AS the Kent Messenger celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, it would be easy to believe that the advent of multi media has changed the way the industry works substantially from the traditional newspaper world of yesteryear. Here, looks back at the values the KM upheld 50 years ago which are as relevant today as ever.EVERY journalist has their principles, and there were some strict ones under which the Kent Messenger was run 50 years ago.

In 1959, Major Henry Roy Pratt Boorman, editor-proprietor of the Kent Messenger, writing in the KM’s centenary year, set out the principles which the newspaper was run by.

Pratt Boorman, who was affectionately known as “The Governor”, took over the running of the company in 1928 after the death of his father, who had also been editor-proprietor.

The principles he laid out began with: “We publish news without fear or favour” and “We believe honest headlines need not necessarily be dull.”

They also included: “We refuse to foster hate in headlines or copy,” and “We respect the dignity and the privacy of the individual”; “We avoid detailed descriptions of acts of indecency”; “We look for news for good work, to off-set news of crime and violence.”

Also, “We take steps to correct mistakes we make,” which today is reflected in the Get It Right column on our Letters page and “We refuse to reveal our sources of confidential information.”

They ended with: “We try to be fair to all, for all men are equal,” and “We are not biased by race, social or economic environment or religious conviction.”

He wrote: “For 100 years the Kent Messenger has served the county of Kent faithfully and, we hope, well.

“Although we are 100 years old, we believe we are as young and vigorous as ever. We hope still to serve you well.”

Pratt Boorman was succeeded by his son, Edwin Boorman, now president of the Kent Messenger Group, and, most recently, Geraldine Allinson, one of Mr Boorman’s daughters, took over at the helm in 2005.

Today, the company still adheres to those principles, but has Core Values, which include being: “Passionate about serving the people of Kent, working with the community, building and maintaining trust and exceeding expectations,” and having “Belief in the individual; giving and gaining respect and taking responsibility” and “Providing the best quality media” with an “insistence on accuracy,” and “maintaining integrity”.