Founders of the American system of governmuit knew tlut the young Republic could not live and prosper without an enlightened citizenry. Statements by Washington, Jefferson, Madison and others attest to this. It followed that freedom of the press was to be decreed in the very first amendment to the Constitution. A press that printed the truth — told whatthegovenmentwasdoittgandwtiattfie people expected of their leaders – was the best auttrance of the kind of informed citizens the founders had in mind. NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK Oct, 9-15 is a good time to remind you, the public. and the media as caretakers of this sacred trust, that without freedom of the press all ottter freedoms would stand to wither, This truth is inferred in the Newspaper Week theme: “A Free Press – Demncracy’s Fir-st President Reagan marked the observance with s statement saying: “OF Tl-IE FORCES shaping tbe destiny of our civilization, none is more crucial to our future than the responsible reporting and truthful analysis of the events of our era.” ‘ Your newspaper ir your friend. With the First Amendment as its authority and guideline, it is gaged in a daily crusade for your right to know. And with the knowledge of what is going on in the world and in your nation, state, and community, you are better prepared to make intelligent and enlightened judgments. Many nations of the world do not enjoy a free press, Their people are spoon-fed what dictators over the controlled press want them to know. THE RECENT AIR tragedy in which a Russian fighter plane shot down a Smith Korean passenger jet, killing 269 persons, is an illustration. The facts were quickly disseminated by the free press. The Soviet Union finally admitted that it destroyed Flight WI with missiles, while controlling what its own people should bear. President Reagan, in a subsequent Voice of America broadcast beamed to the Soviet Union. asked the Russians to “please understand” reasons for the intemational outcry over the downing of the Korean airliner. and told of the U.S. commitment for an agreement on disarmament, 1’bere has been reliable evidence that some people in the USSR heard the broadcast – how many nobody knows. For the most part. however, only the infomation willed by the Soviet ntlers has been available to the Russian IIUW TRUE WERE the words of Walter Lippman: “‘f’here can be no liberty for a community which lacks the information by which to detect lies.” bet National Newspaper Week be a time to cherish the blessing nf a free press, and for renewed dedication by the press itself in seeking out and publishing the truth.