The Press: Santa & the City Room

The Christmastide had long been a happy time in the city room. In trod messengers bearing gifts from sources to newsmen—ashtrays, tumblers, cheeses, fruit baskets, electric roasters, turkeys, hams, and good liquor. If he occupied the right spot—say, a business, entertainment or sports desk—the happy recipient might gather enough spirits to throw a roaring good New Year's Eve party. But this Christmas, in the year of exposure of big TV and radio payola and all its embarrassment, the flow of gifts in most newspaper offices slowed to a weak gurgle.

On the bulletin boards of some papers appeared fresh drafts of Christmas-gift policy. The New York Times in its memo solemnly advised its staff against keeping "gifts of substantial value," a qualification so vague that when Assistant Managing Editor Theodore Bernstein was pressed for specific proscriptions, he could only answer with a grin, "No yachts." The Minneapolis Star and Tribune restated existing policy: "Never accept more than a modest amount of anything one can eat, or drink, or that wilts." The St. Louis Globe-Democrat reminded staffers of the paper's longstanding objection to acceptance of gifts—particularly anything worth more than $10.

As it turned out, the newspapers' concern was unnecessary. The givers, made cautious by the exposures that caught some TV and radio payolateers with their largesse showing, took the initiative. In Los Angeles, a photography firm that last year threw sets of steak knives at its favorite newsmen, this year sent a modest little Christmas card with the message: "We have made a gift in your honor to the American Cancer Society." Before sending anything to Washington reporters, General Electric phoned first to see if it was okay. At the New York Herald Tribune, the newsroom receptionist, who logs all incoming Christmas gifts, reported volume was down 66%.