The Dispatch. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1891-02-28
rHF AMENITIES OF JOURNALISM

that may come under their observation.
THF AMENITIES OF JOURNALISM
When we were preparing the first
issue of The DISPATCH, an undoubt
edly well-disposed citizen dropped
into our sanctum and asked us if we
intended to devote any of our space to
venting our personal spite upon any
one who might perchance happen to
offend us; and whether we proposed to
resort to "Billingsgate" in running
down other papers. We resented any
such ideas, and unhesitatingly stated
that our labors here would be DEVOTED
to something of higher aim. We real
iZe that the character of newspaper
is but the reflection of the editors es-
innate of its dignity. The sheet may
be devoid of the last reading notice,
and yet there may shine through every
column the evident purpose of its edi
tor to invest it with all the dignity
and force that he can command, and
to avoid all personal controversies and
entanglements that would belittle its
character or drag it down from its
high standard as an organ of the peo
pie toward the lower atmosphere
where newspapers founder in the
filth Of spite and malice.
Disreputable journalism proceeds
from wrong ideas foolish ideas-of
journalistic duty. Let a newspaper
man determine the quality of his
journal on the same basis that he de-
termincs his own qualities as citizen.
He has certain moral obligations 10
perform-obligations to himself, to his
family, to the community. Looking
at the question in its narrow light, the
latter obligation does not in any way
conflict with the highest realization of
the former. The highest type of citi-
zen is be whose individual Life is I'D To
high standard in its habits and pur-
poses. So the newspaper, whose course
is marked out with due sense of its
obligation to the community, and a
proper conception of its dignity as a
conservator of the public veal. is bound
to win the respect Of every member of
the community, and the patronage of
all good citizens.
The whole substance of what news
paper should convey is the truth, time
ly and discreetly uttered. 1t must be
told in time, or its news-value will be
lost. 1t should be told, or Withheld
according to its value to the public. II
public officer absconds with the peo-
pies money, they should be Informed
of every possible detail of the fact
through the columns of the paper. II
questions of public enterprise are in
process of consideration, the news.
paper will confer benefit on the com.
munity by fairly acquainting the peo-
pie with all that may be gained or lost
by them. Such truths should be told
ably, freely, and fairly.
An editor has no right to turn his
paper into a weapon for venting his
spleen on rival concern, or an indivi-
dual. The public cares nothing fol-
his personal feeling towards this OF
that journal or his neighbor. His sub
scribers do not pay for such informa-
tion. Neither has he the right to FL
his columns with0suggestive details OF
scandalous events, for sensational
purposes, when simple statement Of
the facts in the case is ali that is good
for the public morals.
Let the newspaper publisher who
has lived to past middle age cast his
eve over the list of country newspa-
pers that have steadily grown to an
honorable and desirable prestige in
their respective communities, and he
will learn that during their period OF
growth they were guided by men who
held to so high views of their relation
TO the people that they would not
descend to personal attack or vilifca-
tion. even when goaded almost beyond
endurance L. some blatant contem-
poraiy. Ih,H let him review the
wrecks uf journalistic debauchery that
iIe can call 10 memoIl, some of them
perhaps still struggling for precar-
ious existence and LLeir analysis will
reveal the fact thai Eeally every fail
IRE was due TO loE estimate of the
dignity OF journalism, in most cases
the proprietor having Infused his own
low personally into the columns of
his paper.
The public wants the truth, and hon.
ors the truth. 1t is ready 10 accord
praise and confidence, or c,ndemna-
tion and distrust; and in nearly every
case the public estimate is correct. 1t
may seem smart thing for a news
paper man to force his paper into sud-
den recognition by pandering to the
local taste for Sensationalism, but he
is sure to meet a reaction sooner or
later, and his descent will be more
rapid than his growth. No editor ever
built himself up to an honorable place
in the estimate Of his community by