The record-union., 1891-04-11
ETHICS OF WESTERN JOURNALISM.

ETHICS OF WESTERN JOURNALISM.
The California Press Association, which
is to meet at Napa in few days, might
well express itself upon needed reforms
in the ethics of Western journalism. Per-
haps expression such as is desired from
1t might not in the immediate present af-
feet metropolitan journalism in Califor-
mia, but it would have an influence in
molding public sentiment, and in the
long run that will fashion all conduct.
In several respects there is very great
dissimilarity between the methods and
ethics of journalism in the East and
what obtains on this coast. 1t would
seem as if the great mountainous divide
of the continent constitutes the line, to
the east of which jealousy and rivalry be-
tween exponents of public opinion are
made secondary to the issuing of good
newspaper, while to the west of it these
unwholesome elements constitute chief
motives in newspaper work. The result
is to stimulate factional rivalry in COM
munities to some extent, and to build up
the sentiment that is not contributive to
respect for journalism or its promoters.
1t is the purpose now, however, to con-
slider but one Objectionable and humiliat-
ingphase of Western newspaper customs,
and but little known upon the Atlantic
Coast among first-class journals 1t is
the undue importance given to what, for
lack of better term, is styled "the
SCOOP" Thoughtful people cannot but
notice that along the entire slope from
the British to the Mexican line there OBJ
tains among newspapers the absurd
and delusive idea that the chief purpose
of publication is precedence and "scoop-
ing" and that whatever one journal Sc
cures by its enterprise, its good fortune
or the exercise of its wits, its business
rivals must ignore or belittle. To
such an extent has the insane idea of
precedence run, that "news' articles are
manufactured out of the whole cloth of
fiction, and the public trust in much
newspaper statement consequently
shaken.
Visiting journalists from the East COM
ment upon these sensely performances
and comment thereon to our discredit. At
the East, say in New York City, no one
of the leading papers considers it in the
slightest degree confession of defeat or
incapacity to refer to the achievements
of contemporary, or the forwarding of
a scheme by it, or the prior publication Of
report. To take news from contem-
porary's special and credit it, is everyday
procedure, supplementing it with such
additional news as in historical order
comes on. On this coast the system is to
sgreat extent to change the date and
ignore the credit.
When the New York Tribune inaugu-
rated its open air fund, its rivals, the
Times, World, Post and Express, not only
did not hesitate to announce and encour-
age il, but fairly struggled in generous
rivalry TO publish the news of its pro-
Boston, Philadelphia and New York
papers taking each others reports and
crediting them, or to find them referring
to them with credit. It is an everyday oc-
currence to find these journals taking up
the record made by a contemporary and
adding to it their own subsequently
gained information. More common still
isit to find them commencing and approx
ing each other. Apparently Eastern jour
nalism proceeds upon the theory that no
one paper has exclusive title to news
sources of supply except such as it legiti-
mately controls; that it is not at all dis
creditable to credit to or quote from rivals
news obtained by them, nor in the COM
mon purpose of reporting public affairs
is it deemed discreditable to be second,
since not al can be first. Nor does this
sentiment in any respect limit enterprise
or lessen energy.
Here on the Pacific unhealthy rivalry
run to the extreme, has all the force
OF a newspaper rule that the journal is
70 ignore and deny the news capacity of
its contemporaries. Who, for instance,
would not experience surprise to find one
San Francisco morning journal referring
TO another's news as authentic, or a even
ing paper giving due credit TO morning
journal, or morning paper appropriat-
ing with honest credit the results of the
energy of an evening journal. Who ex-
poets either of these to admit the exist
ence of the other save when bitter criti-
cism confesses it.
Neither in the cities of the Northwest
does there appear to be any broader or