The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-19
SENSATIONAL JOURNALISM.

In an article of very striking merit the New
York Evening Post calls attention to the de-
cline of sensational journalism in that city as
a means of realizing larger profits than have
beed secured by newspapers which have fully
acknowledged the obligations Of truth and de-
cency in the manner in which they were con-
Quoted The Post analyses with acuteness the
causes which have led 10 this decline in the
instance of the principal journal in New
York, which has relied upon this method Of
adding to the amount in its treasury. and it
offers an emphatic warning to the Journals re-
Gently established, which are disposed TO imi-
tate an example, which at one time assured
the amplest pecuniary success.
"The radical and fatal defect in sensational
ism" it says, lis that it cannot be maintained
at a steadily increasing intensity. The sppe-
tite to which it ministers requires more highly
favored food every day to satisfy it.
The Opponents. divorce cases, murders
and all the other and less nameable scandals
and crimes which constitute the daily bill Of
fare must be each day little worse than on
the preceding day. Sooner or later the point
is reached at which further descent towards
the very bottom Of the cutters and cesspools
of sin and crime is barred by the law forbid
ding the publication Of obscene literature. If
il were not for that law there IS no telling
what enormous fortunes might be made and
what cloud-capped domes erected by the dis
ciples Of that kind of Journalism which holds
that the chief end of a newspaper is TO publish
hot ,i.h xrin all he Iao ~, Il
10 moral or social obligations of any kind.
But so long as the law stands it will make
the permanent success OF all newspapers
founded upon sensationalsm alone impos-
sible.
Indeed there is no kind ofnewspaper prop
erty more precarious than that of a simply
sensational journal. Nobody reads it daily
because he is attached 70 it. OF because he
finds it a necessity in any way, either in his
business or otherwise. He is ready TO drop it
any day for another of similar type which
affords him more Of the same kind of amuse-
ment. Such paper cannot be said 10 have
a constituency in the sense that other papers
have-that is. a.compact body Of readers who
adhere 10 it year in and year out, follow its
views and associate themselves with the pub
lie causes which it advocates. A great party
paper has sure and safe basis of perma
nency in a constituency Of this kind; so has
an independent paper which deyotes itself TO
serious discussion of public measures and
men; so also has paper which does not con-
Germ itself much with public questions bu.
devotes large and intelligent interest 70 ques.
tions and news Of commercial Importance.
Journals in each of these classes are neces-
sty TO many people, who take them year
after year, without much regard TO the ups
and downs of politics or changes in the news
paper world. But when the readers of
sensational newspaper get tired of its abilities
TO minister TO their appetites and drop il.
there is nobody else TO stand by it. and it
must 90 down"
This is undoubtedly true, and il is a cause
for very sincere congratulation in the profess
sion of journalism that il is. SO far the news
papers Of the South have been exceptionally
free from this defect. which has been so CON-
mon at the North but which, as may be in
ferred from the remarks of the Post, is becom-
ing ernuch less frequent even in that section.
Every indication would 60 to show that Amer
lean Journalism Is whole is gradually adopt,