Information dissemination and publication control

The present issue contains a “Forum on Algorithms” dealing with some of the problems which arise in connection with the algorithm policy of the Communications. Specifically, many ACM members believe that a policy which designates only one language (ALGOL) as appropriate for publication purposes is too restrictive, particularly when this language is not accessible to many members and may not, moreover, be especially well suited for the description of many types of problems. This feeling is reflected in Professor Perlis' comments when he suggests that several languages should be acceptable “one language being selected for each … algorithmic activity, chosen for the lucidity with which it expresses the diverse data manipulations of that area.”

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