The Ameti
Chemical Society News Service BY THE EDITORS
T H E history of t h e News Service of t h e AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SOCIETY
begins
in the Council meeting of the 1916 meet ing. There a motion was made for the formation of a publicity committee, aad as a result of the motion, President Herty appointed H . E. Howe as chairman and Ellwood Hendriek and A. V. H . Mory as members. T h e first attempt at or ganized publicity for the SOCIETY was made at the fall meeting that year in N e w York. I n 1918 i t was deemed advisable t o transfer the functions of the committee to the editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, an arrangement which gave rise to the present News Service. John W. Harrington was retained t o handle the newspaper relations, and he was succeeded in 1922 by Burt P. Garnett. In 1923 t h e present managing editor, James T. Grady, was engaged by H. E. Howe, who was then the Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, and Director of the News Service.
Purposes of the News Service T o understand fully t h e accomplish ments of the News Service i t is necessary to view the present favorable status of chemical news in the light of the chaotic state of chemical publicity when the service was first started. Chemistry in 1916 was just emerging, in the mind of the lay p u b lic, from the status of a borrowed science— borrowed from our recent, and present enemy, the Germans. If, as was quite u n likely, chemical news did find its way t o the newspapers, i t was mostly of German origin and was preferably of sensational nature. The public had been exposed the year before t o the terrible and terrifying news of the beginning of gas warfare. E d ucation of chemists was dominated b y the German system. T o t h e great mass of people chemistry was unknown and m y s terious, and the chemist a legendary figure devoting the major portion of his time to" developing munitions and weapons of war. Into this unsavory state stepped t h e N e w s Service. I t s purpose was t o release to the general public accurate and factual information about the science and prac tices of chemistry. I t had t o brake t h e sensationalist, and t o accelerate the retir ing in the field of science. I t had a vast public relations job to do in educating the public t o the realization that chemistry had an important function t o play—not only in war, but in t h e safeguarding of human life, in developing new industries, and in advancing technically the wellestablished ventures already serving t h e public. It represented t o the public, and often to the employer himself, the value of the work accomplished for America's de velopment by the chemist and the chemi cal engineer.
VOLUME
S2, N O . 5 · » · .
It is impossible to estimate or even be gin to appreciate the good accomplished by this intelligent supplying of accurate chemical information to the public. One can obtain an inkling, however, by noting that today the national meetings of tiie SOCIETY are well attended by trained news paper correspondents from all the outstand ing papers and news services in the country. The growth of a group of newspaper men known as science writers began with tihe inception of the News Service, and it is acknowledged that t h e meetings of ithe A.C.S. brought about this development. In his presidential address, a t a dinner meeting of the SOCIETY a t Pittsburgh, in September 1943, Per K. Frolich declared that the News Service, re-enforced by -fche vital contributions of daily journalism's science writers, had made t h e Nation chemistry conscious. It would be difficult to submit to fihe membership a more convincing appraisal of the value of the News Service than tiiis tribute by one whose awareness of real service to the SOCIETY and t o chemists is undoubted. At this point it will be inform ing to recall a statement by David Diet ζ, Scripps-Howard science editor: N o history of the relations between science and the press would be complete unless it paid tribute t o the wisdom of *he AMSRICAN
CHEMICAL· SOCIBTY in seeing
the necessity of closer understanding Be tween these t w o important sections of American life . . . I can remember when large groups of scientists felt that there was something unethical in talking for publication. Fortunately that day is gone forever and t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL S O
CIETY deserves t h e highest praise for "the part it played in bringing about a mew day. John J. O'Neill, science editor of t h e New York Herald Tribune, has asserted publicly that the News Service b a s "broken down the wall of isolation" which separated the chemists from the public. One of the most recent large-scale tests of the productivity of the News Service was provided by the Pittsburgh meetLng. How effectively t h e News Service func tioned in connection with this event naay be gathered from a brief and pointed quotation from a report of William B. Warren, local publicity chairman, wrho, in discussing the "fine press" which &he SOCIETY received a t Pittsburgh, said: "The clippings which continue to roll in amaze me." The practical value of t h e A.C.S. News Service w a s demonstrated in Jan uary of this year when the Associated Press and the United Press carried t o the news papers and hence to millions of readers t h e important pronouncement of our Presi dent, Dr. Midgley, o n the disastrous ef fects on production of war matériel caused
» MARCH
10; 194 4
by the mdlscriniinate drafting of chemists and chemical engineers. This message was carried by newspapers in cities, towns, and hamlets from coast to coast.
Problem of Obtaining Publicity Proper publicity is dimcidt t o obtain. It is not a case of calling the newspapers and giving them news. The reason for this i s that the interpretation of what is news and what is not news is subject to only one referee—namely, the editor. The problem of obtaining publicity requires the services of a trained individual who has the ability t o see events in the same light a s the editor. Further, i t is necessary t o prepare interesting and instructive copy and to see that that copy is gotten to the newspapers on time and in the hands of the proper department or editor. Then, too, the SOCIETY is faced with another problem—that of practically guaranteeing that the news it does send out is reliable and accurate. Naturally the SOCIETY could, for a short period, make headlines if i t wished t o be sensational in the news it generated. This trick is not suited to an organization which speaks for 40,000 chemists and chemical engineers, and furthermore, it would soon pall on the public and the news editors and more harm than good would be done. Once an organization or individual is branded with the reputation of irresponsibility, all his utterances are received in the light of scepticism. T h e News Service has always issued sober, sensible, accurate information—information on which the press could rely. The News Service has been fortunate in securing the services of James T . Grady, an alumnus of Harvard College and the Columbia University Law School, and a former news editor of the New York Herald Tribune. Mr. Grady after leaving the newspaper field went to the School of Journalism a t Columbia to teach practical journalism. H e later took charge of the public relations at Columbia, Cooper Union, the Botanical Garden, and along with other scientific societies, the A.C.S. H e has achieved most consistently successful results. Well known in news circles he has received a Fellowship of the American Institute in recognition of his accomplishments in creating a responsible scientific press. Stanley Walker, an outstanding writer, and at that time city editor of the New York Herald Tribune, once paid tribute, in a study made of the various public relations methods and results, t o the accomplishments of Grady b y saying: Out of t h e welter of shysters, shirtstuffers, fakers, liars, and brassy quacks 335
whose living depends upon getting free newspaper space, there is one man who deserves t o be allowed to live as long as he can. H e is James T. Grady, who handles publicity for Columbia University, the New Y o r k Botanical Garden, and a long list of engineering and scientific bodies. His stuff is honest, readable, and he gets more space in the papers than any other dozen press agents combined. The worth of the News Service in the final analysis is determined by the editors of the newspapers and journals which it serves. It is for this reason t h a t this report presents the objective opinions of representative journalists as reflecting the collective judgment of the press with respect t o the values engendered through its association with chemical science. The detached viewpoint of the newspaper world, it is submitted, constitutes more convincing evidence of the worthiness of the News Service than the most profuse subjective recital of "battles and sieges", of service performed with fidelity and skill. In a n address following his election as a Fellow- of the American Institute of the City of New York, the Managing Editor of t h e News Service observed t h a t "the interaction of science and journalism is generating a new and invigorating intellectual influence". "Journalism", he pointed out, "is giving to science a new sense of direction. Scientific endeavor divorced from humane ends invites social blindness with catastrophic penalties to mankind. It is journalism, mirroring h u m a n aspiration and human needs, that makes science see." In this march of science toward new social horizons, the News Service, as the spokesman and interpreter of the chemist, h a s shared significantly. T h e chemist has succeeded in making the market place chemistry conscious. The next great advance in human relations must be made within the chemical profession itself. The chemist must become politically conscious and politically competent. He must embrace politics as a science—the science of general existence with creative possibilities conceivably superior to his own. He must assume the leadership in a broad movement of science toward active and direct participation in world affairs. Scientists must combat t h e notion not uncommonly held that m a n is politically and morally unfit to utilize the instruments created by science. The summons to larger responsibilities cannot go unheeded. T h e chemist has more t o do than minister to the material wants of man and raise t h e "standard of living". T o describe in detail the operations of the News Service would involve a task of exposition comparable to writing a book- In general, the News Service functions as a clearinghouse of chemical news for the press. T h e publicity process comprehends the assembling of the raw material of the news, the shaping of this material into forms which accord with the
336
canons of journalism, and the distribution of the finished product—the releases—to newspapers, press associations, syndicates, and scientific and technical publications, as well as to a, wide range of other journals in the United States and Canada. The News Service is a source of supply for science writers, a professional group of first importance in contemporary journalism. Without t h e assistance of these writers, the news of science could not have reached its present proportions. Cooperation with these resourceful and influential specialists in science reporting has bceii one of the most fruitful obligations of the News Service. I t is a flourishing avenue of approach. I t is well to remind the reader that science writers are concerned primarily with creative chemistry, with discovery, and with developments which provide the element of surprise essential to a science story. There is, however, a broad field of professional activity which is less alluring to the by-liners of science. This field includes pronouncements of SOCIETY policy of a public or quasi-public nature, legislative and administrative acts affecting the chemical industry, chemical education, the professional status of chemists, reports of SOCIETY officers and committees, awards of medals and prizes, manpower problems, a n d countless other aspects of chemical science and industry which often are too drab for the specialist but are of moment to the profession. In this less dramatic area of the news, the News Service is a sharp instrument of the SOCIETY. The chemist usually is able t o state his case and to win the attention of the public despite the difficulties of obtaining precious newspaper space—of finding room. I t should be said t h a t the press is hospitable to science. The eternal problem of the journalist is bound up in the everrecurring question: * 'Where is the story?'' In other words, wherein lies the news? When the material undergoing this test happens to be a scientific paper, the right answer from a journalist's point of view obviously is hard to find. Simplification of science is a challenge to the best minds. There is one aspect of the work of the News Service which merits special notice. Much of the news matter sent to the newspapers by t h e News Service is developed from articles appearing in the SOCIETY'S publications. Credit is freely given t,o Industrial and Engineering Chemistry and to
CHEMICAL AJMD E N G I N E E R I N G
NEWS,
which are relied upon by press and public as unfailing sources of authoritative chemical information. The News Service operates in a metropolitan setting. The news facilities which abound in t h e City of New York are readily accessible. New York is a vast center from which an endless stream of public intelligence goes forth to all corners of the world. The mechanism of the News Service is so organized a s t o take full advantage of
C H E M K M
these unrivaled opportunities. The News Service employs a s far as possible the practice of journalism and respects its standards. Promotion and ballyhoo are alien to the spirit and purpose of t h e News Service. Rounding up the news is a process which entails an infinite variety of duties. The most spectacular, but not always the most important, events in chemistry are associated with the SOCIETY'S semiannual meetings. Preparations for covering these meetings begin weeks and even months in advance. The Managing Editor conducts a voluminous correspondence with authors of papers and with SOCIETY and divisional officers. Out of the hundreds of papers presented a t each meeting, perhaps three score are available as news. I n its quest for suitable material, the News Service receives cooperation from chemists to c. surprising extent. The news stories which appear in the press during the meeting period are the product of direct collaboration of chemists with the News Service. Even under wartime pressure, chemists willingly aid the News Service in popularizing highly technical papers which otherwise wrculd defy lay interpretation. In fact, t h e News Service is taking on the character of a cooperative enterprise in which the participation of the chemist is increasingly effective. Chemical publicity, it should be noted, is also handled by the public relations departments of chemical companies. With these agencies t h e News Service maintains cordial and constructive relationships. This cursory explanation of the publicity process as applied to meetings is typical of the year-round procedure of the News Service. The News Service reaches out in many directions to perform its mission. All publications of the SOCIETY undergo minute scrutiny in page proof form to locate possible channels of news. Chemical activities with an inherent public interest are thoroughly reported. T h e SOCIETY relies upon the News Service for public expression of its official policy on legislation affecting t h e chemical profession and the chemical industry. Educational and professional standards demanded by the SOCIETY provide themes for constructive public discussion. Chemists in the laboratories of the industries, of the universities and technical schools, of the public services, and of other organizations devoted to chemical investigation continually turn to the News Service for popular expression of their work and aims. There is no question but that publicizing the chemist and his accomplishments has developed increased demand for research and has created thousands of new opportunities for chemists and chemical engineers. T h e News Service, too, has the task of printing the abstracts t h a t are on sale a t each national meeting. Authors are reminded t h a t abstracts are necessary, C O N T I N U E D ON PAGE 3 7 0
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
NITROGEN TETROXIOE
§^ffff^^^^^
• * "V--
Heavy brown liquid at 20°C. Mol. W t . 92.02. Density 1.45 at 2 0 e C or 12 lbs. p e r gal. Non-corrosive to steel when dry ( N o t more than 0 . 1 % w a t e r ) . Boiling point 21°C. Sp.Gr.* of gas at 1 atm. 21°C. = 2.75 (Relative to a i r ) . Density of gas 3 3 g m . / l i t e r 21°C. 1 atm. o r 0.205 lbs./cu. ft. Vapor Pressure 20°C. 68°F. Below 0 lbs. gage 30°C. 86°F. 7.3 " *Sp-Gr. varies more than usual with temperature and pressure due to dissociation of N2O4 to 3M02.
SIlMSlHiaiORlPIl Like some other nitrogen oxides, N 2 0< is very toxic. It is classed as a poison and under -existing regulations can be shipped only in seamless steel cylinders, Specification 3-D. D u e to its low vapor pressure at ordinary temperatures, it can be stored in l o w pressure containers such as steel
