New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-20
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN JOURNAL.

HE SJCCES>FlL AMERICAN JOt RNAlI
NOT NECESSARY TO BEGIN IN eEXsATIoNALGsM
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: "The American newspaper OF TO day Is the
product OF fifty years OF experience and observation
In every the successful American Journal has
been built upon '>ersationali>m.'" says an ar
tcle entitled The Managing Editor I'm LippncOt;s
Magazine" FOR February. 10 the second OF the two
statements l beg 10 take exception. II must be
granted that some American Journals have built up
their success basis OF scnsaOnaisrI. and t. NV
mind OF the greatest newspaper buildings i'll the
United states which need not mention by name, -
monument TO little else than "sensatipaaisn' ana
panderins 10 the lowest tastes of the community
Eut to say that in every the successful American
Journal has been built upon 'Sensatonall-m IS 20
make broad assertion which the facts VIII not sup
port. ! believe 1t would be nearer the truth To say
that in every case the successful American journal has
been the result of satisfactorily supplying public
want. and those wants multiiariods n the
various elements which go to make up community
There IS tie harpy clement which feeds On Nth ana
carrion, which has its peculiar want, ana There arc
successful dealers in those commodities, just rs
there are thrifty contractors for collecting inc
oiIal OF the city 50 long rs scandallo'ihS
men and women exist in remuOcratvc numbers
there will be successful American Journals butt
upon sensationasm. ON the other hand, just
AS surely as there Is better element In
community that the news served up III 'icah
and wholesome manner that has some resafn Tor inc
moral amo> plere Of its homes. that believes III some
principles and wants advocate Of them just -" surely
will there be successful American Journals built upon
the wise supplying OF those higher demands. FOR TINS
reason believe that the character Of community MAY
lac very accurately ascertaned from anak is OF the
papers foy which it subsctbcS Just ~ one may form
pretty fair idea OF individual character by Ed'hs
at the books in his library or noticing the companions
with whom he associates, for book, and newspapers arc
simply the essence concentrated extract oil """'d
beings. As 20 downtown mornings ii is exceedingly
interesting to study the relation between the faces OF tue
newspaper readers the papers In which those faces
are buried. 4 composite photograph OF the pay l"s
Monies OF The Tribune readers IS different from the
average appearance OF The World readers a. can bo
and the expression OF The Evening POSI- rHder Is IL
characteristic a. could be Imagined. Wa pp'ohdN
impressed with this fact of the comparative pHIiV 90
,ersnaper constituencies last year sat Ia box at
the Metropolitan Opera House on the occasion
Of The Tnbnne's jubilee and surveyed that
immense sea OF well formed and apparently well filed
heads | do not believe that audience representing
more aggregate and average Intelligence and character
ever assembled In public hall III THIS Hty' IL "as
one Of the most extraordinary tributes ever laid 70
an American journal and was an eloquent expression
Of the qualities which may make successful news
paper. . 49,
As have been a trne personal in the application
., my nrIncIpcs of newspaper success. allow Inc to
mention two other facts which have come uhuer MY
obscrvaion-One showing the character OF The lFbuhe
and the other the character Of The IFibhes r'ueS'
When / 90 downtown on the elevated railroad III 'hc
morning / generally take refuge in one OF the nos
initial cars~-elthcr the front which, being
open only at one end, is less pervaded by the BoIea
b,eezes which toy with the WHISPERS and tcss"s OF
passengers in the intermediate car. Ana "a :"
prettv well downtown the train which cr,twhile was
TANNED with sandman cOmpactncss, Is generally DC
popnlated when disembark. 80 frequently Walk
through two or three cars to allg opposite the exit
10 nv station. The are strcWn with discaINe1
newspapers Tho --,7 The - The -- ana
The - mot TO be invidiousi. but never saw
Tribune thrown away. The man who reads Inc
Tribune generally considers 1t worth tncihhS mo MS
pocket taking to his chcc, and carrying nome az
night And he Is not afraid or ashamed 10 lake 1t
home and leave 1t where his wife ana chur'h can 'e'
al ia thing which cannot be said Of some America"
journals whose success Is based upon scnsaonai,m.
The other point | was going to make was the
character Of The Tiibunes readers a fNcal'u III 'c
fidelity with which they pay their bills h''eh'N'
having occasion to change the manner "i H'hIhs NV
Tribune / went TO a city newsstand ana oro'f'o 'l'
n.ner "a he sent 10 me; but, not having Implicit
faith I'm the stability Of this parucha ven
der. did not want to pay In advance
IN I asked: "Can YOU not send me The TRIBUNE W.
ulorIy and let me pay at the end Of every thr'y or
.Ixtv DAYS - The answer, which came promptly .
mn
the ncysdclcr: Certainly sir IcFlcctN "IHIh., ~
trust Tribune subscribers. Always pay thcl DIE.
NV Interest was 80 much excited That sild " J. tn
so Yes. SIR replied the dispenser "i ulfi'i III
cr.urc lis proverbial in the trade We oit' -, g
an sub,criptions 10 The -' and The --' ana 'lho
- but never The Trib. ,
But 10 rccapiiuatc. / venture these Two piop ,
tione. First the most successful n'W- paper J. Wv
one which supplies most satisfactorily some p'S'uNo
want or class of wants Of Il community; new
nner can choose IT'S constituency hgh or ip"' Ju' rs
II nIcases and the more thoroughly u slun'tS anu up
,,rdLcnds and meets the wishes Of is clientele inc
more successful ii will be. secondly ana per ,I i
The spa per which j. thrust upon pubh' Wh'n n9
no need for il Is doomed TO failure The TN
ctery is filed with such remains TO be sur l,'o nrc
other causes Of failure, but newspapers "nch INV
hccn forced into existence either - lnahHI
mr. fnr The advocacy Of transient dci anu nd,u
tanned a scmblance Of life by energetic pccnhirN Ehl
vonism have invariably collapsed when me cAh,'steu
nroiec,ors ceased to grind the financially sihhi,,he
battery because they supplied no long I'' VI ""c'
want OF the people. , =, Ia On, or,cbt q.
n I am in error I shall be happy 10 be SCI afIphV
but am giving the opinion OF one VINO 2nct Ir
the blue pencil himself. ENJo' i'-'@'Ai'i'
New York, Jan. "a, 1892.