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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 4. 1966.

The Press V. Forum Debate

The Press V. Forum Debate

Sir,—So Mr. Ashenden has talked the executive into banning the press from Forum.

For as long as I can remember he has been chastising the press for inaccurate, irresponsible reporting of student news. If some journalists are hostile towards students, it is because of the lack of co-operation and hostile treatment they have received from people like Mr. Ashenden.

By preventing reporters from attending Forum, and by refusing to speak to the newspaper reporters and radio producers who have approached him for information. Mr, Ashenden has ensured that any future press coverage of Forum will be ill-informed and unreliable.

Forum is one of the few activities showing students in a good light that the press are interested in. If the press can't attend Forum or speak to its controller, where are they going to get any information from?

They can get it from ordinary students who may, or may not, have their facts right. They can make it up. Or they can ignore students altogether, except when a few idiots get drunk during capping week. By banning reporters from Forum. Mr. Ashenden is creating the very situation he claims to be avoiding.

John D. Harlow