Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-09-26
Sensational Journalism.

sensational newspaper aud one de /
voted TO record Of mere facts in the
history Of country and people. /
Many journals seem eager to chronicle
all the baser thoughts and acts of men,
and when these are not apparent nae- /
ination will paint aud portray sufficient |
to make out sensational item to dish |
ont to greedy public. Such journals |
could not long survive were there net
in the reading public many who prefer
to fed their mental con luton with |
such material rather than regale i with |
more solid aud enduring food. Ii the
influence bf these journals were con
fined exclusively to that class Of minds
already educated to love that class Of
reading it would be well; but such is
not the fact They gradually allure
young persons whose education has
hitherto been comparatively pure and
good, and inspires passl ~ IN them
slant familiarity with that class @! read
ing their minds rebel agains, more sub
stautial mental fol, aud they, too
soon become as sensational themselves
as the journals which they read. The
influence Of these journals checks ,hs
growth Of morality and virtue in every
community where they circulate, and
disqualities both men and women to
discharge the proper duties Of life,
cause them to view every thing and
every body from their own corrupt and
fictitious standpoint. Again there is
smother class Of journalism which,
though not SO bad 10 words, is destruc
tive Of logical reasoning, and that is
the class which seeks 70 employ the
examining process by means Of which
they in every issue strive to treat spar
ingly upon the greatest possible mum
Der Of subjects and things without de
lating upon any one. This class is bet
ter adapted to highly intelligent class
Of readers who need only to have a
subject limited at to be able to extend
their reasoning powers far enough to
supply what il omitted. But the great
mass Of readers of newspapers cannot
thus reason for themselves from so linz
tied data and reason correctly. They
need to have less number Of subjects
treated upon and to have tho newspa-
pers extend their line or chain of reas.
oning to a greater extent upon each in
orde, u fully gather the thoughts con-
veyed and be able to 50 retain them
th1tthey will be rightly and properly
educated by them, for il cannot be de-
MED that the family newspaper does a'
much 10 this country towards the edu
cation of our people as does the schools
themselves, and even more on al ques
tions Of practical lifs Hence Journal
lists, to become effective and useful
must deal out each issue only so muel
matter rs their readers can we'll matur,
and comprehend. Ia saying this W
do not condemn the practice of enron
icling a. many items Of news as can b,
adapted I, the locality where the pape
circulates, and if all cannot be publishe,
each week select only those items tina
can best subserve the interests Of thos
who are t. read; but this habit of clip
ping from every journal.puhlished i
every quarter Of the globe aud repro
ducing ia one sheet for the gencfa
reader short sentences upon every sui
ject only dissipates instead OF educasin
the person who reads. We might a
well put scholar at school in oil tn
branches Of study ia tho catalogue {
studies at one and the same time an
expect him to make good progress i
oil as to conduct a. newspaper 10 th
manner We hava alluded to and expec
il 10 benefit the general reader.