Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-29
EGsIsM IN JOURNALISM.

There IS nothing more offensive III any
personality than egotism. The projection
of sell and its achievements into all con
versatcn, and the measurement of all
things by the standard of self importance,
is an unfailing evidence of ill-breeding A
mans character is measurable by that
which IS chiefly characteristic of himself,
and no DISCUSSES will deceive the student of
men in this respect Where egotism is the
prominent feature in character it is the
probe that measures its shallowness.
Precisely what is true in this respect of
personality, is true Of journalism. Ego
tism in the newspaper field is what Holland
once aptly termed dandyism," when he
declared that man will write of that
which fills him. The newspaper has, and
should have, a personality of egotism. 1t
comes TO speak of itself as an animate be
ing, as doing, thinking, believing, reason
ing. But egotism in it not infrequently
becomes as offensive as in the individual.
There IS nothing in journalism more repul-
siye than this detestablc vice. It marks the
and the false conception of the true sphere
of one of the greatest of modern arts.
The true newspaper is an impersonality
dealing with facts and ideas that are the
exclusive property of no one. Journalism
bases Its highest claims upon the merit OF
he matter presented, and not upon the fact
that it is presented by the journal. Sensa-
tional and egotistical journalism subordi-
mates all things to the so-called spirit of
enterprise" With il the character of the
matter presented, its influence upon man
kind. and the forccfulncss of the thought
expressed, are matters of smallest concern.
butthe fact that the medium of expression
Is TO be glorified is The chief consideration
ForgetfulncSs of self, subordination OF
personality, and adherence of self-lauda-
ton are among the Hottest attributes OF
gentility, and one of the profoundest
testimonies of true worth. As this is true
of persons it is true of newspapers. The
chief vice of journalism to-day is the ego
ism born of that which is styled enter
prise, and which has given to these days
the distinctVely sensational journal that
has more Of the vicious to answer for than
any other literary agency 1t may he
safely assumed that no really great journal
became such so long as it bore the ear
marks of sensationalism and egoism
When it attained TO responsibility and q
fixed value it was when it ceased 20 be ego
tistical and dealt with facts, ideas and top
les without the nauseating "T' written
upon every paragraph The world of read
ers are unSparing critics. For a time they
may be amused by trumpet blowing, but
as they are never entertained by it, DISCUS
very speedily supervcneS There cannot
be recalled at this time a solitary sensa
tional newspaper in this State that has no
been driven sooner or later to abandon The
field, sink self, and appeal to the thought
judgment and justice of men for the righr
to live. There is not to-day q single ego
tistical news journal that has certain
tenure Of existence. The history of sensa
tional and cgotistical journalism demon
strates that truism The sclf-conccit Of jour
nahsm must die with the personality that
prompts it, and hence it is that the feeblcst
lease Of life any newspaper can have is
that which is dependent upon real oil
traditional personality. The real journal
lives and is power in itself because OF
intrinsic merit
For a time the reader of this day may
be satisfied with " the Importance of small
things" may do honor to tradition, or
may tolerate the sensatonalism that has
no moral or social standard, and tho only
aim of which is to Guido, regardless of
methods employed or the effect of vicious
publication. One Of the great departed