The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-04

Despite the very great advance made in
the business OF newspaper making within
the experience OF all journalists OF mid
die age, there are impending greater ad-
vances. The next quarter OF century
may witness developments that will
more yitally affect the PEOPLE and papers
than any that have been worked out dur
ing this last quarter of the 18th century.
The revolution we have just emerged
from has had TO do with the develop
ment of the business side of newspaper
making. The counting room has had its
triumphant innings and art and ethics
have been relegated to a back room and
have fallen into disrepute. 1t is the bust
ness manager who now edits the news
paper of tine day, and the editor must
suboro mate his views and adapt his tone
of work to supplement the abors OF the
business manager. This has tended to
lower the tone OF newspapers in many
ways. 1t has destroyed the public sense
OF reliance upon them, and II has substi-
tuted for that sense a distrust and
cynical disbelief that has almost extin-
guished the great aud salutary influence
the press exerted when its leaders We're
the elder Be NETT, Bowles, Anthony here
in Providence, Baldwin in Worcester,
Greeley, Dana in the days OF his entnu-
siasms and convictions.
The daily newspapers have become
great money-maklng institutions, and
nothing they can say OF themselves
evolves such self-sat tisfsction ss 10 be
able TO ''poiBt with pride" to records
that show so many more columns OF ad-
vertising than any immediste con-
temporary printed. Even the volume OF
certain classes of news matter Is reckuneu
as indisputable ey idence Of superiority.
But these things we all know and all
deplore. We do not indeed regret that
the counting room has developed ;that has
become necessary. What we feel regard
ing it is regret and chagrin that such de-
velopment involved not only stagnation
but degradation in the editorial room,
and limited advance in mechan cal form
and process.
There are at work influences that will,
in several directions, modify and supple
ment the fiscal advance made during the
past quarter century. These influences
are born OF pnblic sentiment, ana de-
cided public demand that newspapers
shall absndon the hand-organ program
and return TO the exercise OF functions
that formerly made them admirable and
powerful; not indeed 10 assume the pow
ers of dictators, which lapsed with the
work Of the personal Journalistic, but to
become the "voice OF one crying in the
wilderness" to draw ell men unto the
way IL declares.
The temper and attitude OF the public
toward newspapers ought To be more care
fully studied by editors, TO the end that
that which the public turns to with rel
ish may be treated, and in order that the
pulse OF the journal may beat in unison
with that of the public. To such as thus
appreciate and know the reading public
there must come an acute sense OF the
variance of tie public views OF and de-
mands upon newspapers from it's appre-
citation OF them n generation ago. Now
a-days readers OF newspapers are all crit
les, and mostly intelligent critics. They
know more about the papers than their
fathers did, and their knowledge leads
them TO more intelligently estimate the
opportunity open 10 the papers and their
d sposition to take full advantage OF II. 80
Extract from article by Mr.. George French b
in 8. X. l. Press Club Gazette.