Back Talk

Since his election to the Illinois state legislature in 1954, Paul Simon, publisher of the weekly Tribune of Troy (pop. 1,260), has "heard newspapers cursed in the cloakroom and fought on the floor." He began to wonder if the "small but vocal group attacking newspapers" reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the press among state representatives and senators. Publisher Simon mailed out questionnaires to legislators of the 48 states. The nonpartisan survey, whose results were published this week in the March issue of Quill magazine, gave politicians a rare opportunity to talk back to the press.

While most of the 462 lawmakers who replied agree that press coverage of state legislatures is either "excellent" (33.7%) or "good" (43.2%), almost a third of them think that newspaper stories on their activities are "slanted." Only 1.8% of the lawmakers polled think the majority of reporters covering their sessions are "dishonest." The most frequent criticisms:

1) reporters "write for their bosses" and 2) editors and publishers are "the real villains." Many legislators complained, however, that capital reporters are either incompetent or show bias in favor of their newspapers' editorial policies. Complained a Florida lawmaker: "During our special session on reapportionment, one reporter threatened to 'ruin' a legislator with publicity if he did not change his vote."

The majority of legislators (54.7%) reported that the press seldom, if ever, covers the committee sessions where, as an Ohio lawmaker pointed out. "the dirty work is done" and most legislation is shaped. Several complained that committees are covered only when there is "sensational" news to report. Committee sessions may be closed to the press in 44 states. Yet, Simon notes, "not a single legislator from a state with open meetings suggested they should be secret.''

Publisher Simon worked out his own grading system, awarding a top of five points for "excellent'' press coverage of state legislatures, and from his survey concluded that New Hampshire and Utah had the best coverage, with 4.71 points each. Lowest were Delaware (1.33). which has three daily newspapers, and Montana (1.77) with 1 8. most of which are either controlled by giant Anaconda copper company or subject to its influence. Complained one Montana representative: "We are victims of a completely controlled press, which edits, slants or completely omits any news coverage at will.'' Most weeklies in their areas, said 28.8% of the legislators, give their activities no coverage at all. Wire service coverage, on the other hand, was praised by legislators in nearly every state.

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