The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-07-18
THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS.

In few remarks before the Tennessee Press
Association, Mr.. Ira NJ. Jones. Of the Nash
Vile Union and American, said that the news
paper of this country had entered upon a
new era, aud it must come up to it. 1t must
Every line iu a newspaper has positive val
ue, aud it ought to be asserted. II the bust
ness was properly managed, there was no
necessity for s.poor devils of printers A
man might be independent IN the expression
of his views, but every time newspaper did,
it had to pay money. Mr.. Jones in this states
fact as well known to newspaper editors aud
publishers who understand their business. as
it is unknown to large class of people who
look upon newspapers as free vehicles, III which
every one is invited to ride. The policy of a
class of newspaper conductors, who fortu-
nately for the profession, are rapidly disap-
pearing, produced this feeling. What else
could people think when politically editors
abased themselves before clques and rings?
How could it be otherwise, when in matters
of business, publishers meeky accepted for
advertising any offer they could obtain, rath-
er than allow the patronage Of to go else
where? How long could a merchant sustain
himself in such policy !? YET outside the
large cities, it has been only within few
wears that publishers have begun to realize
the force OF the maxim that business is bus
mess" We have found it difficult task to
make even some of our best business men com
prehend this truth in journalism which was
the foundation of their own success.
No man would think Of taking Cigar or a
L.. 4,Lo fnh.ocorsct fbo,,
paying for it; yet we have known men to al
most choke with passion because asked to pay
for paper taken from our business Office, as
if large outlay of money was not required
to produce the desired paper. Men who would
scorn to ask merchant for yard Of calico
or spool Of thread, do not hesitate to ask
the insertion, gratis, of COMMUNICATIONS culo-
CYSTIC Of the Hon, Josephus Punkinyiae, or
some other equally conspicuous patriot, of
whom no body had ever heard, but whose cleo
ton to Office they desire, for reasons best
known to themselves Articles Of this kind
are purely matters of bushes as such We in
variably treat them, and thus not nfrequent.
Nv incur the enmity Of persons, who, singu-
larly enough, think that to please them we
should pay printers for setting types for these
things, and fill valuable space with them-al
without charge. Do these persons ever stop
to think that printing paper like this re-
quires cash outlay Of nearly $4,000 per
| week, aud that aside from the space devoted
to editorials aud aews, our columns arc our
dry goods, groceries, cotton, etc, which must
command price that this heavy expense may
be met We suppose not or we would not
be asked to give sonathpg for nothing, as is
yet frequently the case
As Mr.. Jones tersely puts it, "every line
Id newspaper. has . positive value" Those
devoted to naHs and opiaions give the paper
Ethe circulation and popularity necessary to
render its columns valuable ID. iegitin,ate bus
/ ipeas msn, as we'll as to persons who have pri.
vate or public axes.to sriad. WeholH, with
other business men, that whatever is worth
priatia@ j. worth paying for. This il rule