to support some good cause. Thereason for refusal may be that the articles are boring,amateurishly written, or without a spark of humaninterest. Some newspapers make it a point, whenthe project is a good one, to have a competent personrewrite the article, perhaps with new material added,so that the story performs a worthy function and atthe same time informs readers in an interesting way.

What news is

News is accurate information about any event ofpublic or human interest, or the record of significantacts or opinions. It tells about something that isdifferent from daily routine.

Airplanes that fly safely and without being hijacked,people who live together without quarrelling, riversthat flow within their banks, and the nations thatconduct their affairs and resolve their differenceswithout fighting--these are not news. An ordinaryperson doing an ordinary job in an ordinary way isnot the subject of a news story, but if you have anextraordinary man or woman in action, or an ordinaryman or woman doing an extraordinary job, or doingan ordinary job in an extraordinary way, that is news.

There are sorts and degrees of news. Some thingswhich happen in a village are news there but not ina town a few miles away. Happenings on the stockexchange are news on the financial page, and notanywhere else except on days when there is a financialupheaval.

About newspapermen

There is nothing mysterious about a reporter. He isa working man who probably lives as well as hissalary affords, marries, has children, and takes anormal interest in the politics, poetry and perplexitiesof life.

The glamour belongs to the institution which, morethan steam or gunpowder or gasoline or atomicenergy, has revolutionized the world.

When into the complacency of the seventeenthcentury there was thrown this yeasty art of newspaperprinting, a ferment was set up which has not beenabated by the passage of three centuries. It wasmagical, indeed, that knowledge hidden from thecommon people before that time should be revealed

to them; that the secret movements of lofty andsacrosanct leaders should be spread upon cheap paperfor all to read.

Two attributes of the good newspaper reportertoday are selection and sincerity. He knows whatincidents to include to give his canvas the image oflife, and he cannot be induced to omit an iota of whathe believes to be essential. He is neither too daintyto face facts as they are, nor too blind to discern theirfull significance, but he will not revel in the unhealthyor set down anything in malice. He is true to thefacts whether he is writing an account of a high schoolconcert or a report of the clash of events in worldpolitics.

A reporter would not gather much notable news bygoing around asking people: "Have you any newstoday?" They do not know what news is. The skillspeculiar to getting a story and writing it professionallyand attractively are: an open mind linked withunquenchable curiosity, an invincible scepticism, anda disposition not to be easily brushed off.

All good writing implies selection and organization.Efficient editorship is essential. By applying hindsight,foresight, imagination and initiative the editor trainshis staff in knowledge of what news is and in thetechniques of getting it and writing it.

It is the editor’s duty to see that stories are developedso as to explain for the reader’s benefit what hashappened. The "how" and the "why" of events aremost important. If the editor ignores this function hewill turn out a paper that seems to indicate that it isin business for this day only, or that he anticipates awholly new set of readers tomorrow.

The editorial page

An editorial page which offers genuinely worth-while fare will not have to worry about lack of readers.People are eager for authoritative guidance by writerswho know they are writing about and take pains toilluminate what is going on.

The editorial writer with a sense of responsibilitywill try to give his readers a balanced presentation ofbasic facts, tell the purpose of proposed action,suggest alternatives, and illuminate the whole matterby his skilful thought and observation. Then hisreaders can weigh and examine the matter that isbeing discussed with some approach to knowing onwhat grounds they base their opinions.

In a society that is largely affected by fear, insecurity,uncertainty, the deterioration of values, disillusion-ment and materialism, readers do not desire editorialsthat are bland recitals without any challenge to think.More people than ever before are interested inknowing not only what is happening but why it ishappening. They need strongly interpretative materialto help them to think their way through the fog ofevents.

The editorial writer must investigate and appraise,and write his copy with logic and learning. His appeal

is to truth and reason and intelligence, not to prejudice,passion and ignorance.

Freedom of the press

Freedom of thought, in any valuable sense, includesfreedom of expression. Where men cannot withoutfear convey their thoughts to one another, no otherliberty is secure.

Freedom of the press means that an idea shall haveits chance even if it is not shared by those who ownor manage the press. The press is not free if thosewho operate it behave as though their position con-ferred upon them the privilege of being deaf to ideaswhich the processes of free speech have brought topublic attention.

Freedom of the press is to be guarded as a vitalright of mankind. Canada has no peace-time censor-ship, puts no embargo on the import or export ofnews, and does not tell editors what to print, whatopinions to express, or what "causes" to support.

This freedom, however, does not confer the libertyto be carefree in newspaper publishing. Freedom ofthe press does not give liberty to publishers, editorsand reporters to print what they like. It is freedomfor the people to get information and to expressopinions. The first amendment to the Constitution ofthe United States was not adopted for the benefit ofnewspapers but to prevent interference by the govern-ment with the citizens’ right to receive news.

In A Free and Responsible Press, published by theUniversity of Chicago Press in 1947, freedom andobligation are linked in this way: "This implies thatthe press must also be accountable. It must be ac-countable to society for meeting the public need andfor maintaining the rights of citizens and the almostforgotten rights of speakers who have no press."

Not all newspapers hew to this line. Dr. RobertRedfield, author, anthropologist and educationalist,said in a lecture in 1954: "The heaviest price we haveto pay for that incalculable good, freedom of speech,is listening to the uses to which the freedom is put."

Some newspapers exploit their freedom by harassingpeople, by publishing material that is not news butprivate business, by invading privacy, and by printinghalf-truths based upon "leaked" information.

Walter H. Page, distinguished United States am-bassador in England, said in a letter home: "Ifthere’s anything I’m afraid of, it’s the newspapers. Thecorrespondents are as thick as flies in summer allhunting sensations- especially the yellow Americanpress."

Protective measures

There are four principles that tend to keep thepress from infringing the public’s rights: accuracy,factual reporting, decency, and fairness.

A newspaper is not to be excused for inaccuracythat is caused by lack of thoroughness within its

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control. At Le Monde, nonpareil of newspapers, allarticles written even by senior members of the staffare read by two of his or her peers before publication.

The newspaper must be decent, not only in thelanguage and pictures it uses, but in the way it goesabout obtaining the news. There are situationsoccurring in human life into which no newspaper candecently justify intrusion. Public opinion should bequick to punish a newspaper which transgresses thedecencies of the level to which its community hasattained.

Plausible arguments are brought forth by those whoapprove the use of obscenity and verbal titillation.It is contended by some persons that such material isthe stuff of life, and that it is the duty of organs ofpublic information to leave no one deceived aboutthe real nature of the world. Men and women whosupport the policy of publishing ’,the raw stuff of life"are not avant-garde but throw-backs toward bar-barism. Civilized people seek refinement. In fact,civilization itself is the result of refining coarse waysof living.

If a newspaper’s self-imposed discipline fails toprevent the damaging of a person’s reputation thereremains recourse to the law of libel, designed toprotect people and associations of people fromdamaging assertions.

That a newspaper is free to publish somethingwithout prior permission does not mean that it maysay what it likes with impunity. If the article is defama-tory or seditious or blasphemous or obscene, orcommits any other legal wrong, the paper can after-wards be made liable for it.

A healthy ambition

Just as the citizen tries to order his life so as tolive decently, effectively and fruitfully, so a newspapercan contribute to its generation by telling the news inaccord with the principles of honesty, impartiality,integrity, accuracy and fairness.

A person who has lived fifty or sixty years is like aman who sits some time in a Conjurer’s box at a showand witnesses the performance twice or thrice. Thetricks lose their novelty through repetition. At seventy,a person has read about how three or four generationsfaced problems that are the same today, and tried tosolve them.

This generation is talking about disarmament andworld peace, women’s liberation and liberal, con-servative and socialistic politics, the abuse of drugs,the relative virtues of classical and popular music,and the various sorts of new art --just as his genera-tion did. But all of these must be interpreted in termsof changed world conditions and of new knowledge inthe sciences and arts. That is the task of the newspaper.

In all this the newspaper has a double duty. It mustcomport itself so that it is read by mature peoplebecause of its reliability, and by young people becauseof its forward look. It is to the newspaper’s credit if itkeeps a bit above the level of its time.

THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA 1974/PRINTED IN CANADA