SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 85

Report by Peter Townsend There is an acute shortage of newsprint, and the national daily papers have grouped themselves into an association to effect fair distribution. This association decides that one of its members must, cease publication. A prize was offered for an extract from an editorial in any one of the national dailies explaining why it deserves to continue its existence.

Competitors were faced with two main problems: to present a defence 'of a particular newspaper in its own particular style, and to editorialise in a manner which was convincing while trying to imply a slight undertone of mockery. Most competitors scarcely. gave leader-writers credit for their sincerity (or self-deception), and submitted murderous parodies which would not, by the furthest stretch of the imagination, appear in any newspaper. But some were sufficiently sincere to arouse a suspicion that leader-writers them- selves had entered cheerfully into the spirit of this competition. Few people, perhaps not even the leader-writers, succeeded in emulating the rhetorical style of most penny-halfpenny dailies, and of these the -Daily Express seemed to have been the most general and successful choice.

" Democracy rests on the principle of numbers. Four million can't be wrong," says E. Bedwell. H. A. C. Evans has a good first paragraph: "'Now the Socialists have put the British Press on the spot. They've been trying to for years. Do you remember 1947 ? And what Aneurin Bevan used to say about us ? Now they've got their way. One of the dailies is to be killed." One paragraph of Edward Blishen's makes its point, but not perhaps as the Express itself would make it: " Read us ! Our reporters are the chefs of journalism. They make the news digestible. They never use the same recipe twice. But always the same principle. Make it light. Make it easy to swallow. Don't give the brain a stomach-ache ! " Allan M. Laing's- Herald leader was dutifully dull, but rather too modest in argument: "The too-numerous Conservative national dailies must diminish their ranks by one. But, as for Labour's ewe lamb—Hands off ! " 0. B. Clark's last sentence summed up the Telegraph succinctly: " An organ which is neither unworthy of the temper of the people nor inadequate to the challenge of the times." Contributions from The Times were typically staid and serene, but insufficiently subtle in implication and emphasis: " Newspapers may cease but institutions do not."—J. P. Comyn. " We await with serene confidence the verdict of the nation."—Peter Hadley.

I award prizes of £2 each to G. E. Assinder and William Camp. Their contributions were near enough life-size not to be too grotesque, and both had a real appreciation for the editorial tech- niques of the papers they were parodying. A. runner-up's prize of fl is awarded to David Bruxner for some apt phraseology which is spoilt by the last sentence.

PRIZES

(G. E. ASSINDER)

"THE TIMES " At a conference of representatives of the important daily newspapers yesterday the President of the Board of Trade issued a grave warning on the serious shortage of newsprint and the need to curtail still further our dollar expenditure as a direct result of Canada's restrictions on the hire-purchase of motor-cars. It became clear that drastic remedies would need to be enforced among the newspapers and an ad hoc committee was there and then formed to discuss ways and means to reduce consumption. After rejecting first a proposal to ration adver- tising and then to prohibit large headlines and strip-cartoons, the association took the grave decision to request, in the near future, one of its members to suspend publication on a test of public service. Naturally enough, differences of opinion arose as to what form of journalism best served the public interest, the delegates being sharply divided on the issue of the interests of the greatest number or of the educated minority.

The decision will be difficult and the judgement bitter. But to whom- soever may suffer this grievous but necessary fate The Times will extend its very great sympathy, with the sincere hope that the temporary lacuna will prove but a bridge to higher achievement. Honesta mors turpi vita potior.

(WILLIAM CAMP) "DAILY EXPRESS"

OPINION

Oh! what a terrible morning! Oh ! what a gloomy day ! The Newsprint Association announces its grim decision. One of London's dailies must close down. The painful choice must soon be made. Which paper ? Why not the Daily Express? The answer is short. And to the point.

The Daily Express is unique. It is the only paper that would be universally missed. And mourned. It is the only paper that is genuinely independent, sees all sides and tells the whole truth. It is the only paper enjoyed by Tories, Socialists, Liberals alike. It has the largest circulation. What is the reason for its success ? It is never dull. Is there any other reason ? There is. The Daily Express believes in the Empire, puts the Empire first. Always. And most Britons feel the same way. If they ever stop, it will be a black day for this country. And for the world.

In the Newspaper Eclipse Stakes there are two hot favourites. The Times and the Daily Worker. They have something in common. Their mourners would be few. There is another point. The Times is a hangover. From the last century. And the Daily Worker? An overflow. From Russia.

(DAVID BRUXNER) DAILY MAIL" Largely, it is only 'fair to say, on account of gross Socialist mis- management, one national newspaper must go. The Daily Mail wishes to make it plain that the idea of its own withdrawal is unthinkable. No other journal in Britain displays such width of interest, and the standard of reporting and representation remains consistently high. Distortion of facts and wild exaggeration are abhorrent. That may be the policy of others who rely on vulgarity and sensational display to boost their circulation, but it certainly finds no favour here.

We seek to cater for every taste in the cruelly limited space at present allowed, and our comment on political affairs, although we admit not entirely 'dispassionate, gives a true picture of events seen from a sound, common-sense Conservative point of view.

The list of contributOrs to the Daily Mail is impressive, and their combined humour, intelligence, and deep insight into affairs gives pleasure to millions. Their withdrawal from the eye of the public would be a national disaster, and we appeal to our readers here and now to give all their support on this vital issue.

The British people have endured enough, heaven knows, at the hands of a group of men who call themselves leaders. 'The disappearance of Flook would be the last straw.