Open for use in Social Welfare History Archives reading room.
Please contact the Archivist for copyright information.
Unpublished inventory available. Please contact Archives for more information.
The National News Council was created in 1973 in New York City upon the recommendation of an independent task force of the Twentieth Century Fund, a research foundation. Conceived as a private, nonprofit organization, the council began operation with two basic objectives: to consider complaints brought against the media, whether by individual citizens or organizations, concerning alleged misstatements, inaccuracies, or unfairness; and to study possible infringements on the freedom of the press.
The collection covers the council's activities from its inception until its dissolution in 1984. Among the National News Council's papers are administrative and financial records, working files formed around each case that the council considered, and reference files on topics of interest to the council. Together they document the council's internal operation, its record of deliberation on grievances brought against the media, and its involvement in a range of matters concerning journalistic ethics and practice. Major issues addressed by the National News Council include First Amendment freedoms, journalistic ethics, censorship, the balance of free press and fair trial, conflict of interest, concentration of media ownership, journalistic hoaxes, and use of confidential sources.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.