Too Much Personality?

No U.S. President has been more copiously reported by the U.S. press than John F. Kennedy. Nor has any President paid more attention to newsmen--or kept more constantly in mind the uses of the press. Is this good or bad? Last week in the Nation Magazine, a Roman Catholic nun on leave to study mass media sup plied an answer. Wrote Sister Mary Paul Paye, 32, of the Sisters of Mercy: "The American public is exposed to a dangerous phenomenon : the personality cult of the President. I protest --vehemently, vigorously, apolitically and almost alone." Now studying for a doctorate in mass communications at Syracuse University, Sister Mary Paul based her protest on three points: "The suppression or the obscuring of significant news; the amassing by the President of personal power; and --most insidious of all--the irrational worldwide identification of him with the country as a whole . . . Mr. Kennedy has become synonymous with the U.S.; his victories are American victories; his health, American health; his smile, his family, his hobbies, his likes and dislikes, become symbolic of the country." For all this, says Sister Mary Paul, the press is largely to blame.

"The President and his family are naturals for publicity, and journalists have not been slow to exploit the color, the drama, the human appeal that emanate from the White House. Galleys of type and yards of picture spreads about the birthdays of the children, the social affairs of the First Lady, the horsemanship of a sister, the recreational habits of the Attorney General's family, feed the public's desire to know all about the White House inhabitants. Everything goes to deepen the cult.

"That the mass media should so exploit the President and his family for circulation purposes is serious enough. But even more dangerous implications arise: the danger of the imbalance of the news. Every inclusion means a corresponding exclusion. And, even when significant news is reported, as prisoners of the cult we may be tempted to overlook it. Readers often prefer to be amused rather than informed. Who doesn't gravitate toward the human-interest story, perhaps to the neglect of the duller but more significant news? . . . The effect is the displacement, or downgrading, of significant events."

Sister Mary Paul proposes a solution: "Awareness, by the President, the public, the press. The White House--elections or no elections--should guard itself more stringently against frivolous reporting. Editors and [radio and TV] program directors should weigh news and features for inherent values. And the American people should be aware that we are beginning to respond to the Chief of State as we have responded to movie stars."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.