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The Red and Hlack. Wednesday. May 2. 1971*
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Give up writing classes, learn about
world instead, says newspaper editor
By J AN LANE
Journalism students should give up classes in public relations,
feature writing and editorial writing in favor of “a class about
the world and the flow of copy you are dealing with." according
to H Brandt Ayers, editor and publisher of The Anniston (Ala.)
Star
It’ll be a damned long time before you cats write any
editorials,” Ayers told journalism students recently
Guided by student questions, Ayers spent the day on campus
speaking informally in classes and addressing the regular
meeting of the student chapter of the Society of Professional
Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi
Ayers, who describes himself as a third generation small town
newspaper publisher, is a journalism graduate of the University
of Alabama and a member of its advisory board He was a
Neiman Fellow at Harvard University and a 1968 recipient of the
National Headliner Award for an expose of corruption in the
Anniston city government.
Ayers is also majority owner of another daily newspaper and
radio and television stations in Alabama, but his influence
extends beyond the geographical boundaries of the South
‘The real joy of my life is that I write things that are read and
taken seriously in the White House," said Ayers, whose weekly
syndicated column "Out Here” appears in 30 newspapers Ayers
is also author of "The South and the Nation Are Joined." a
chapter in President Carter's inaugural book, and was granted
the first exclusive interview with an editor by the president
Having recently returned from Washington. Ayers described
the White House press corps as a pack of yelping hounds with
Sam Donaldson as "lead dog ”
Pursuing the metaphor, he compared Jody Powell to the
raccoon, a courageous animal which must stay near its food
source.
"Doubling back, but doomed to go in circles, the raccoon
eventually gets treed by the dogs.” Ayers said "And every
damned day Jody gets treed ”
Ayers said perhaps he had used ‘‘a highly unfavorable
metaphor." but he noted, "the White House press corps behaves
that way.”
Ayers spoke with a soft drawl and smoked cigarettes
constantly as he told students of his travels in the Soviet Union
and South Africa.
In response to questions about news flow from third world
countries. Ayers recommended journalism students spend
additional academic time studying world history and current
events.
Ayers said while proud of his influence in the White House, he
is equally pleased with his rapport in the local community,
among the group he calls the "courthouse barbershop " He
describes these people as "plugged into the permanence of life."
people who really care about what happens to the place where
they are And Ayers recognizes the power these people feel the
press has in their lives.
Once Ayers asked his courthouse barbershop group. "What
would you fear most--if an editor got after you or a judge’’" The
response was unanimous "The newspaper could ruin you,"
Ayers reported as their reply
In addition to being read seriously by people in the White
House, a "bunch of transients without full-time jobs." Ayers
equated these people with the Wizard of Oz. ordinary folk behind
the facade of the powerful image. But the small town folk of the
courthouse barbershop are America. Ayers said. And these
people are concerned about our extended family, our country.
"This is one of those times when we don’t feel the breeze of any
great momentum We re a little distrustful We have the ‘hlahs.'
and we re not living up to our best sense of ourselves." he said
"And because of these feelings, we are blaming the W’hite
House." Ayers continued "President Carter needs to be aware of
the country's morale.”
The last presidents to give the American people a sense of
national purpose were "Kennedy, a little, and Eisenhower, a
lot." Ayers said.
Continuing his observations about the W'hite House. Ayers said
Jody Powell is "the best press secretary since FDR's Steve
Early."
Powell is interested in more than just winning the next
election. Ayers said, "but the press people have no obligation to
help Jody with his job."
Ayers advice to journalism students included learning
accountability by working on a good small town newspaper "The
best journalists came up that way and never forgot that
experience." he said.
First edition Jekyll
A first edition copy of Robert Louis Stevenson s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Ilvde is among a large collection of rare books recently donated to the
University library by Mrs Patricia A Turner of Augusta Acquisition of the more
than 650 volumes gives the University’s rare books and manuscripts department
"some exceptionally fine books of kinds not previously well represented in our
collections." according to department curator Richard Harwell The library will
exhibit selected items from the collection in the rare books and manuscripts
display case on the third floor of the main library beginning May 1. Dr. Ralph
McCoy, interim director of libraries, called the collection one of the most valuable
gifts of books ever received by the University.”
ACLU director will speak at festival
By LAURA Ll'EDTKK
Staff writer
Gene Guerrero, director of
the American Civil Liberties
Union in Georgia, and speak-
fUl.e
V
May 13th is Mother’s Day!
Great selection of cards at the Corner Store.
IS
m
The Corner Store
510 Baxter Street across from Brumby Hall
on the corner of Baxter and Church • 549-9520
9:00-6:30 Monday-Thursday 9:00-6:00 Friday and Saturday
i Formerly King Discount)
ers representing social action
issues ranging from the Equal
Rights Amendment to nuclear
energy will address students in
a May 4 festival at Legion
Field.
Scheduled to begin noon
Friday, the festival is a
memorial to the shooting
deaths of four students at Kent
State University in Ohio nine
JMfS ago. according to the
organizers.
The four students, partici
pating in a rally against
bombings in Cambodia by the
Nixon admnistration, were
shot by National Guardsmen
attempting to control the rally.
Guerrero’s address, sched
uled to begin at noon, will deal
with Constitutional rights in
the University community.
Athens attorney Hue Henry and
a number of the University
community will discuss the
topic also.
The memorial rally is
sponsored by the Free Speech
Task Force, a student group
organized in January to
protest the speaker's policy of
the University System Board
of Regents
The board, which formerly
opened its lectern to any
citizen wishing to speak, now
requires a member of a college
or university community to
secure special permission from
the president of the institution
‘‘As soon as the students
started to participate and get
involved, they (the board) took
the privilege away," according
to Marshall Dayan, one of the
organizers of the task force.
Dayan and another organiz
er. David Shelledy, were
denied the right to speak to the
regents earlier this year.
Although they were later
allowed to address the board.
Dayan and Shelledy filed a
lawsuit allegirg the regents
had violated their First
Amendment right to freedom
of speech. The suit is now-
pending
The May 4 rally is a public
forum designed to show-
students they need to-
"maintain a free flow of
information at the University,”
according to Shelledy.
Other guests at the rally
include Athenians for Clean
Energy, the Student Caucus on
Women’s Issues and the Sierra
club, a conservationist group
devoted to pushing legislation
to increase wilderness areas
Entertainment at the rally
will be provided by the Tony
Pritchett band. Jan Riley and
Tommy Jordan. Kandy Rudisill
and former keyboard player
with the Dixie Dregs Steve
Davidowski.
The rally, scheduled from
noon until sundown at Legion
Field, will move to the Georgia
Theatre downtown in case of
rain.
The Brewmasters Club plans
to offer refreshments at the
rally, according to Shelledy
and Dayan.
Give
Blood
+
Red Cross
is counting
on you
THE
special guest GLORIA GAYNOR^
V. - *
\X' M
Jr 4 I 'i
May 7 at 8:00 pm, University Coliseum. Student tickets $3.00
with valid UGA ID and fee card. General admission $6.00
at Memorial Hall Business Office, Chapter 3 Records, and
Custom Sound.
Watch out for Two Fingers.
Imported and Bottled try Hiram Walker A Sow Inc . Paorta. HI. San Ffincisce. Calrl Tequrla 80 Proof Product of Metico
NOW PLAYING:
• Chick Filets
• Fried
Mushrooms
• Salads
• Frozen Yogurt
• Seafoods
"Fine
entertainment
for under *2.001"
600 Baxter
548-7256