BOSTON NEEDS INDEPENDENCE IN JOURNALISM, STATES LYONS

"The main problem facing contemporary journalism is that of fully presenting both sides of an issue in print," stated Louis M. Lyons, curator of the Nieman Fellowships, newly elected president of the Harvard Teachers Association, and feature writer for the Boston Globe in an interview with the SERVICE NEWS yesterday.

"This problem is the natural result of existing conditions, since most of the papers follow a conservative line politically and economically, due to the large capitalistic interests of the majority of paper owners. Naturally the economic beliefs of such men run parallel to those of other heavy investors and their papers reflect the conservative, moneyed interests of their owners.

"But even so," he continued, "the papers in this country are pretty decent products, for even if they did come out as a body against Roosevelt, they did present both sides of the political picture. I don't claim that labor gets an even break, but the owner's views aren't imposed on the paper as much as they might be. The best way to develop a more adequate press is to insure a better coverage of both sides of the basic issues."

Boston Has Too Many Papers

When asked if Boston needs another paper, as was stated in PM recently, Lyons replied that most people think that Boston has too many already. The papers here are weakened because they are susceptible to patronage. Three papers instead of eight might result in a more competent system. What Boston needs really is independence of the papers from owners and patrons."

Lyons, himself a Nieman Fellow in 1939, said that the University was very pleased with the work of the journalists, and that the men have profited immensely from their work here.

Recently, he said, there were added to the men working under Nieman Fellowships three South American newsmen, whose journalistic work here is being financed by Nelson Rockefeller's Committee on Inter-American Affairs.