The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-25
Sensation Newspapers.


AS newspapers, s imply, those ofAmer-
lea are the best in the world. The en-
tire globe is raked, and raked clean,
every day, of incident, movement, and
event, to be blazoned upon their teeming
pages. Science, religion, politics, sociA
ETY., commerce, agriculture, mechanics,
all things of human concern find place
for every fact and phase in their coll
.umns. To preside over q great Ameri.
can newspaper is to hold and exercise
one OF the most dlgnified offices. OF the
world. Now, let us open the newspaper,
and see how it looks. Freighted with
the worlds great affairs, loaded down
with the hopes, struggles, misfortunes,
crimes, triumDhs and achievements OF
we expect to find 1t. earnest,
dignitied and catholic. The first thing
we see is half a column OF sensational
headings, addressed d, perhaps, to the
prurient curiosity of the basest men.
We open a Western paper. and hnd over
an item OF intelligence, or of falsehood,
concerning a grievous scandal the word
WELL - in as large type as can be
squeezed into column. This is fol-
lowed by minor heads, every one OF
which is intended to produce sensa-
tion. OftentirAes the headings mislead
as to the character of the intelligence to
which they are the preface. All the
news chronicled Is wrought up into Its
most startling forms. To pique curiosl-
ty, to raise feeling, to attracs attention,
to appeal to the sense OF the marvellous,
to be stunning rather than simple and
true, are the apparent motives OF The
conductor.
Is This an extreme case? We can fur
nish papers by the hundred that steadily
pursue this course as a matter or policy.
1t is not enough that we have party
presses in religion and politics that give
party shape to everything that comes
to them. 1t is not enough that we have
presses that rejoice in scandal and crime,
and take greater delight in them, and
greater pains with their details, than are
excited by those affairs which mark the
advance of the world in goodness and
wisdom. 1t is not enough that there arc
papers which mold all things that they
now touch to the personal purposes and
prejudices of their conductors. Ii a
thing is tame it must be whipped into
startling appearance. II it is sad-in-
expressibly sad from it's badness-its
badness must yield the requisite sensa-
tion, Great and good names are Jested
with. Topics which involve the most
precious interests of the human race are
Tossed fiippantly about, like the balls OF
juggler, to attract the eyes OF the gap
Ii ing multitude. Subjects of which chill
dren can never know too little are laid
before the family eye as familiarly as il
they were not stepped in shame. 70 re.
ceive the worlds news, in the spirit and
shape in which it is presented to millions
Of readers every day, is to suppose tnat
all the worlds Nmomentuous events are
conceived in fever and brought fourth In
Mysteries:
Ii anything were really gained by this
course there might be poor apology for
it, but nothing ever was gained by it,
The papers which indulge In it most are
least trusted. The moment an editor be-
comes thoroughly conscientious, and
recognizes the Importance and dignity
of his position, he drops his sensational
headings with disgust. II he has news
from Zanzibar, the heading. OF his item
states the fact; and ii the reader is In
terested in Zanzibar he reads the item.
Ii he mas important news from Zanzibar
His heading states that fact, and ii very
important news from Zanzibar, that iact;
and the reader finds the facts as repre-
sented. and judges OF the facts and re-
lations without having been misled by
sensational headings. 1t is good news.
paper rule to hit every subordinate, sen.
sationai head d-wherever the editor sees
tit. All news with more than one head is
guilty of a crime against editor and
reader alike, and deserves decapitation
Shall we mention another SIN? Have
we to-day, any such thing in America as
private lie? Is a private man, or even
mans family, safe from public men.
ton? Alas l>that the press has an apollo.
~ tor its familiar handling OF private
names and private atfairsl Alasl that
there are so many in private lite who re.
| joice in the public airing OF their person.
alities and their personal movements
Alas that the details Of private life are
devoured SO greedily by so many who dc
not seem to know that the love Of noto.
rlety is vulgar, and that their desire &c
pry into the lie Of others compromises
their dignity and their neigho0riy good
wilt Alter all, is 1t dignitied business
| for the press to minister to this low and
unhealthy greed? Is the world SO bar
rem of great topics that the press, per.
force, must transform itself into neigh
borhood tattler and a public gossip? Are
valuable opinions and valuable inteili
gence 80 scarce that it mustsend it's pry.
| ing gfnteryiewers out among the ranks o.
private men, to worm cut their secrets,
on pain of MISREPRESENTATION and abuse
and spread them before q curious pub
licf The American press OF the future
will not do it, unless civilization shall
retrograde, and our nation remain a ma
ton OF children.-Dr. j. G. Holland. In
iscribner. for April.