pA..aWDEI1ra1fAY. MARCI 1 131985, VIITftY FREE PRESS Looking for Trouble I spent a couple of recent evenings of enforced bachelorhood with a book I started to read out of sense of duty, but with which I quickly became en- thralled. It's called "Looking for Trouble", and its author Is Peter Worthington, the former Editor Emeritus of the Toronto Sun and the unsuccessful conservative candidate for Broadview-Greenwood in the federal election. I'm sorry he lost the elec- tion, but l'm glad he's staying in journalism, which needs people who will caîl a spade a spade. I suppose Worthington is perceived to be right wing. It's true that he despises the Soviet ad- ministration and admires Ronald Reagan, but after absorbing some 300 pages of Worthington in the raw, I don't think he's right wing at all. Instead, he's a hard-nosed reporter who is never content with the conventional wisdom. He's spent a lifetime dodging bullets and battling deadlines to see thinks himself and come to his own con- clusions, the hard way. What he discovered is that most things are shades of grey. In his words: "Often in inter- national disputes, one side is not the per- sonification of virtue, the other, the epitome of evil. Good and bad can exist on both sides." He says that, even now, he is hard pressed to define whether he leans to the left or the right politically. I know exactly what he means, because so am 1. I haven't done enough to know that 75 per cent of life, people, situations, societies and so on defy exact classification, cannot possibly be pigeonholed, politically, moral ly, or any other way. I suspect that good reporters are almost always confused politically, because their basic tool is observation not emotion. There is no doubt that Peter Worthington is a good reporter. He has played in the big leagues with the best of the jet- set paparazzi and he's as good as any of them, better than many. He has been in the right place at the right time with astonishing frequency. And it's not just luck. In news, luck is made, not given. Time and time again, he made one more check, he stayed on his feet one more hour, he asked one more question, he worried just a little bit longer. And he was there for the story that eluded good reporters who didn't have Worthington's conscience, instinct or courage. Some good reporters never become great because reporting never becomes their top priority. For some, the top priority is marriage, children, women, booze, money or merely safety and comfort. Peter Worthington's top priority has always been the story, and in the process some of the middle class priorities have suffered. "Looking for Trouble" is a book the profession needed just about now. Reporters and the news business are in bad repute with the general public. If enough people read this book, there ought to be better understanding of what good reporters are all about. On the front page of last we.ek's edition of the Whitby Free Press, we were'delighted to report on two separate incidents, both of which will go a long way in furthering the cause of crime preven- tion in our community. The Whitby Hydro-Electric Commission laun- ched its "Whitby Hydro Radio-Watchout" - a program that is designed to provide the Durham Regional Police Force and the citizens of this municipality with an extra 18 pairs of eyes and ears. Since the commission continually has crews on the road who are equipped with two-way radios they can nulckly and efficiently report any suspicious activity or person to the police. Both the commission and its employees, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have embraced this program enthusiastically. W.H.E.C. empioyees will be trained by members of the force's community ser- vices bureau so they will know what to look out for in case they run across any suspicious activity. They will also be trained in first aid and C.P.R. so they will be able to provide assistance at the scene of an accident or other emergency. This newspaper also reported that Whitby Town Council will amend Its licensing bylaw so that the operators of 24-hour businesses such as gas stations or convenience stores will have to provide the Durham Regional Police Force with in- formation regarding their security. This measure will help the force to determine whether or not the employees of such businesses will be adequately protected in the event of robbery or other criminal activity. While they will be required to make such infor- mation available, the business operators will also get the benefit of professional advice from the force's community services department. Both of these programs will make a welcome addition to Whitby's Neighbourhood Watch program which has already been credited by the police with preventing a number of residential break-ins during the past few months. PAUL 4, vvv-ui'4naLit, 1 , lvltil\%-Il à L Il 1 Ji For their crime prevention measures.... EdwardsWHEC deserve applause This newspaper would als'o like to tip its hat and give a deserved round of pplause to the members of the Whitby Hydro-Electric Commission and its employees for nts concern and active participation An crime prevention. Another round of applause must also be given to Reg. Coun. Tom Edwards who worked hard to bring about the changes In the town's licensing bylaw. These people ail realize that the key to reduclng the crime rate is prevention. People who come in- to this community to committ their assorted felonies can now be put on notice that Whitby will no longer tolerate their behaviour and won't take an "I don't want to get lnvolved" attitude. As we ail have read and heard, our police force cannot prevent crime on its own. An informed, aware and active citizenry that is prepared to sup- port their activities is also needed. Crime preven- tion is not just a job for the police, it's a job for ail of us. And while we are handing out accolades, one should be given to the Durham Regional Police Force, for without their endorsement and support, none of these programs would have come into being. Mayor Bob Attersley, chairman of the Durham Regional Police Commission, has pledged the force's support to any community group that wishes to establish a Neighbourhood Watch program or any kind of crime prevention ac- tivity. We also understand that the-Town of Whitby it- self is considering Involvement in a program similiar to that adopted by the Hydro-Electric Commission. We certainly hope they stop con- sidering and start getting involved. The more eyes and ears we have, ready to report suspiclous activities to the police, will do nothing less than bring more criminals to the bar of justice. Crime prevention pays, we should ail get in- volved. wh tby - Voice of the County Town Michael lan Burgess, Publisher - Managing Editor The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. ,dam Putblishied every wedniesday MICHAEL KNELL N byI .B.M Publishiiig Community Editor an( Ilhotography Inc. Phone 668-111 VALERIE COWEN Advertising Manager The Free Press Building, eodCasMi 131 Brock Street North. second class Mail P.O. Box 26, . Whitby. Ont. Regsation No 5351 k