To:         The Society of Professional Journalists
              The First Amendment Center
              National Press Building
              Washington, D.C.
Date:      January 19, 1989
Subject: Their ad, "If the press didn't tell us, who would?"
Result:   no response

Dear Society of Professional Journalists,

I am writing to you because we seem to have similar views about freedom and rights and responsibilities, in accordance with our Founding Fathers' wishes and expectations when they wrote the First Amendment to the Constitution.

"If the press didn't tell us, who would?", I've heard in some of your radio commercials. That is exactly the point I have been trying to make for the past couple of years - to the press. I am sending you here materials related to that effort [footnote: this was back in the days when I used to send all kinds of things to all kinds of people, as part of such undertakings as my "art mailing list"]. They consist of Letters to the Editor that did not get printed due to their disagreeable content, and responses I've made to newspapers' hypocritical lack of commitment to freedom. They are very concerned about their freedom and ability to have their say, yes. But if they don't like what you say, forget it. If you want to say what's on your mind to the general public, buy your own newspaper.

There are probably few things I have not fantasized about being in my life. Journalist is among the many I have. Although, when I had such ideas, idealist that I am, I imagined myself being something quite different from what I have found the many journalists I have addressed to be. I would be a seeker of truth, full of curiosity and energy to pursue whatever is there. An explorer of the world, wanting to know its great diversity as fully as possible. (Actually, this is me). Certainly if any unique thing presented itself to me, or something that gave indication of being possibly unique, I would at least go look.

I don't know. Maybe I watched too much Clark Kent and Lois Lane and Perry White, and young Jimmy Olson - great seekers of truth and the American Way.

Sincerely, John Vehon