DATELINE: WASHINGTON

This is more than the history of the national press club in Washington, it is a book essential to newspaper workers and public understanding of the developments of the democratic press. Mr. Kroch's Introduction is followed by chapters contributed by leaders in the field:- Duncan Aikman traces the rise of political reporting from 1800 to 1900; Scott Hard and Junius B. Wood begin the story of the National Press Club, the development of the techniques of news gathering, the news conference; Theodore F. Koop tells the story of radio news casting; ensuing chapters record the financial contortions which ended in building the Press Building; Homer Dodge recounts the rise of the business reporter; the story of the trials of the newspaper photographer forms one chapter, government press releases another; the columnists, the diplomatic correspondent, the life of the newsman in Washington pressures and a chapter on censorship by George Creek add other facets to an interesting, well-rounded picture. For that market- professional and lay- interested in behind the scenes in the press.