The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06

or PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY OF The WORLD ,
FAIR coNaissIoS.
OF the, future of the daily newspaper in this
country Mr.. Handy says that he has the highest
fhere is no apparent limit to its usefulness
and influence. The position OF the newspaper
in public Life, and private life as well, is becOm-
ing daily more aud more important and infinen-
tial It's influence was never as great in pubic
affairs rs az present. 1t has become feature OF
the household well as of public life.
very interesting question arises IN regard TO
the present and future relations OF the daily
newspaper 10 the magazine. ] think the rap
pr0chmlent between the special Sunday editions
OF daily newspapers and magazines OF mutual
benefit, and the greater benefit is on the side of
the magazine, and the Influence OF the daily
newspaper on magazine editing is now marked,
more, perhaps, than is the influence OF the
magazine on the special Sunday edition OF the
newspaper. Magazines have never been edited
with more regard 10 what is called their news
interest than they are now. Ia this respect
they have undergone a complete revolution.
The editor makes them up with special regard
Tor the topic or topics which will most likely
hold the most conspicuous position in the pub
lie mind at the time when they appear.
what ~ to be the ideal size and shape OF the
newspaper OF the future Is of course wholly
probiematicai, but sooner or later unquestion-
ably there Will be a reaction towards reduction
IN size as well as in number OF pages. | have
never known ANYBODY 10 buy paper because it
had forty or fiity odd pages in it, Indeed. the
enormous bulk OF some very successful
sunday newspapers OF the present day operates
q
papers. We're they of size and shape
convenient to the purchaser he would undoubt-
ediy buy three or four where he now purchases
only one, on account or the inconvenience OF
carrying them about. Unquestionably to my
mind condensation of idea rs well as of space
Will, 10 marked degree, characterize the ideal
newspaper OF the future. IfaGvertisIng pressure
increase its cost to the advertiser, the coming
newspaper will b. smaller. its general make up
more compact, tasteful and handy, and its in
flueDce consequently increased Whether IL
Il at we cal
the weekly press, and of general appearance
similar to that OF H1rper's Weekly. or any other
illustrated journal of that stamp, il is hard to
say. 1t is a fact not generally recognized that
GOOD newspaper Is the cheapest thing in the
world.
The editorial influence of the newspapers of
the future OF which speak VIII keep pace with
the general improvement and efficiency. 1t will
always, think, rely upon its news for its great
est value. and do not believe that its editorial
matter Will be spread over SO much space or
suifused through so many subjects, many of
them OF minor consequence and remote interest,
as now. The Tremendous editorial influence of
q great successful daily newspaper is best seen
and appreciated when 1t is exerted at rare in
teryals ON some great salient question of the
hour.
The circulation OF such a journal would prob
ably keep pace with its other improvement and
grow as they grow. Whether or not there is n
field in the new world for such newspaper as
the Petit Journal, with its eight hundred and odd
thousand circulation, / not now pre-
pared to say. The conditions Of life
enabled
Journal to reach that astounding figure are so
very different from the conditions in any
American city that am not at all sure that a
newspaper OF that kind could be a success here
at any time in the near future. Ny experience
ana observation incline me TO think that the
continued story, with probably a few excep-
tons, Is not desirable feature of daily journal
ISM L once ran novelette, through four or
five weeks OF my daily paper, and stopped IL
suddenly in the middle OF week. concluded
my readers had gotten tired of it, In this con-
cluson confirmed by the fact that never
heard a single complaint about my sudden
cessation of that romance.
do not think that the relations OF the ideal
newspaper to its employees will ever become pa
ternaI or that its conductor will make any at
tempt TO associate them into single community
and thus unity their interests individuals.
l do, however, believe in this: That long and
faithful service of high order or even a single
brilliant stroke ought to be recognized by the
retaining Of such an employees services through
the payment OF so much a year, whether or not
he Is actively at work during that period. For
example, the great war correspondents OF jour
nals ike the London illustrated NelCs receive
certain fixed stipend per year whether they are
on duty or not. In times of active service this
stipend is more than doubled. 1t is simply
retainer, and at the same time an acknowledge
ment of the value OF past services
1t seems impossible to check the tendency in
current journalism toward personalities. This
tendency is indeed If anything on the increase
do not believe that any selfrespecting journal
will require its reporters to violate the sanctity
OF home life. but that many successful news
kitchen aud stable journalism, and to make
money by 1T, seems undoubtedly true. As far as
journalism is considered "a a profession and
ranked with law and medicine and the rest OF
them, believe that its rewards are equally
great, its honOrs equally well worth wearing its
victories equally dearly won. The astonishing
change in public estimation of the successful
journalist within the last quarter OF century is,
believe, a token OF the corresponding change
which Will occur during the next l should
not he surprised 20 see successful editor In the
presidential chair in decade from now: certain
il il, that since the of the rebellion the more
important positions in diplomatic and Official
life have frequently been offered 10 and declined
by the leading spirits in the newspaper pro-
fession in this country, and that many of them
are filled by eminent Journalists the preSpDt roll
OF honor of the diplomatic profession shows
think illustration has come to stay and that
IL viii continue TO be a favorite method OF de-
pictiug the news OF the day. With the increase
in the number OF illustrations which UnuId
seem probable, there will undoubtedly come
better illustration, and that will imply that the
newspapers would be printed on better oualItv
OF paper: AS much better as the exigencies of
rapid printing and the preservation OF a certain
standard OF relative values will allow
1t has been source of constant wonder to me
that there has not been launched in the Jour
nalistlc sphere some organized body which shall
have for its object the provision of r,rintinV
presses OF the best type and at reason.
able rental Tor newspapers unable TO command
capital enough to buy their plant outright n
is getting to De harder and harder every day to
start q new daily newspaper, on account OF the
enormous sums OF money necessary tn buv
press and plant. But very few new spapcrs com
paratively in Paris, for instance, are pffnted on
their own presses Ii the conductors of new
newspaper could rent press as they would an
othee, and secure one worth $4,000 at an annual
rental OF not more than $1,000, say, secured by
chattei mortgage, an immense gain in practical
Journalism would at once te achieved.
49,. 60. 81