In an apparently successful departure from precedent, the American Psychoanalytic Association was host to 76 science writers at an all day seminar on psychoanalysis conducted by the Committee on Public Information at the December meeting of the Association. The National Association of Science Writers was a joint sponsor of the event. Although the Committee on Public Information has operated a press room at each meeting for more than a decade, this was the first organized effort to inform writers about psychoanalysis.
The seminar was held on the same day as the Executive Council meeting, and the Council joined the writers at lunch, providing an unusual opportunity for free discussion
and immediate evaluation of the reaction of the guests to the seminar. Officers of the Association, various Committee Chairmen and members of the Council also met the press at an informal reception afterwards.
The first of its kind, the December seminar was conceived by the Association's Public Relations Consultant, Mr. Eugene Kone, who has conducted similar seminars for the American Institute of Physics. It was largely introductory, presenting a general overview of psychoanalysis, its history, the training and activities of analysts, the historical development of psychoanalytic theory, its scientific applicability to a variety of aspects of human behavior, and its present status as a therapy.
Dr. Charles Brenner, as President, extended the greetings of the Association to the writers. Dr. Burness E. Moore presided as Chairman. Other participants were Drs. Leo Rangell, George H. Pollock, Albert J. Solnit, Herbert F. Waldhorn, and Bernard Paeella. The audience interrupted to ask questions during the talks, and the active interchange served to clarify the subject matter for this essentially lay audience.
Over a third of the audience were members of the National Association of Science Writers. Nine newspapers, from as far away as Toronto and Washington and including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, were represented. Five radio and TV networks and stations and one wire service sent reporters. Fourteen magazine writers and editors and 18 free lance authors were present. Further indication of the interest stirred by the event was the presence of 14 public relations and information officers of various scientific, health and welfare organizations, and Universities. Journalism professors of Columbia and New York University brought several science writing students.
The success of the seminar in arousing interest in psychoanalysis was reflected in the fact that 36 writers (as compared to some 6-12 in previous years) remained to cover the meeting for newspapers, magazines, and radio stations. Since the meeting, the Association has received a large number of letters praising the idea of holding such a seminar and applauding the presentations of the panelists. Several letters expressed the hope that the Association will plan additional seminars in the future, presenting various topics in greater detail.