The 1964 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts

RESPONSE of Kayser Sung
 

I feel intensely moved and honored in accepting the 1964 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism and Literature, which has been conferred on Richard Wilson and myself for our work with the Far Eastern Economic Review. I am also grateful for this chance to come to Manila and receive the Award in person. This gives me an opportunity to say something about the journalistic principles which you have chosen to recognize.

With improving communications in the world today, with the drawing together of peoples through many types of organized meetings and through private contacts, and with the rising interest in foreign countries which is felt almost everywhere, I feel that newspapers and periodicals face a new, heavy and growing responsibility. There is certainly a keen demand for simple but intelligent explanations of the complicated problems of Asia, Africa and other hitherto underdeveloped regions; for dependable information about their domestic and foreign attitudes; for comprehensible analyses and interpretation of financial, commercial and industrial developments. Good reporting serves moreover to promote the economic growth of the developing countries and the welfare of their peoples.

In the profession of journalism I believe in writing that may be argumentative, but is nonetheless factual and balanced. This high Award has not only strengthened that belief, but has inspired me to work more vigorously to meet the requirements of the region in the journalistic field.

On the Far Eastern Economic Review we have neither striven for public recognition nor expected any such thing. You will understand, therefore, how moved we were in Hong Kong, I and every member of our staff, to read of our election for the Ramon Magsaysay Award. It was a recognition more perhaps of an effort than an achievement; the honoring of a principle of journalism which I believe is in conformity, whatever the shortcomings of our actual performance, with the great spirit of your late, deeply lamented President.