Lord Cobham’s Address To Newspaper Proprietors

Press, Volume C, Issue 29624, 21 September 1961, Page 17

Lord Cobham’s Address To Newspaper Proprietors

(NX. Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 20. Admiration for the New Zealand press, and its consistently-high standards of objective reporting and constructive comment, was expressed by the Governor-General (Lord Cobham) when addressing members- of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association this evening.

“The management of a great daily newspaper implies tremendous responsibilities,” said Lord Cobham. “By pandering to the jealous, the foolish, and those avid for sensation, it can so very easily increase its circulation, and at the same time lose its soul. Against the temptation to do this, the press of New Zealand has steadfastly fought, and is still fighting today. “Tlie press has such an important part to play today in every field,” he said. “It wields too great an influence merely to reflect and acquiesce in prevalent views. Its prime duty should surely be to inform and lead public opinion. To invite salacious sniggers from the ignorant by relating second-hand gossip about the innocent is beneath contempt, and not to be confused with the honourable profession of journalism at all. “Criticism is the lifeblood of democracy. But criticism to be valid must be based on facts. It is perfectly fair to criticise a man’s actions, but not to impugn his motives.” Lord Cobham said that no sane person would ever wish to prevent the press from exercising its triple function of information, instruction, and entertainment. There was a germ of truth in the aphorism that “the duty of a newspaper is to afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted.” “Quite Miraculous”

It always seemed to him quite miraculous how editors and leader-writers managed

to comment so quickly and accurately on contemporary events, Lord Cobham said. “Napoleon said he feared the newspapers more than 100,000 bayonets. Had he lived today, he might well have reduced the number of the former and increased that of the latter,” said Lord Cobham. “Napoleon had good reason, too. He was responsible for the destruction of the old world.

“All bad men fear the press, and it is good that they should, for it tears away

their masks. Whether or not we can create a new and better world depends upon the good sense and wisdom of people everywhere—and they, in turn, depend upon accurate and responsible journalism. “This is in the hands of your great profession, gentlement,” said Lord Cobham. “May you always have the courage and farsightedness fearlessly to proclaim what you honestly believe to be the truth, and not merely what your readers like to read.”