The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-11
THE IDEAL NEWSPAPER.

Many Journalists have evolved out of their
inner consciousness an ideality which is as
immutable as the laws of the spheres. Yet
nothing is more clearly demonstrated by
experience than that the laws regulating
journalism must vary with meridian, politi-
cal conditions and public temper. A jour
nal which is ideal in Paris would have no
subscribers in New ork. With all his eX-
perlence and ability and capital, James
Gordon Bennett was never able TO make a
daily go in London. Journalism is, more
over progressive business the ideal news
paper of the war times seem Anticipated to-
day, as our ideal newspapers will doubtless
appear to readers in the second decade of
the twentieth century.
A few rules are as fixed as the stars. The
ideal newspaper now and forever must tell
the truth. Therefore it must not be con-
Quoted to serve the interests of any ind-
yidual. and its honesty must be above
suspicion. So long as journalism endures
this rule can never be altered. The ideal
newspaper must Furthermore contain the
news. People take it to see what is going
on in the world. If it does not contain that
1t defrauds them. 1t is in the capacity to
discriminate between important news
which should be allotted liberal space and
trivial news which can be condensed int
few lines that the trained editor differs
from other men. But the news. whether
important or trivial. should be true news
Journalists should never forget the remark
of the proprietor Of the most widely cireu-
lated journal in the world. lie Petit journal
of Paris, that he never lost readers by be-
ing scooped by his rivals. but always suf-
fered when he published an item which
proved to be false.
Al various times, in different countries,
the experiment has been tried Of publish
ing q newspaper without editorials. The
result has not been calculated to encOur age
dumb journalism. It is through editorials
that the editor communicates his opinions
TO the public. and people do lot care 10 dis
peDse with those opinions. The average
business or professional or labOring man
has not time to form careful opinions on
the questions of the day, and If he had
time he is mistrustful Of his own judgment;
he prefers to take his opinions ready made
from The articles of a journalist whom ex-
perience has taught him he can trust and
whose business it is to study passing events.
Therefore, not only is it not likely that the
ideal journal of the future will appear
without editorials. but it is almost certain
that they will be even more prominent
feature of the paper than they are now. and
that thew will be written with more careful
deliberation aud ripper knowledge than they
now generally exhibit.
In journalism, as In other pursuits, the
tendency is toward division of employ
meDts. Its various departments call for
qualities which are generally distinct. and
are rarely found united in the same man.
Some Of The best modern editors, like Bertin
of the Paris DebdtS and James Gordon
Bennett the elder in his later years. never
wrote line; but they possessed the rare
gift of swift. accurate judgment and far
reaching foresight Sone of tie most
graphic reporters, who can draw a picture
so that II looms up before the eve and fingers
in the memory, could not write an article
with the logical conference and incisive
directness required in an editorial; and
again, some writers, like Horace Greeley,
whose editorials were sledge- hammers. could
not describe launch or a review to save
their souls. That was a curious remark of
the last John Walter of the London Times
that in The whole course of his experience
be had never known a reporter blossom into
an editorial writer. But our experience in
America is not that way.