News-At a Price

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22739, 13 November 1943, Page 4

News-At a Price

THE death in action at Bougainville of Keith Palmer, one of the most brilliant New Zealand-trained newspapermen of his generation, proves again what has already been proved many times: that the gathering of news in this war is no less hazardous than any other form of ’ active service. Three war correspondents, one of them representing an Australian newspaper, as Palmer did, were killed as the Allied forces were occupying Naples. So far, eight British war correspondents have been killed, 12 wounded, four reported missing and eight taken prisoner. Empire and American correspondents killed number 27, with 33 wounded, seven reported missing and 45 taken prisoner. When these casualty totals were released recently, Lord Burnham, Director of Public Relations, said they showed that war correspondents cannot now do their jobs without sharing the risks of frontline

soldiers. The American system of war reporting is in some ways more rigorous than that adopted by British newspapers. Many American correspondents undergo complete training with their units; they arc expected to write their despatches in the line, and if the need arises, they participate in the fighting. British correspondents are permitted to concentrate on their one job, but to discharge their duty faithfully they must go where the fighting is and take a soldier’s chance in action. The news from ail fronts is purchased at this price. The correspondents of this war are adding much to the dignity and traditions of their profession; to the uttermost limit they are fulfilling the first duty of their calling, that of serving the people by giving them all the news they can gather.