THE PRESS

Southland Times, Issue 20208, 20 June 1927, Page 8

THE PRESS

VIEWS FROM THE PULPIT REV. J. CHISHOLM'S ADDRESS GREATER UNITY WITH CHURCH DESIRED . “The Press, in relation to the Kingdom of God,” was the subject dealt with by the Rev. J. Chisholm in Knox Church last evening. Mr Chisholm said he had not taken any special text although he had once heard a minister deliver an address at a meeting of the Assembly on the delinquency of the Press. The text chosen on that occasion was taken from Luke 19, 3: Zaccheus could not see Jesus for the press. “Rather an original text,” remarked Mr Chisholm. “Unfortunately,” said the preacher, “this critical attitude is adopted by a large number of eager Christian reformers. They blame the newspapers for not supporting their big reform movements and ignoring the work of the Church. But then comes the question. Have we any right to criticise the Press at all? Have I any call to include this subject in my list of addresses on social progress and the advancement of the Kingdom of God? Is the Press not simply a soulless machine, pouring out every day just what the public want —that and nothing more? “Is the Press not first and foremost, a big business concern that exists for the purpose of paying dividends? Saleability is the first condition of a journal’s existence and a newspaper will not sell unless it panders to the public taste. It must supply what the people want not what they need. The pulpit is different. It is there to supply what the people need for their highest well-being. It is degraded when preachers will only supply what their congregations want — that is when preachers suppress what they believe to be the truth, shall we say about the Bible, for fear of offending people. It is an easier and safer thing just to present what is pleasing and palatable. But can we say that the Press is degraded when it simply caters for the desires of the crowd and takes care never to offend its big advertisers? Is it not just fulfilling its function in getting a big circulation and making money? Is there any obligation on the part of the Press to teach and educate and uplift its readers, to help forward progress and civilisation?”

If journalism was a purely commercial concern, continued Mr Chisholm, then it was not a free agency and the journalist could not write as his conscience dictated. As Sir Philip Gibb made an editor say in engaging his staff: “You sell your soul and body to us for 90/- a week.” If this were true the standard of the Press was just the standard of the people. If the society and commerce of a town were on the up grade the Press would be clean and honest and would minister to the well-being of the community. If the people were on the down grade then the Press would help them down and down. “Is this a correct interpretation of the position and function of the secular Press in a community? If so this kind of journalism has nothing to do with the education and reformation of humanity. We have no call to speak of the Press as an agency that can be used to uplift the town; rather we are called to build up a clean healthy people and then the tone of the Press will rise.” The preacher said that he thought the interpretation given was putting the secular Press on too low a level. There were many types of journals and it- was impossible to regard the newspaper Press as one and the same thing. Yet the higher and better class of newspaper had ideals and its advertisers were not always considered when a principle was at stake. Such a newspaper, reporting accurate news, was a moral advantage to a town. “The newspaper Press in New Zealand has a soul in its material body and it does a great deal to keep social and commercial life clean and honest. I believe it could do more if it desired. “Christians individually and corporately should use their influence in favour of a Press which not only presents accurate and trustworthy news but gives the information necessary to enable the public to arrive at well-informed opinions on big questions, social, political and national. “Christians must do their utmost to foster the growth of a more healthy public opinion. We do not want sensational details of sordid vice broadcast for young and old to ruminate on. But what happens? Our local newspapers cut these sordid details out, but are they supported in this by the public? An outside paper publishes them and every copy is sold out the day it arrives. If the local Press is trying to lift the eyes of its readers away from unhealthy scenes it should be encouraged and supported by church people. Some church people should be ashamed of themselves in this connection.” In conclusion Mr Chisholm said: “Think of the tremendous power and influence of this instrument of the Press. It can cement friendship or create enmities. It can exalt sins and it can denounce them. It can smooth over difficulties or it can foment discords. It can expose wrong-doing or it can cover over injustices. Such an influence and a power must make either for the good of humanity or for its downfall. The forces of evil are strongly entenched. Here, to my mind, is our great opportunity. Let us give the Press of our land a chance. Let us wage war on the forces that hamper its freedom and the forces that contaminate it. Let the Church of God capture as much of it as she can and when the Press and pulpit unite then will we see on the far. horizon the beautiful streaks of a coming dawn, heralding a glory yet to be revealed.”