‘Dangers confront the free press’

Press, 10 April 1981, Page 4

‘Dangers confront the free press’

PA Queenstown Never before had it been so necessary to underline the ' dangers -and pressures confronting the free press throughout the world, including New Zealand, said the president of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association, Mr Nevile Webber, yesterday, addressing the association’s annual meeting at Queenstown. “Only a year or so ago I noted that the International Press Institute considered there was freedom of thei press in only 50 of the 160-1 odd members of the United Nations,” Mr Webber said. “This year I read the 1.P.1. considers a free press is flourishing in only 24 countries. “The United Nations through the Mcßride Committee of U.N.E.5.C.0.. tried strongly to strengthen controls over the news media even to the extent of licensing journalists. “The pressure on international news agencies, including Reuters, of which! we are partners, came in fori special attention to bow to i th'e controls and direction ofi many governments. “The principal resistance, to these pressures has cornel through the 1.P.1., our own 1

Commonwealth Press Union, and through American and British watchdogs. “We in the N.P.A. and through our own institutions such as the C.P.U. and our editors’ committee, and through a linkage to the Department of Foreign Affairs, must be keenly observant. “If we have, any spunk, if we really believe in an independent and responsible free press, we must make quite sure that our voice is heard in the world forums.” Mr Webber said that those who attended the C.P.U. meeting in Canada three years ago heard of the insidious way in which pressure was put on free news- ■ papers, such as the “Gleaner” in Jamaica and the i “Times” of Malta, by hostile governments. Pressures in-1 eluded not connecting tele- I phones or repairing* break- ’ downs, and impeding the flow of newsprint. ; It took exceptional men of principle to stand up to such i tactics. Mr Webber said. “I am sure we have them here in New Zealand. None at this meeting would pretend we are loved by the < Government, and I am sure 1 we never will be if we truly < do an honest and fearless I job in exposing and search- 1

ing for the truth. “We have a Prime Minister who can be extremely sensitive to. criticism from the press and the news media generally and who is often brilliant in his counter-attacking. “I trust we will continue! not to flinch and above all] will be honest and respon- 1 sible in our reporting of both national and party politics in the year to come.” Mr Webber said the industry welcomed the Danks! Report advocating greater l access to Goivernment and: local-body and official news! but said it remained to be I seen just what legislation! would be enacted to give ef-i feet to the report’s recom- i mendations. | The flow of news was tightly controlled from thei billion-dollar enterprises embracing the taxpayers, as well as multinational corporations, in the vital fields of the exploitation of oil and natural gas, he said. Enterprises such as Maui Development, Ltd, Petrocorp, Petralgas Alberta, and several others were of enormous importance to New Zealand, but the flow of news was tightly controlled by officials and regulations.