Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-14
NEWSPAPER DECADBECR. "

In thoughtful article on journalism as
factor in the molding of public opinion,
the San Francisco Examiner considers the
subject lately discussed by the RECORD
UNION in review Of a paper on the decline |
in influence of the English press.
After stating the position assumed on
which is based the judgment that the press
is not so potent an influence as formerly in
commanding public opinion, because of the
growth of Independent ideas and the refu-
sal of the thinking classes to accept the
dictation of partisan influence, our contem-
porary says: Unfortunately, however,
for the correctness of these assumptions,
newspapers are not solely the opponents of
political opinion. Their principal employ
ment is as a medium of news. They are
social factors as well as political guides.
The public may lose faith in the integrity
of organized political forces, but principle
is a personal and individual sentiment and
becomes effective only when it becomes
general. When it reaches this condition
the newspaper becomes only reflection of
public opinion"
We held in the outset that the newspa.
per of influence in this day is that which
reflects rather than that which seeks to
lead public opinion the exponent rather
than the creator Of opinion, When, there
fore, it is said that the power of the press
is lessening, it must be understood that its
power in dictation only is decreasing, and
that the purely partisan press is losing
ground But in truth the power of the
independent press as a factor in the forma-
ton of public opinion is greater than ever
before, because it is the chief medium for
the dissemination of intelligence on politico-
economic questions.
As it is true that individual sentiment
becomes effective only when it becomes
general, " so also is it true that the most eff
fcient means for promulgating individual
sentiment, and bringing about prepon-
derating opinion in one direction, is the
press. II has usurped almost to exclusion
the rostrum and the pulpit in this respect.
We are given our case when it is admitted
that the principal employment Of the mod
ern newspaper is the collating and dissem-
ination of news. Precisely for that reason
is it true that the English press was lately
suffering a decline as power. Formerly
its influence resided chiefly in its expressed
opinions, and largely in its dogmatism and
in its low estimate of the value of news
publication. Indeed, we do not put it
strongly when we say that the London
press especially assumed to do the think
ing for its constituency. 1t is now, how
ever, recognizing fact that American
journalism long since accepted, that it is
wiser to be the molder and reflector
of public opinion, and that the press of
the country is more influential in present
ing TO its readers news, and in debate
with them of news and public topics.
The methods employed in gathering and
presenting news, in collating and advanc-
ing facts, and in arranging and discussing
them, ars to-day further advanced than
ever before, and by their advance the in
fuence of the press is to be measured as
well as by the aoundness of its reasoning. In
the fact that the press is the most potent
agency in bringing into necessary intel
lectual attrition the differing opinions OF
what Virgil terms the uncertain multi
tude," and out of which friction is ground
what we term public opinion, or the great