Plea for press freedom

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33664, 14 October 1974, Page 24

Plea for press freedom

• (N.Z P A. Staff Correspondent) HONG KONG. Politicians were quick to use public misconceptions about press freedom to legislate against freedom of the press, a New Zealand delegate told the Commonwealth Press Union conference in Hong Kong. Mr H. N. Blundell, chairman of Independent News-} papers, Ltd, of Wellington, .said C.P.U. delegates knew what press freedom meant. ■ but he did not think the ■public in general had a proper conception of freedom of the press.

“They think it means free-, dom to publish pornography: and other things that bring: the press into disrepute,” he! said. “Politicians are quick to' use this misconception to legislate against freedom of: the press as we understand it.” Mr Blundell was speaking during discussion on a resolution expressing concern at reports of increasing pressures on newspapers. He suggested that the. C.P.U. council try to find a more precise definition of press freedom than appeared in the resolution. The conference, which ended last week-end, adopted the resolution declaring its concern at members’ reports of increasing pressures on newspapers “from a variety of quarters, including governmental, trade union and socalled activist movements, designed to exercise a form

of censorship.” The resolution said the conference reaffirmed the view that “the best interests of a community are served by newspapers the editors of which are unrestricted in their freedom to seek, receive and impart truthful information and ideas within the limits prescribed by morality, public order and

the general welfare in a democratic society.” In other resolutions, the conference: Endorsed proposals that the. international press telecommunications council should form a working; party on communications tariffs and facilities in the Pacific area. Welcomed moves to get reduced rates for international telex calls in off-peak periods. Regretted that some Commonwealth press telegram rates had been increased and urged Commonwealth postal administrations to “con-; tinue their regard for' the historical arrangement whereunder the. low cost press rate was introduced to stimulate the widest possible ex-i change of news and in-i formation within the Commonwealth.” Expressed concern at the threat to the existence of many Commonwealth newspapers from newsprint shortages and increased newsprint prices and hoped that larger newsprint users and producers would co-operate to ensure an adequate! supply for all publishers! at an equitable price. Welcomed proposals to improve C.P.U. journalism training schemes. A New Zealand delegate, Mr J. F, W. Hardingham, editor of the "New Zealand Herald,” suggested that the C.P.U. should make a survey

z of journalism training - schemes throughout the - Commonwealth with the aim , of adapting training methods i and programmes to help other Commonwealth coun- ; tries. j Several Asian and African welcoming Mr 1 Hardingham’s proposal, exf pressed interest in New i Zealand’s “do-it-yourself” - journalism training pro- - gramme. i Mr E. G. Webber, • managing-editor of the 1 “Hawke’s Bay Herald-

Tribune” and chairman ot the C.P.U. New Zealand section, said journalists had to contend with increasingly strong pressures and more complex problems. As a rejsult, the education and training of journalists became even more important. The C.P.U. will hold its next conference in Africa in 1978.