The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-11-27
Mr.. PULITZER'S VIEWS.
A TALK WITH THE EDITOR OF THE
WORLD ABOUT JOURNALISM.


The Qualifications of an Editor, Tho
Duties of a Newspaper, the Conditions
OF Success in Journalism and Its lie.
wards-Exaited Ideas.
Chatting Of journalism with The Press re.
porter by blazing wood fire in Mr.. Childs
country house, after dinner, he said:
thlnk that newspapers are brighter and
better than they ever were before. They
cover the field Of human thought and human
endeavor moro thoroughly. They are purer.
less sensational, more independent, better in.
formed, less bitterly, blindly and uaiustlv
partisan. Few newspapers nowadays are 50
blindly followers Of party that they refuse to
PRINT tho news about their opponents honestly
or distort It TO suit their own views. Yet
they have their party attachments. See
ing that this country is one ruled bv party.
they must hold to formulated political prin-
ciples If they are to do their whole duty bv
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 a great
paper.'
by no means Political Independence is
not enough. a great journal is not merely a
business enterprise. 1t is public institution.
IL Is the national schoolhouse and public
forum combined. 1t must be independent of
corporations, and Of the money power of
politicians 1t must be independent socially
1t must, indeed, he like iudge-fearlqss of
ahy JUST To all. IL must ask no favols either
III the FORM OF appointments to political Office
OF IN any FORM That is my view, aud the one
'na1 Us Il journalist follow. | ask 10 favors.
80 INTO no speculation or enterprise whatever
ANA so l am free to cliticise honestly When
criticism is demanded
you have been extraordinarily successful
in journalism. What brings success, pri.
marilyn
character, the dominant tone. the actpaI
public service rendered"
What about the news,v
The news is, of course, essential Rpt
we are speaking of great Journals. remember
journals OF moving power. To them news is
necessary, but am not one Of those who be-
heve that news alone, in point of character
VIII ever make such Journal
And the editorial page will not be wiped
out, then, by the history Of to-dav.H
1t will not be. For the great journal is
more and must be more than Il depository of
facts. 1t must he teacher guide and a
protector TO the community
Your ideas are exalted"
mo; they are accurate The whole drift Of
thlngs bears me out. Everywhere papers
that achieve lasting prosperity are papers
WITTY more than news; papers that besides
possessing the news and all the news possess
also, as have said, that commanding aualitv
called character"
mat Is the most marked tendency i'm
journalism, materially spealsinr."
AS in everything else, a tendency toward
Capitalization. There are fewer napers in
New York to-day than there were ten voors
ago Ten years from this time, fancy. there
VIII be fewer still, Notwithstanding The fact
that in the meantime the population will have
largely increased. The fttest will survive
The cause of Capitalization is simple. Com
petition hegets excellence Papers now cover
every field. They never were so good as they
are now, though l believe that they are still
only half developed The people becoming
accustomed to the best will be satisfied with
nothing less. Yet to give them the best
means an enormous outlay Of money. 1t is
ana VIII continue To be only the possessoi,s Of
ehorhlous capital who can afford the neces- |
Saiy expenditures SO each large city will |
ny 'Ni9 AeN blNAt lhlpcis, ana cNerV- |
body Will take them. OF course interests nre |
so diverse and prejudces and sincere conyic- |
tions so varied that every large community
will give II living support to minor chem |
papers, but these will not be the real Journals |
OF dignity, enterprise and positive influence.
The real journals of power will be the few"
And of prosperityn
"They will be the journals of character. too.
that is to say, they will enjoy the large pros.
perity. For it is both to the circulation and |
to the character of a paper, not to the mere I,
cheapness of it, that advertisers look and
with a large advertising patronage comes |
great prosperity
do you concede much to the mon engaged |
on jounal,7
Everything. y paper cell not make itself.
can it. believe in engaging the lest talent |
and paying for it the highest price. Indeed |
believe that such policy in the fierce
strife of competition that rage. Is the only |
one that can possibly bring lasting success
You can't get good mon without paving ~, !
them Without good men \ r..,- a,
good work, and wthont.d there gave 81
can prosper larGscussed turkey, and OF