John Seymour Chaloner

After World War II, Chaloner, a British military officer, was assigned to establish a free press in war-torn Germany. Just 21 years old at the time, Chaloner met Rudolf Augstein, 22, a German ex-officer, who was applying as a journalist. Chaloner noticed Augstein was unlike other Germans he was interviewing: he was "not at all submissive like most Germans," he said, who tended to always say "Yes, sir, you're right, sir!" Augstein got the job to start a new magazine, and Diese Woche ("This Week") was born with Chaloner named publisher. Chaloner became known in Germany as "the father of the freedom of press" -- in part because he didn't censor Diese Woche. He allowed the new magazine to criticize forced labor by the French, deportation of German workers to Russia, and inadequate food rations, showing that "freedom of the press" includes the freedom to criticize occupation officials. It was not without cost: Chaloner was relieved of duty when the French and the Russians complained about the coverage. Chaloner urged occupation powers to turn the publisher's chair over to Augstein; the unfettered magazine would "be seen as the first representative of an independent Germany," Chaloner argued, expressing "the German point of view." Augstein was given a license to continue the magazine without British supervision, and as publisher he renamed the magazine Der Spiegel ("The Mirror"), which is still published today. Chaloner died February 9. He was 82. From This is True for 18 February 2007 Suggestions for further reading: Crimes Against Liberty: An Indictment of President Barack Obama by David Limbaugh Amazon Price: $16.47 Customer Review: Please! another "authority" spewing half truths, overlooking 12 years of favoritism for the well off, spinning his tales and fanning the fires of ignorance. Trying to divide the country under the guise of truth. When will we see that trying to care f...   Capitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition by Milton Friedman Amazon Price: $15.84 Customer Review: Although this text is over forty years old, the principals are just as true today. Milton Friendman seems amazingly prophetic, and that is one of the most entertaining qualities of this book - to look at the text now and see how most of the examples...   Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (Oxford History of the United States) by James M. McPherson Amazon Price: $13.57 Customer Review: Unless you have recently read a full history of the American Civil War, you will be hard pressed to find something better to read than this winner of a Pulitzer Prize. For two reasons: 1. the subject matter; 2. the writing style. 1. The ...   The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran by Robert Spencer Amazon Price: $13.57 Customer Review: Spencer, non surprisingly, is very selective at what he chooses to examine in this book and in what light he chooses to view things and events. Given that, there are some truth's in it, but not examined in an effort to understand, rather in an effort...   Inside Terrorism by Bruce Hoffman Amazon Price: $16.47 Customer Review: Hoffman does his best to not only define terrorism but provide timely information in an unbiased manner. This book is my textbook for my college Crime and Terrorism class. This has become an extremely useful tool and would recommend that it be read t...   Newsfeed display by CaRP

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