The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-11-06
MR.. PULITZER'S VIEWS.
A TALK WITH THE EDITOR OF THE
WORLD ABOUT JOURNALISM.

The Qualifications OF an E"i'"r' i"o
Duties of Newspaper, the Conditions
Of Success in journalism and It's Re-
vards-Exalted Ideas.
Chatting Of journalism with The Press re-
porter by a blazing wood fire in Mr.. Childs
country house, after dinner, he said:
Il think that newspapers are brighter and
better than they ever were before. lhey
cover the field OF human thought and human
endeavor more thoroughly. They are purer
less sensational, more independent, better IN
formed, less bitterly, blindly and unJustiy
partisan. Few newspapers nowadays are 50
blindly followers Of party that they refuse TO
print the news about their opponents honestly
or dstort it to suit their own views feo
they have their party attachments. See
ing that this country is one ruled by party
they must hold to formulated political prln-
ciples if they are to do their whole duty by
themselves and the people"
Then if a journal be what is called indie
pendent politically, either within or out OF
the lines Of some organized party, is it free to
carry out all the responsibilities of great
paperp
"By no means Political independence IS
not enough 4 great journal is not merely
business enterprise. 1t is public institution
1t is the national schoolhouse aud public
forum combined 1t must be independent of
corporations, and of the money power OF
politicians. 1t must be independent socially.
1t must indeed, be like a judge-fearless OF
any, Just to all 1t must ask no favors either
in tho form of appointments to political Office
or in any form. That is my view, and the one
that as a journalist follow. ask no favorS,
go into no speculation or enterprise whatever
and so | am free 70 criticise honestly when
criticism il demanded"
you have been extraordinarily successful
in journalism. What brings success pri-
marily"
Character, the dominant tone, the actual
public service rendered"
What about the newsP
Tho news IS, of course, essential But
we are speaking Of great journals, remember,
journals of moving power. To them news IS
necessary, but am not one of those who be
lieve that news alone, in point of character,
will ever make such journal"
"And the editorial page will not be wiped
out then, by the history Of to-day"
1T will not be- For the great journal Is
more and must be more than depository OF
facts. 1t must be teacher, guide and
protector TO the community"
your ideas are exalted"
mo: they are accurate. The whole drift of
things bears me out. Everywhere papers
that achieve lasting prosperity are papers
with moro than news; papers that besides
oil
also as | have said, that commanding quality
called character.
What is the most marked tendency III
journalism, materially speaking|
AS in everything else, tendency toward
Capitalization. There are fewer papers IN
New York to-day than there were ten years
ago. Ten years from this time, fancy, there
will be fewer still, notwithstanding the fact
that in the meantime the population will nave
LARGELY increased The fittest will survive.
The cause Of Capitalization is simple. Com
petition begets excellence. Papers now cover
every field. They never were so good as they
are now, though | believe that they are still
only half developed The people becoming
accustomed 10 the best will be satisfied with
nothing less. Yet to give them the best
means an enormous outlay of money. 1t Is
and will continue 70 be only the poSsessors OF
enormous capital who can afford the neces
sary expenditures. SO each large city will
have only very few great papers, and every
body will take them. OF course interests are
so diverse and prejudces and sincere conyic-
tons so varied that every large community
will give a living support to minor cheap
papers but these viii not be the real journals
Of dignity. enterprise and positive influence
The real journals Of power will be the few"
"And of prosperityP
They will be the journals Of character, too;
that is to say, they will enjoy the large pros
pcrity. For it is both to the circulation and
to the character of paper, not to the mere
cheapness of it, that advertisers look, and
with a large advertising patronage comes
great prosperity.
"Do you concede much to the men engaged
on journalP
Everything A paper cen not make itself,
can it! believe in engaging the best talent
and paving for it the highest price. Indeed,
| believe that such a policy, in the fierce
strife of competition that RACES, is the only
one that can possibly bring lasting success.
You can't get good men without paying for
them. Without good men you can not get
good work, and without good work no paper
can prosper largely. The public has become
too expert at separating the bad from the
good. The day of making a valuable journal
out OF the labor of underpaid human riff-raE
has gone by. People want cheap papers, but
first Of all they want them good. They will
not give cent for what is worth only a
farthing."
"Do you find that journalists are well
paidr
"Not so well as they ought to be or will be.
Yet when compared with other workers for
wages they are generously compensated. 1t
is my pleasure and ambition to revolutionize
IL ..;1. Of cara hla ionrnalists | hava 81 Z