Abstract
Main controversy in the literature of journalism during the third quarter of 1953 was the denouement of the Wechsler-McCarthy feud growing out of the earlier questioning by Senator McCarthy of the New York Post editor before a Senate sub-committee. A majority of a committee of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, asked to review Wechsler's contention that it was an attempt to intimidate editors, expressed no opinion about the charge but asserted that it was a matter for editors throughout the country to interpret for themselves. Chairman James R. Wiggins of the ASNE committee with three other members issued a minority report declaring that the senator's action did in fact infringe on editorial freedom. Senator McCarthy then wrote to all majority report signers asking that Mr. Wiggins’ record as managing editor of the Washington Post be investigated.
In the field of advertising, the course of new personnel in the administration of the Federal Trade Commission was watched with great interest. New interpretations were being given to some regulations relating to advertisements, although the commission itself denied that any great change in policy was taking place despite the charges of a departing director. More “industry influence” was thought to be a possibility, however, through a FTC proposed “advertising liaison committee.”
Quantities of new data on the impact of TV on radio listenership and newspaper readership were being presented by trade bodies. More and more survey results on the effects of TTS circuits on editing and publishing also appeared.
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