NEWS DISTRIBUTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26350, 3 January 1947, Page 4

NEWS DISTRIBUTION

Although Mr Nash did not refer directly to the new development of Reuter’s by which the Australian and New Zealand Press Associations are included on a partnership basis, it would appear that this was in his mind when he spoke the other day of the importance of the dissemination' and publication of authentic news as a means of understanding between the nations." It is interesting to find Mr Nash placing himself on record as emphasising the value of the contribution of the press in creating international goodwill and declaring that New Zealand has a responsibility in this respect. The extension of Reuter’s services by placing the control of the Pacific news in the hands of the Australian Associated Press has been warmly welcomed by the British press and by leading public figures, but it is possible that, the importance of this step has not been fully appreciated in this country.

Events in the Pacific area are, of course, of vital importance to Australia and New Zealand but in the past, it may be suggested, such news has not received the attention in the British press that it merits. The links of communication between the dominions and Great Britain were not sufficiently developed to cover much more than the reporting of news happenings and more general comment frequently came through American sources which, admirable though they might be in their own country, must naturally reflect American opinions and interests. This is not to infer that such services are of a propagandist nature, but such a bias is inevitable —and undesirable. The Pacific news service which is now to be organised will be handled by British journalists and with an appreciation of British traditions of news gathering and news comment and it should develop into a most useful instrument for the creating of closer bonds between the nations of the Commonwealth—bonds which will be more enduring than those of natural sympathy in that they will be strengthened by knowledge and understanding. Among the published comment on the new Reuter’s partnership has been included a quotation from the Chicago Tribune. Despite its jibe at the standard of the Australian and New Zealand press—a jibe that is completely opposed to the tone of most comment on this subject—the paper has admitted that since Reuter’s was removed from “ under the thumb of the Foreign Office” and taken over by the newspapers themselves “ there has been a marked improvement in Reuter’s standards of independence and accuracy.” This reluctant tribute emphasises the value of free and complementary news services as

compared with the inspired statements issued from official sources. The practice of government departments handing out prepared news to correspondents is one which has developed considerably in recent years and it has been most marked in New Zealand since the war. A good purpose can be served by such bulletins, but too often propaganda appears in the guise of information. This is dangerous to the home public as well as misleading to the outside world. It is to be hoped that Mr Nash and his colleagues will bear this fact in mind in the future and do their part in assisting the New Zealand press to fulfil the responsibility to which he referred.