Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-23
CAROLINA PRESS AsSG.
CATION.

CIATION.
Thirty or more proprietors and
editors of newspapers met in Colds
bOro' last week and formed the North
Carolina Press Association. The public
generally are probably little concerned
in the details of the meeting, but they
are deeply interested in the objects
sought to be attained-the elevation
and Improvement of the press.
There are many abuses connected
with the newspaper business i'll Norm
Carolina which should be corrected,
and which can only be reformed by
q mutual understanding and concert of
action among the conductors of the
newspaper press" The public, as well
as the publishers, are interested In
this reformation. The people of North
Carolina desire to see the press OF the
State elevated and rendered more pros
porous. The welfare of the State de-
ponds, in no little degree, upon the
ability, the enterprise and the Pros
perity of its newspapers. A well
conducted local paper is capable OF
doing as much good for community
as any other enterprise in its midst.
Newspapers are generally very correct
induces of the commercial and agricul-
tural prosperity of the localities IN
which they are published.
Then, again, owing to an ungenerous
and, frequently, unnecessary rivalry,
newspapers publish foreign ADVERTISE
ments at rates entirely disproportionate
with prices asked for home advertise
ments. Men following legitimate oc-
equations at home are made to pay
the regular rates, while the lotteries,
cheap jewelry-sellers, fortune-tellers
and CHEAP Johns" of other localities,
have their illicit business spread before
newspaper-readers at ridiculously low
prices. Even advertisers offering
standard goods for sale secure space
much cheaper than those similarly
engaged at home.
This discrimination results from q
want of cooperation among publishers.
If advertising agents were compelled
by all newspapers to pay the same
rates as those required of home people,
these foreign advertisers, seeking
North Carolina patronage, would have
no other option but to pay fair and
equitable prices.
Another great bane Of the Nortl
Carolina Press is the system, almost
universal, of crediting for subscrlp
tons. We are satisfied that to-day
there is owing to the various papers IL
the State ap,ra'ds Of ono h"''d,'ef
Mousc1td dOllurs for subscription!
atone, an amount which would go fal
towards placing the press OF the State
in a condition to be of tho creates
benefit to North Carolina.
The JOURNAL has almost alone
adopted the cash system for subscrlp
tons. In enforcing the rule We have
lost some of our oldest subscribers
and we regret to say have glVe1
offence to some whose friendship W.
most highly esteemed. This WI
sincerely regret, and when occasionally
one of these gentlemen reneWs hl'
subscription itgives us greaterpleas1lrt
in securing the recognition OF the
Justice of or own course than IL
adding another subscriber to oar lists
Believing, however, this is the prope1
course to pursue, we shall abide by It
hoping the day is not far distant whel
it shall be adopted by the entire press
of the State. 1t will be better for pub
fishers and better for their patrons.
These are some of the reforms
which the North Carolina Press Asso
citation expect to effect, and which
they can and will carry out, If those
who have inaugurated this movement
are sustained by respectable portion
of those publishers and editors who
were not present at the first meeting
of the Association. From the earnest
ness with which those present began
the work, and from the unanimlty
which marked their deliberations We
believe that good will result-a benefit
to be shared by the public and the
press alike. We trust that the next
meeting of the Association will be the
occasion for the assembling OF repre-
sentatives from every paper i'll North
Carolina.