Censorship: A Question of Judgment? (1963)

and after school fight the latest and what appears to be an increasing trend the subtle differences really what makes this fight different is that this one is about to be reported this is Nancy Martin student editor of the school paper what she sees prompts her decision to do something to Nancy the fight is the subject of a legitimate news story she will discover that there can be a difference of opinion I you Oh Oh well auntie it's certainly a very vivid picture of wiping it to me mr. Bishop I want to use this picture on the front page of our next issue oh come now Nancy we can't get a picture like that paper is read by people all over the city students take it home spread by their parents just think what a picture like that would do to the reputation of our school now that would be in very poor taste but mr. Bishop this sort of thing is going on all the time and if something isn't done about it now someone's going to be seriously hurt I think we have an obligation to print it let's see we live in a world that's troubled enough as it is it isn't the purpose of any news very well on the problem that is what the people want to read what effect do you think this picture would have on the students involved what about the damage to them mr. Bishop I don't think that's the point what about the damage to them and all the others if this sort of thing isn't stopped I think you're exaggerating I've always been fight there always will be and surely printing this picture isn't going to help solve the situation but mr. Bishop I think that's the purpose of a newspaper to let the people know about the things that are growing wrong about the things that ought to be corrected after all the world isn't going to be any better than today how is it going to be a better world if all our newspapers do is print stories of five robberies and murders I believe it will help I don't think we should hide things just because they're unpleasant how do we stop things like this if we don't let the people know they're happening that's who we can fill this you stick to school and you leave a sort of thing to newspapers that make their living by sensationalism mr. Bishop this isn't sensationalism look at John Spain he's been at a corner for two days don't you think it's time we get something about this that is the purpose of a newspaper certainly not the school newspaper we want to show the good side of human nature we want to show the worthwhile things our students are doing not the bad things all right it is clear that there is wrong disagreement mr. Bishop sees the photo a news story of sensationalism to unduly alarmed parents and to damage the school's reputation Nancy feels that a newspaper any newspaper has the obligation to deliberately deal with those things which demand public attention how do you feel about the controversy what do you think a good citizen should feel