The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-06
KINDS OF JOURNALISM.
The Nasty and Impertinent Sort Properly
Rebuked.

Editor Stone of the Chicago News, before the Mich
igan Press Association.
Now, in common fairness, if not in ethics,
are we not bound to recognize the response
bilities growing out of this position of inhu-
ence and power which we occupy? Is il fair,
or just, or decent, that this dear public,
which has proved so willing and ablect
slave, should receive no consideration at our
hands? Shall we treat ii as if if had no
rights we were at all bound to respect, no
privaces which we might not ruthlessly dis
turb, no hard-earned characters which we
might not wantonly blast, no blushing in
nocence resting securely within the sacred
walls OF home which we might not faint aud
poison with the indecency and obscenity of
the brothel? tell you had rather take my :
presses and pitch them into Lake Michigan, :
and go begging all my days than to stain my ,
soul with such an abuse of power Let uss
have fearless journalism, let us attaclI7
and condemn and expose wrongdoing, let us
call a spade a spade | have no faith in Hor
ace Greeleys assertion that personalities are
the bane of American journalism. l believe
in personalities l believe in hot personali-
ties when the occasion demands l believe in
sensational journalism, journalism in keep
ing with the spirit of our times and our peo-
pie ineteenth-century lghtuing-fed and
Eghtning-printe journalism, Journalism
nerved to the highest pitch. That which
do not believe in is careless, reckless, imper-
tinent and nasty journalism. 1t is reproach
to our profession and curse to the country.
And there is great deal too much OF 1t.
There are too many men in the newspaper
business who disregard Davy Crockets mot
to, "Be sure you are right and then go ahead"
Having the power to do about as they please,
and fully conscious of their power, they
Jump to conclusions and cut and slash, with
little care as to whether their assault is just
or unjust, and utterly needless as to conse
quences. The atrocity of this act, If the iron
Il 3
unreasonable. The man who has done it is
a coward and a wretch But the chances are
that, if he finds he has made mistake, he
will take refuge in the omnipotence of his
profession, and refuse to make fair and
manly PREPARATION. An editor worthy of his
position feels that his business is, at best,
fraught with great and constantly recurring
danger of doing people injustice, and if con-
WINGED of his error, he is only TOO anxious to
make amend. / never see frank and ample
apology in newspaper that do not honor
its editor. ] know it is said that this phase
of journalism is inseparable from the hasty
methods now adopted for newsgathering 1t
! is not true. We may admit that there is more
liability to do injustice than formerly. but it
| is not the unavoidable, but the avoidable,
against which the public very rightly pro-
tests.
Nearly allied to this careless journalism is
the impertinent journalism. And there is
good deal of this, also. A great many young
| men, with starting boards and poor smat-
| tering of general information, imagine that
as they scale the journalistic heights they
should bear banner with this strange de-
vice: Impertinence. Now, don't confound
| impertinence with a very proper and COM
mendable zeal for obtaining proper informa-
ton. They are widely different and if you
will think a moment you will recognize that
difference. Here is a sample of what | call
impairment journalism: The other day
| daily newspaper in Chicago printed news
paragraph in the following words; "Dr.
Blank Il omit the name) has just married an
old and ugly woman for her
money" Now what if he had2 Was
it anybody's business hut that of
the contracting parties? And they we're
probably content zone secured social rec
ignition and the other" says the paragraph,
| got money" Who wonders that the pub
lie complain of a press that will do such a
thing?
But meaner and more despiceble is the
nasty journalist-the night-soil man of our
| profession Because his claim that his sheet
is a newspaper gives him license to print
those things which Anthony Comstock would
step on if published in any other way, he be-
smears and beslimes our fresides with i'm
punity. In the name of news. he finds his
| way to your home and mine, to debauch our
innocents. l have no words to fifty charac-
| terize the scoundrel. In my own Office
have posted this rule
Nothing shall appear in the columns of
| the Daily News which young lady may not
| with propriety read aloud before a mixed
company"
And / will discharge any man who VIC
lates it.
| / said that a man must observe his respon-
sIblities to be successful. 1t would not be
difficult to point you to paper in my own
city which has achieved an extensive circu-
lation among the lovers of reckless and filthy
| journalism, but has been confronted every
time it has soughtan advertisement with the
remark: ut is not a family paper; it is not
admitted to the fireside. To patronize it
would injure me with good people," What
was gained in circulation did not compare
with the loss in reputation, influence and
advertising. l could enforce the argument
by telling you more of it, but l do not
| choose to.