Armament > Co-operation of the press in the organisation of peace

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(b) Tendentious News and Campaigns. — This can only refer to the utilisation of news for the support of a special
point of view. In the opinion of journalists, the honest expression of any opinion, whatever its nature, is legitimate, and
any censorship, however correct in its intentions, is in practice invariably unsatisfactory and cannot be admitted by
journalists.
(c) False Information. — This refers to the deliberate distortion of news, or any other dishonest practice, such as
the forging or fabrication of documents. This is the most serious professional fault of which a journalist can be guilty,
but professional journalists are alone in a position to come to a sound and equitable decision regarding the commission
of the fault or its gravity. In such cases they reject the intervention of any disciplinary authority whatsoever, apart
from that set up by themselves for dealing with such cases, namely the International Journalists’ Court of Honour.
(4) It is beyond question that incorrect or false information comes into existence and obtains circulation chiefly,
and, indeed, almost entirely, in places where the information available is inadequate and incomplete. Correct news is the
antidote for false news. Everything possible should therefore be done to facilitate the professional work of the journalist,
to furnish him with an abundant supply of carefully verified and accurate news, and to give him access to those circles
in which he can carry out his own enquiries and come into direct touch with the facts.
In this connection the suggestion may perhaps be made to the League of Nations that its own methods might with
advantage be revised. Those methods, in spite of appearances to the contrary, are still marked by certain leanings
towards secrecy. Experience has shown that nothing but good can come from the publicity of debates, and it is to be
hoped that this practice will be adopted by certain commissions which deliberate in secret, and concerning which such
information as leaks out is not invariably true. Secondly, properly accredited journalists should be granted ready access
to the offices in which are to be found the original sources of information, and they should be sure of obtaining from them
that authentic news which it is their chief interest to secure. Finally, they would regard it as quite unexceptionable that,
in the event of incorrect or false news being published, the League of Nations should immediately issue a correction, not
in the form of a vague, anonymous and more or less furtive communique, but as an official statement. Every newspaper
would undoubtedly regard itself as under an obligation to publish such statements.
It might even be possible for the League to appoint in the various capitals professional journalists for the purpose in
the capacity of information agents, who would also ensure the publication of these statements. It is, however, essential
that the Press services of both the League of Nations and the various Governments should not invade the professional
province of journalists, and should not go beyond an appeal to their undoubted goodwill or, should circumstances so
require, to that of the professional organisations.
A method by which publicity could be secured for such rectifications would be to broadcast them in the different
languages of the countries concerned.
Similarly, it might be possible to grant to any country which regarded itself as injured by the publication of news
in which facts were distorted or misrepresented to its prej udice a right of reply similar to that granted to private individuals,
a right which might well be introduced into certain countries where it is not yet recognised. The freedom of the Press is
limited, as well as guaranteed, by law; it would otherwise lead to intolerable abuses. The proposed procedure would
extend to international relations the provisions originally introduced for the protection of individuals.
It would be for the League and for the representatives of each nation to enquire into the methods of applying this
right of rectification which, without limiting the freedom of journalists to give news or to express opinions, would bring a
note of sincerity and truth into international relations. The professional associations of journalists are ready to give their
assistance in this enquiry.
(5) Furthermore, it is not possible in this connection to pass over in silence certain occasions, which there is no need
to specify, on which tendentious, incorrect or even false news has, for political ends, been put about, hinted or supplied by
authorities ostensibly beyond suspicion. The journalist who, in good faith, collects and disseminates such information
is the victim of machinations which are beyond his control. It is cases such as these which would call for the immediate
and definite intervention of the League, and which would, in consequence, justify investigation by the Court of Honour.
(6) No one realises better than j ournalists themselves the importance of getting rid of j ournalists of dubious character.
The possession of the “ international card ” originated by the International Federation of Journalists should in every case
be insisted upon as proof of professional status, a requirement very justly recognised by the Copenhagen Conference.
Cards or letters of introduction supplied by the newspapers do not in themselves provide an adequate guarantee, as
experience has shown that they are too frequently granted out of mere friendliness, and do not provide any reliable evidence
of the character or qualifications of their holders.
(7) Finally, stress should be laid upon the importance of establishing good relations between journalists and
Government Press bureaux and between these Press bureaux themselves. In this direction, the Copenhagen Conference
indicated an extremely important advance which should be carried further.
Such are the observations which the International Federation of Journalists desires to put forward in response to
the considerations expressed by the League of Nations. The adoption of the practical suggestions contained therein
would do more than any measures of compulsion to ensure the sincerity and reliability of news, at least so far as this
depends upon the work of professional journalists.
For the Bureau of the International Federation of Journalists
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and by order:
(Signed) Stephen Valot,
General Secretary.
In transmitting this note, the General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists added that it was
submitted in the name of the journalists belonging to the following organisations, which were present or represented at
the Executive Committee of Rouen (May 19th to 20th, 1932):
Reichsverband der Deutschen Presse, Berlin;
Australian Journalists’ Association, Melbourne;
Reichsorganisation der Oesterreichischen Journalisten, Vienna;
Union professionnelle de la Presse Beige, Brussels;
Association of Sofia Journalists, Sofia;