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This a picture of Dr. John W. Cunliffe, the second director of the Journalism School at New York's Columbia University, circa 1920.

DEFENDS JOURNALISM.

Dr. Cunliffe Tells Graduating Class Recent Charges Are Untrue.

The honesty and fairness of American journalism were defended last night by Dr. J. W. Cunliffe, Director of the Columbia University School of Journalism, against charges made by Upton Sinclair In "The Brass Check," and criticisms made by Walter Lippmann. Dr. Cunliffe spoke at the annual dinner of the School of Journalism, which was held in the school building at 116th Street and Broadway, and which was attended by 150 students and alumni.

"The proportion of honorable men engaged in newspaper work," said Dr. Cunliffe, "is as great as in any other trade or profession. Of course, newspaper proprietors, editors and reporters are human and therefore not free from personal bias, but judging from personal experience, I should think my opportunities of getting at the truth to be greater in a paper conducted by Mr. Pulitzer or Mr. Ochs than in one conducted by Upton Sinclair.

"These charges are not so, and most of you have had enough experience to know that they are not so. It is an honorable profession in which an honest man can make his way by honest means, and you have reason to be suspicious of any man who would persuade you of the contrary.

"Above all, do not be deluded into the adoption of the Sinclair method of bias, of exaggeration, of sensationalism. It is not in this way that you will win either success or satisfaction for yourselves. The public wants to know the facts, and if you will follow the instruction given in this school you will strive, so far as your ability and opportunity go, to give it the facts. In that high endeavor I wish you abundant success."

Dr. Talcott Williams, Director Emeritus of the School of Journalism, said Upton Sinclair had "extraordinary capacity for statement and misstatement—equal power for both." Mr. Sinclair, he said, had "never been accorded the acclaim that he wishes, and thinks, therefore, that something is radically wrong with the world which fails to appreciate him adequately."

Dr. Williams told the students they never would know the real joy of newspaper work until they had gone to work on election day at noon and not quit until the last edition had been published the following morning at 6.

"The best hours of the day," he continued, "are between 10 P. M. and 6 A. M."

Kenneth Lord, city editor of The New York Herald, who is an instructor in the School of Journalism, agreed with Dr. Williams that these used to be the most pleasant hours of the day, "but not any longer," he said.

The New York Times
Published: May 22, 1921

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