Readership Explosion In Asia Wanted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31320, 16 March 1967, Page 15

Readership Explosion In Asia Wanted

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) COLOMBO, March 14. The International Press Institute had to find a way to create a readership explosion in Asia, the institute’s chairman, Mr C. E. L. Wickremasinghe, said. He was addressing a meeting of 35 leading Asian publishers and editors from nine countries. He said the vast potential of readers in Asia must be tapped. Mr Wickremasinghe also saw the urgent need to preserve press freedom in Asia and for the continent to rely on its own resources and efforts. The five-day conference was discussing techniques to bring about the “readership explosion”. He said the delegates* pretence was especially significant as they were a gathering of “the press of the poor world.”

This world was beset with problems—readers with relatively low incomes, shortage of foreign exchange, acute shortage and absence of craft skills, underdeveloped resources, governmental control tactics and literacy problems. From his experience in Ceylon, he had found that whatever the Government, the eternal vigilance of the press was necessary if freedom of expression and the rights of individuals were to be preserved. He welcomed Mr Mochtar Lubis, of Indonesia, as “the man who made the greatest contribution to freedom of press in recent times. “He will be remembered in the history of Asia and of the world even when Dr Sukarno is gone and forgotten,” he said.

The I.P.L director, Mr A. Chowdhry, spoke of Asian Press problems—lack of basic raw materials and the need for low-cost machinery.