Articles on Mass Communications in American Magazines: A Selected Annotated Bibliography

Abstract

Journalism ethics were debated sharply in relationship to several widely varying incidents which erupted at various points in the nation during April, May and June. General Motors Corporation withdrew advertising from the Wall Street Journal in apparent retribution for an article which revealed coming automobile styling on GM automobiles. This method of retaliation for an alleged breach of confidence was attacked by many editors. This incident followed alleged pressure by big automobile companies to induce newspapers to turn-down classified advertisements for new cars from all but company-authorized dealers. In New England, a score of news men were revealed to have accepted extra pay from race track corporations and from state governmental units. While at least two wire service employees were separated from their news jobs as a result, some newspapers defended the right of their employees to such outside remuneration. A New York appeals court reversed a lower court decision in the Jelke case because newspapermen were kept from the courtroom during a portion of the trial. A sensational libel suit brought by writer Quentin Reynolds against columnist Westbrook Pegler was notable because most newspapers ignored or played-down this seeming newspaper “natural.” In simple communication activity, the second quarter will be remembered for the McCarthy-Army hearings in Washington. Issues arising from this hearing may arise for years but the immediate effect in periodical articles was not especially noteworthy.