Convention

The American Association of Schools of Journalism assembled at Columbia University in Manhattan. High points:

Stupid Press Rapped. "A basic knowledge of scientific subjects is vitally necessary to the journalist if he is to avoid constant mistakes in his work. "Even the graduates of our best schools of journalism are untrained in the natural sciences. The typical journalist is grossly ignorant of music, architecture, painting and literature. His knowledge of esthetic principles is little above that of the average policeman. He emerges from the university blind to the best things of life, and he will blind his readers to them"--Professor Nelson Antrim Crawford, Kansas State Agricultural College.

Critics Assailed. "If you can imagine a world devoid of newspapers, imagine how much misrepresentation, sensation and scandal there would be in it. The newspaper acts as a limit upon private scandalmongers simply by telling the truth about events likely to provoke misresentation"--J. W. Cunliffe, Director of the Pulitzer School of Journalism.

Reviewers Attacked. "Newspapers do not employ their best brains in reviewing. The work is done by nice old ladies or nice old gentlemen with a little culture, smart young things who can quote H. L. Mencken or some ex-sporting editor who needs work for his idle hands" --Dr. Henry S. Canby, Editor of The Saturday Review of Literature.

Press Agents Flayed. "The function of any publicity man is to emphasize favorable news for his clients, and to suppress unfavorable news. Such a man renders no service to the public interested in the truth. Publicity is a blatant fraud upon the public, and the publicity agent commits an outrage when he colors news to suit his client's wishes"--James Wright Brown, Publisher of Editor and Publisher.

"Flay" Denounced. "If there is any gratitude in the newspaper profession for the interest we are taking in their work, I wish that they would assassinate the terms rap, assail, attack and flay from news stories and headlines. Every newspaper I read is guilty of the use of these overused words, and I would even suggest the award of a Pulitzer prize for the newspaper man who devises substitutes for these pugnacious words" -- Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University.