The Press: Color Story

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Comparing A.P. and U.P. accounts of a nudist beauty contest near London last week, the Chicago Tribune was puzzled. Both wire services reported that Miss Ivy Young, 25, a London clerical worker had won the title "Miss [British] Nudist 1953." The A.P. called Ivy a "comely brunette"; the U.P. said she was a blonde." Pondering the discrepancy, the Tribune chided: "Remember that reporting the bare facts is not enough. Get a little color into your stories, but get the colors right." Ivy herself gave the right one: "I'm a natural blonde, [and] that's straight from the horse's mouth." The A.P. did not cover the event, picked up the account (and error) from an unobservant British newsman.