University of South Carolina Libraries
VOL. LXII - NO. 76 University of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C. 29208 Wednesday, April 12, 1972 Evaluates 'Ba ck-Tal How do you talk back to your newspaper? A recently published slim paperback titled "Back Talk:The American Press Council", co-authored by USC journalism profe9sor Dr. Kenneth Stark ex plores the Press Council as a "non-government agency which tries to resolve complaints regarding press performance," he said. "The Press Council in this country hasn't made much headway. Publishers have been opposed to press councils because they feel it will cut in on press freedom guaranteed under the First Amendment," he said. He explained, "The idea comes from Sweden where in 1916 the first press council was set up. Many other countries have organized press councils including Great Britian. In this country there have been discussions of establishing a national body to evaluate press performance since 1940." With money left by Lowell Mellette, the Mellette Fund for Free and Responsible Press financed studies of press councils in this country. "The pur pose was to try to devise means to increase press iesponsibility," Dr. Stark said. But with the strong opposition to a press council the Mellette Fund decided that studies on the community level rather than nationally would be more successful. "The studies were conducted during 1967-68 in Sparta and Cairo, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; Bend, Ore.; and Redwood City, Calif.," Dr. Starck who moderated the studies in Cairo and Sparta, said. With the results of his study, Dr. Starck contributed two chapters to "Back-Talk" one is "A Quest for Leadership" on what should be a newspapers role in the community with regard to leadership. The other is "Crisis in Chicago" which examined the press and society in "a socially turbulent setting," he said. Although the press councils in Cairo and Sparta Evely appointed of Aerospace Sti Colonel Clyde P. Evely, of awards among Petersburg, Va., assumed the Distinguished F duties of Professor of Aerospace Presidential Un Studies and Head of the Depart- Col. Evely eai ment of Aerospace Studies at USC of Science d4 on April 10 succeeding Col. Joe N. University of D Swanger who is slated for Master's degr retirement later this month. Washington Uni Col. Evely joined the University a graduate of th staff from Spokane, Wash. where One of the I he was Vice Commander of the Evely's career 92nd Strategic Aerospace Wing of 10-11, 1962, whe the Strategic Air Command (SAC). flew a B-52 H Col. Evely hads held numerous Base, Okinawa key positions in the United States Base, Spain. wh Air Force and is a command pilot record for non with over 7,500 flying hours. He flight in a straig has numerous decorations and of over 12,500 'Fiesta '72' By SH ARON ED)SALL Sheik," "The *Staff Writer Feathers" (Mai The Garden Council of Greater Three Stooges' .Columbia and the Art Groups of and many othel p Columbia will jointly present at 10 am ant "Fiesta '72" April 14 through April Belk's Auditori 16. Senate Street Traditionally, the Garden from Pickens * Council sponsors a Spring Week in Street. This ar< which they hold various tours, but Fiesta Mall wh this year they have expanded to be set up and include the arts. will be giver The activities begin Friday with sculpture ex a Film Festival featuriing "Son of arrangements per orman c'outlines dissolved, Dr. Starck measures their success in the constructive changes which the councils brought about. "In Cairo the Press Council dissolved because of summer racial trouble. The town was under curfew and the Council couldn't meet some of the time. My own estimation of why the Press Council didn't survive in Cairo is because it didn't stdrt soon enough. "The organization has no statutory authority but does have the authority of moral suasion. However, the newspaper may or may not comply with the council," he said, and cited a case in which a publisher refused to cover a city council committee meeting. Dr. Starck said the publishers' attitude was, "The. Press Council can't tell me how to run my paper." But he explained,"The Press Council is intended as an intermediary between the audience and the newspaper. In most situations you have a monologue from the paper to the audience. He said also, "If you take a complaint to the Press Council, you forgo taking legal action against the newspaper. We're not going to help a person find out if something is libelous. A press council is organized of local citizens who meet regularly with policy-makers from the media and discuss the information need of the community," Dr. Starck said. "The object is to get lay people in volved. You have to be careful with a press council so that you don't stack the deck and make it a press public relations organization," he said. He said he has thought of starting a local press council, "which would deal with special interest groups such as poverty. I think it would be useful to have media people come together with represen tatives of differenct agencies working with poverty (Continued on page 8) Ihead adies which include the ying Cross and the it Citation. rned his Bachelor gree from the 4aryland and his ee from George versity. He is also e Air War College. iighlights of Col. occurred January n he and his crew from Kadena Air to Torrejon Air ich set the world's stop, non-refueledC lEey ht line--a distanceCo Ev y miles. is coming Geneal, "Hrse puppet shows, water-color and 'x Brothers), "The paintings. (their first film) Also included in the activities 's. The films begin will be karate demonstrations, I will be shown at square dancing, a "paint-in" and um 4th floor. ''glue-in", sidewalk cafes, wheel will be blocked off throwing, tie dying, glass blowing Street to Sumter macrame sidewalk show, jaza ea will become the festival and other concerts. ere exhibitions will ''Peter Pan" will be presented concerts and plays by the Children's Theatre of Town i. There will be Theatre on the Rutledge Buildin~ hibitions, flower stage at 2 p.m. on Saturday. story tellers, ce complaints press councis Dr. Starck looks through his new book, "Back-Talk." Reserve summer rooms April 17-19 Applications for housing during Sign up stations will be located in the first summer session will be the M & N Lounge for Moore and taken April 17-19. Snowden, the Housing Office for South Building, Columbia Hall International House and Tenement (for adult groups, graduate and 1, and the lobby of South Building special), Moore, Snowden, for South Building. The hours are 9 Douglas (graduate and special a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-4:30 students, adult groups), Tenement p.m. 1 (if a sufficient number of South Building will be closed students sign up) and the rear during the second session for apartments of the International repairs and general maintenance. House will be open during the first South Tower will be open. session. Cancellation date for these The Housing fee for first session reservations will be May 25. will be $84 for double occupancy, Students who cancel will receive and $126 for single occupancy. The full refund. less $5. weekly rates are the same as last year's, but the session this sum -______________ mer will be longer. Anyone who does not sign up during the scheduled periods may sign up any time during the remainder of spring semester.P h il s The schedule for reservations is: April 17 - those students who wish to reserve their same An itrew ih room spaces in South Building, SanPilp,rcre Moore, Snowden, will make ths we nd wil b their reservations and pay their aird o Crln room fee. All rooms not reserved on this date will be Cm u"b ai tto declared vacant and subject to WUCF (89) a 5 re-assignment on April 18. April p..Thrdy April 18-19 - Those studentsPhlisap re Arl desiring to reserve other room 8drn pig Tig spaces will make their reser vationstianalpayuteeind oeneeen