Behrend collegian., November 25, 1987, Image 3

opinion
by Pastor Ray Sine
Answer to puzzle : WHALE
Let's talk about freedom of the
press. Who or what determines the
amount of "freedom" the press
may exert?
The first Amendment to the Con
stitution states: "Congress shall
make no law...abridging (depriving;
shortening; curtailing) the freedom
of speech or of the press..." The
press, as years have gone by, have
obviously taken this to mean carte
blanche with any and all informa
tion, placement of articles, choice
and placement of words and titles;
and, even an occasional two—inch
high "OOPS!" to sell papers or to
make a name for oneself.
Webster defines Freedom of the
Press as "the right to publish
newspapers, magazines, and other
printed matter without governmen
tal restriction, and subject only to
the laws of libel, obscenity, sedi
tion, etc." When the press
deliberately publishes printed
words which unjustly injures the
good reputation of another by slan
der it is guilty of libel. Yet, this
premeditated crime is often covered
up by printing a retraction in the
bottom corner section of page ten,
The Collegian would like to take this space to introduce you to
our new publishers, The Corry Journal. With chake in
publishers we are now able to do all sorts of fun thin gs.g You don't...
mind if I play for awhile, do you??
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14AV. - A HAPPY TI4ANKSGIVING
Let's
Talk
after the publisher has made a
bundle from the printing.
Where is the justice? A recent
example was the media's crucifi
xion of judge Douglas L. Casey, a
conservative leader, saying, "the
news media inflicted the 'death of a
thousand cuts' on Ginsburg's
nomination to the Supreme
Court...but journalists contend the
press treated Ginsburg fairly" (Erie
Daily Times, Nov. 87).
An example of one of the "one
thousand cuts" was the way the
media reported Ginsburg's non—
Vietnam service. They merely
reported his I—Y (medically unfit)
classification without explaining
that his knee had been severely in
jured in a motorcycle accident,
which would naturally give anyone
a I—Y classification.
Why can't the media present all
of the facts. After all, it is the
public who is the real jury. If it is
going to be presented in a
"Reader's Digest" version then let
it be so stated beforehand. Then, let
the public judge accordingly. If one
has to be deceived into reading, by
using falsified titles or illsuited
wording, then the "news" isn't
worth reading to start with.
Freedom should be further defined
for some who call themselves
journalists.
Then again, perhaps the "press"
may be trying to put "their" man
on the Supreme Court bench so that
"their freedom" may be expounded
upon.
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About that letter, Eric-
To the Editor
- Now -that we have been in school for about seven vieek, I think that I have read a good sample of this
year's Collegian. All I have to say is, "Get to work!" I haven't read anything quite as dull in my life! I see
ads asking for letters to the editor, but I have yet to see any letters from the editor. I believe that it is up to
the editor to write a letter to introduce himself and start a topic of discussion (hint start with something
other than the Iranians or the Contras). Also, is it a requirement that one live in the Wintergreen Cafe to be
asked a question for the opinion poll? You've got to realize that not everyone uses the cafe. Try to send
some of the staff OUTSIDE OF THE REED BUILDING! I know that there are some capable writers on
the staff, but someone needs to show some interest in writing. I think that a lot more time and care can be
used to produce a much more enjoyable paper.
Eric Carlson
sth Sem. Chemßd
Dear Eric,
• As you know, I always appreciate student input on their opinion of the quality of the Behrend Collegian
and never hesitate to publish it. I thank you for taking the few minutes it took to speak your mind.
It is certainly unfortunate that you consider the Collegian "dull". What exactly would you like to see
published, Eric? Maybe some Mike Royko columns? Some Doonesbury and Far Side cartoons? Full color
photos and graphics? California earthquake and Sahara sandstorm coverage, complete with photos taken by
on-location Collegian photographers with the most up-to-date photography equipment? Would that help the
Collegian become a little less dull?? I should think so. •
Unfortunately, Eric, our budget of both time and money does not allow us these options. We are a college
newspaper with college students, college facilities, college schedules, and college lives no less hectic than
your own.
As for your insinuation that one must live in the Wintergreen Cafe in order to be polled for the Student
~..Voice column...you're wrong. Lynn Popovich and Lisa Hahn (the Collegian Feature Editors who do the ac
-•itual polling) have never polled a student in the cafe. The most common places to find them on every other
';-a'hursday before publication is throughout other sections of the Reed building, on the sidewalks in the
--':lower sections of campus, or in the quad in front of-the Hammerrnill building. The Reed building is the hub
of most published replies for the simple fact that almost all Behrend students pass through the area at one
point or another during the day. Emphasis is placed on the word all because the purpose of the Student
Voice column is to get replies from as diverse a representation of Behrend's student population as possible
to show all of the sides to an issue. Polling students in the apartment quad or in the parking lots would
produce replies reflecting the views of only on-campus or commuter residents. By centering their activities
around the Reed building Lynn and Lisa ensure that everybody is equally represented. If you have a better
method of polling students and would like to share it with us, please let us know.
You also mention that "someone needs to show some interest in writing." What would you call what the
Collegian staff writers have been doing so far...showing lack of interest by writing articles and being an
important part of the Collegian?
"More time...can be used to produce a much more enjoyable paper"? Do you know exactly (or even
remotely) how much time is voluntarily given to the publication of the Collegian by some writers and all of
the editors? Just to give you an idea, all of the editors give up every other entire weekend to work on the
layout of Collegian pages...not to mention the time spent during the week ensuring that there will be textual
material to place on those pages. (For clarity's sake, Eric, this is not a complaint on my part—l knew the
responsibilities of the job when I accepted it.)
Eric, if you would like to help us make the Collegian more interesting, you are more than welcome to
become a contributing part of the staff.
SinOerely,
Steve Aller, Editor
Collegian scrutinized:
(When's the `semena(?)
To the Editor:
"Is the Collegian up to par?" Well, yes and no.
One certainly must take into account the fact that most of the Collegian writers are new at the game and
• ' struggling to find their own style. My guess would be that (since Behrend doesn't offer the major) most of
the staff writers are not journalism majors either. One need not be a journalism major to be a good writer,
---- but an engineering or biology major is more likely to take the matter less seriously.
It seems the paper's weaknesses fall in two areas. The first of these two being typographical errors. I
don't work for the paper so you tell me...ls this problem due to inexperienced typists? Trouble at the print
--ers? Or perhaps poor proofreading? Certainly the Collegian editorial staff is experienced enough to see that
•
v_ the proofreading is done properly. If proofreading is the trouble then reorganization is in order.
. •
The second problem I'd like to address is timeliness. It seems every other event covered in your paper
has already occurred or registration dates to get involved have already passed. Don't get me tvrong...l'm
not implying that it is your job to see that every event gets proper publicity. That is the job of the group
sponsoring the event. I only suggest that a little more careful planning could produce better results. Look
into the future. In planning to cover some contest make sure the preview is printed before the registration
•, deadline is passed. In planning to cover a show with limited seating be sure to list it in a coming events sec
tion. If you're doing a story on some workshop do it before the workshop occurs!
• I like reading the Collegian, but there is always room for improvement. As for those who prefer to
1". grumble and moan about the quality of the paper...GET INVOLVED!!! If you think the people on the Col
'', legian staff have any more free time than . you do, you are mistaken. Write to the Editor, submit an article,
and if you are part of a group sponsoring an event, let the paper know early. We can all help to make the
• Collegian a paper we can be proud of.
Sincerely,
David Wood
3rd Sem. Biology
Dear David,
Thank you for your editorial - submission. It was very well worded and extremely factual.
^ The Collegian's problem with typographical errors is in definite need of attention. Reorginazation is in
order and• stepihave been takenrecently to lessen (if not eliminate) the problem.
A new position has been added to . the Collegian with this problem in mind. Beginning with the next issue
there Will' be 'a Copy Editor whose responsibilities will be that of proofreading all copy to be published in
the newspaper. .
The second Collegian problem that you highlighted, that of timeliness, is also acknowledged and would
hopefully be rectified by the addition of the Copy Editor. •
- • -Tbe Editor '
Alright Eric, here goes
• The - Editor hereby formally opens the floor (page?)
• on the topic of 'apathy' and what exactly
can be done to alleviate its death grip on the students of
• The Pennsylvania State University-Erie
The Behrend College
. „ Whose fault is it? What causes it?
HOW DO WE STOP IT??.
(How' ( . I do?)
Collegian
...continued