St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-12
Below zero.
SENSATIONAL JOURNALISM.

1.-The newspapers publish too much
sensational STUFF is what the dainty
critics of the daily newspapers are say
ing. Is the criticism just? If it is, the
newspapers ought to mend their ways.
If it isn't, the dainty critic ought to
keep his mouth shut. Let us look into
the matter little and see how much
justice there is in the criticism. In the
first place, the business of a newspaper
is to collect and publish the news, and
it is observable that the only newSpa-
perS that uphold the dainty critics who
complain of an excess of SenSationaliSm
IN the daily press are the newspapers
who have neither the enterprise nor
facilities for gathering the news. The
newspaper that is continually being
scOOped is the newspaper to cry out
against sensational journalism.
The newspaper, if it fills its proper
sphere, Is the mirror of daily events.
1t is not responsible for what occurs; it
Is simply its duty to record occurrences.
The average newspaper regrets the
worlds WickedneSS as much as the most
sanctimonious censor of the daily press.
The newspaper does its share along
with the pulpit and other good agencies
to suppress vice and to encourage right
doing, but that is no excuse for the
newspaper Withholding from its read
ers the occurrences of the day. 1t is
better from a moral standpoint that
vice should be exposed rather than con-
cealed. 1t is not true, as the fault find
ers assert, that the community would
be far better off for not suspecting the
half that is going Oh around them. 1t
is always better that truth should be
revealed, no matter how terrible the
revelation. To conceal truth is a half
lie.
There is also business featurel con-
nected with this matter that should not
be overlooked. When the subscriber
pays for his newspaper, he does so with
the implied understanding that the
newspaper shall furnish him all the
available news. When he gets his paper
he has the right to determine for him.
self what he shall read and what he
shall not read. If there is news of a
sensational nature in the columns of the
daily paper there is no cOmpulsion Oh the
part of the reader to wade through it..
1t is safe to assert. however, that not
one in a thousand, including the censors
themselves, fails TO read the Sensa-
ti0nal news item. A lady of the goody-
goody kind once appeared before DR..
JOHNSON i'll person, and objected to his
having put so many bad words into his
dictionary. Madam" replied the gruff
old humorist, Il see you have been look
ing for them" And that's Just about
the way with these sensitive people who
complain of sensational journalism.
They have been looking for the sensa-
tions.
The great mass of the people want the
news, whether it be good, bad or indif-
ferent, and the newspaper that doesn't
supply the popular want does not de-
serve to rank in enterprising journal
ism. AS o rule with our American
newspapers, all sorts of news, including
the sensational, is. served by capable
hands who are fully sensible of their
public responsibility, and are every way
up TO high standard Of public morality
1t is better thus than that it should be
served by Incapable hands. It will net be
unit! the millennium dawns, when there
will be no more sin il the world, that
entcrprising newspapers will cease TO
chronicle sensational events. and those
carping Pharisees who live Oil goodness
as daily food had better abandon news
paper reading altogether until that time
rolls around.