The Press: An Adversary

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In The Nation for Dec. 24, journalist Marc A. Rose discussed: "What will radio do to the newspaper?" Will it oust the newspaper as purveyor of the world's news to the public or will it ally itself to the newspapers?

The Associated Press, the great A. P., is nervous. Mr. Rose said: "It is on record through its board of directors as forbidding its members to broadcast, or to supply for broadcasting, any news belonging to the A. P."

The United Press, on the other hand, is not perturbed. Its President, Karl A. Bickel, is quoted: "No one can eliminate radio from the field. Whether we like it or not, it is here." "So," said journalist Rose, "the United Press is determined to play along with radio, study it, be ready to utilize it as its possibilities unfold."

With regard to the public, Mr. Rose differentiates between the intelligent reader and the headline readers of "trash"—"the 800,000 'readers' of the Daily News in New York, in which there is nothing to read."

The intelligent reader must have all the facts. If he wants them over the radio, he must have plenty of spare time, which most men have not.

Trash readers, comic-strip fanatics, crossword puzzlers, gum-chewers are satisfied by the noises which may be transmitted to them over the ether. But even in their case, and though they delight in listening in on Presidential speeches, football games, ball games, jazzy funnymen, first aid lectures, bed-time stories and advice to mothers, their interest is thus aroused in their newspapers. They delight in reading what they have heard. Many of Mr. Rose's friends told him that radio has made them read the newspaper accounts more eagerly. More critically, too.

The author's conclusions, therefore, are that the ever-growing baby, Radio, will grow up to love its elder brother, Newspaper—"as the ally, not the enemy, of the newspaper."