The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-08-09
him in contempt. ls.
THE PRESS

| .r-< THE PRESS-u.
In the opening sentence Of an essa,
read before the Social Science Asso
citation, at Saratoga Springs. Sept
6, 1881, by CHARLES DUDLEY WAR
NER, he said:
although there are scattered througi
the land many persons, | am $ rry to say
| unable to pay for a newspaper. I hav.
| never yet heard OF anybody unable 'tt
edit one.''
While this may seem to be yer,
broad assertion, in the main. it i
true. There is general impression
among many readers of the newspa
pers that it is the easiest thing in th4
world to edit paper. A few days
work soliciting advertisements to fill
a few columns of the paper-which
of course, remain set up all the year
then an hour or two spent during the
week selecting matter for the readin :
columns, some short extracts clipped
from one of the leading journals OF
the country, serve as editorials--this
repeated every week-except the
work for the advertising columns.
which is looked after only once or
twice a year-and the work of the
editor is DONE .- +-
This is the idea that many have of
editing paper. But the editor who
fills we'll his place finds it quite diff
ferent. True there is much monot-
onous. trcad-mill work in journalism,
but no such go-easy way as many
think will make a newspaper worthy
the patronage Of an Intelligent read.
ing public.
Our short experience at the editors
desk has firmly convinced US of wfat
we had thought beforehand journal
ism is truly profession and that if
one expects success he must also ex
pect to give 1t his attention and stu Is
just the same as in any other pro-
fession. We heard, at the Press A
ISOLATION in July, a South Carolina
editor say that he had been editing
for twenty-five years. and never had
done anything else. He had given
his time to it, and consequently had
made admirable success.
journalism may be improving in
our country, but it is not doing what
it ought in every way. One reason
for this is because too little time and
thought is given to the matter of yet.
ing out an interesting paper. An.
'ther reason why the press is not
LONG just what it ought IN the way |
# educating the thinkers of the !
country, Is because there are many.
'erJ many, engaged in the hu less
Who have not yet reaIiz "a thu pow..r
# the press, and have not though
md do not observe whar The li..n: )
# the press ought to be
There is. perhaps, brother H.;
or usefulness before the journ lit
his country than any o; ;ar :.-i
essional man anywhar.. go
bile journalist is at one.
tatesman, q philosop,4,
uch one must wake up Ia
# his profession Poo N
hose who are exps,ttll, =: ,sF"st
for Their con ava !
ealize these things. ss.sa. ,... e
makes his paper iatere as. - 81;
i've and popular, must 81,
or his readers. He mu
public sentiment in IN !
pertain to the general .-es ..-a
public, but he mist let, rnrs =
nents. To do 'th;s q
his profession r.
vnll |
49, 1
s:hie.s H. !;
way. He ought It
lent on party favor5
express what he has ST
be the truth. and vh =. :
given to the public for =. -.
the country. In the s..
referred to at the Ies.
article, the speaker sal
IAN editor whostands w. e., .:
has the respect accorded =
heggar.''
This advances the IL
s-lf-cootro
renca to truth and rig.
Of party favors, and w:...: >.
compelled to pander to = -. !!