To the Editor of the Nowmu-Cuana Dai News The public wants to read in the newspapers reliable and accurate news items that make up a record of world events from day to day. It cerns to me, therefore, it is ineumbent upon the newspaper editor to avoid by all means anything and everything that tends to arouse the slightest misunderstanding. For the scading pubbs has a right to know he truth of current evente~ the whole truth and nothing but the truth, And. they should ni be misinformed!
In your issue for Oct, 23 a letter from "London, dated Oct. 1, by the 'N-C.D.N." Military Correspondent reports on the recent appointment of It-Colonel Harold C. Harrison as Chief of Staff in China.
He is to} succeed Colonel Nosworthy about March, 1935, when he takes over the Sth Infantry Brigade at Aldershot, That's the news. Among other things, the military letter goes on to give a short biographical sketch of the newly appointed British amicer. Aprarently your slait correspondent desires. to Introduce "Lt.-Colonel Harrison 10 the British residents in China through the columns of the "N-C.D.N." That is well and good.
However, there is an obvious discrepancy between the news and its headline—"China's New Chief Staff." Perhaps this may not oppos important enough to arouse the, curiosity or interest of a British subject. But, {0 a Chinese citizen, it serious "misprint" and a grote que misrepresentation. China may have a new Chief of Stafl, as the occasion may arise. But such a news item would for have come from your London correspondent. Certainly, China's new chief of staff could not be in the person of a British military The headline in question leaves upon the mind of readers an error ous impression that China's new chi of staff is a British citizen, whether hho comes at the request of the Chinese Government or under the command of the British Government. AN least, it carries an implied meaning of the sort that is discourtesy between nations. Not only does it misinform, the reading public but also reflects upon the sovereign rights of China as well as the personal honour of Lt. Colonel. Harrison. Being" {anmous sportsman." I believe, t British Chief of Sta in Ci feel more embarrassed than gr by such a headline of complimentary. introduction.
It is quite all right o make your headline interesting, attractive or even, sensational—for the sake of catching the reader's eye. But good journalism, demands a carefully phrased headline] that is true to fact and consistent with the news report itself. It is tone thing to be sensational but it is quila another to be misleading Therefore, I earnestly appeal to your power of reason, your sense of Judgment and your spirit of sports. manship to desist from employing. headlines for news items that are contrary to sound principles of journalism, and detrimental to the friendly feelings between the British and Chinese people. Needless to say, a headline such as "China's New Chief of Stal," is an illewind which blows no good, your paper or ils readers, to your correspondent or his subject, to your! country or mine, Shanghai, Oct, 24. seentr. Shen's courtesy Is disarming. Tne need for abbreviation. certainl produced an inaccuracy here.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.