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Who's Kidding Whom?

Salient Says

It Is time that part of the student press which always boasts of its responsibility, and its public appeal—and whose editors get invited to the National Development Conference presumably as Student Statesmen—started to develop a few of these attributes.

Yes, it is the NZUSA magazine "Focus" we are talking about.

In a magazine whose editor's business acumen seems often to prevail over his journalistic ability it is not surprising that this magazine's most recent descent into sheer obscenity should take place in its advertising columns.

Most of the more noteworthy features of "Focus" are after all, to be found in its advertising columns, also, are allegedly edited.

Focus cannot make a scapegoat of its Advertising Manager for the Trans-Australia Airlines advertisement in its April-May issue, the main illustration which we reproduce —censored—in this issue.

Salient says: no Capping Book would dare print a photograph of this kind, no Capping Book censor would have let it pass; the printer of Salient would have refused to print it. But where other papers, in the name of public decency, show restraint and sobriety, "Focus" rushes in where the "National Informer" would fear to tread.

If the reputation of the student press is not to be sullied, only one course is possible: This Issue Of "Focus" Must Be Referred To The Indecent Publications Tribunal.

It is vital that this action be taken, not by some outraged member of the public, but by the student press itself, which must show the public that it is capable of keeping its own house clean without outside assistance.

Salient, in order to ensure that the present standards in student publications are maintained, will take the initiative by referring "Focus" to the Tribunal—a step NZUSA itself should have taken as soon as "Focus" appeared.

We warn irresponsible editors that we will not hesitate to take similar steps should such a situation recur; standard must be maintained in student journalism, and Salient is determined to see they are maintained.