Wednesday, October 04, 2006

The Nazi press wars

Why should citizens be wary when their government criticizes the press for what they report, as opposed to how they report?

In April of 1933 Edgar Ansel Mowrer (sounds like Edward R. Murrow doesn't it) published "Germany Puts the Clock Back". The German government did not like his book and started pulling strings to get him removed from his post.

Mr. Mowrer proclaimed, "My own stand is this: Freedom of correspondents must not be hampered by any kind of social or personal pressure provided they report the news on the basis of reliable information. To clarify this point I offer my resignation. Please decide for yourselves."

Mr. Mowrer's colleagues stood by him and had him reinstated. You can read all about it here thanks to the Google News Archive search:

That pesky Guardian

Find your own Nazi-era heroic defiance here:

Google News Archive

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Foot Quotes

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

Charles Darwin