The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
WHEN NEWSPAPERS SELL.
They Are Most i'm Demand After a Big
Prize Fight.
New Orleans Times-Democrat.

New orleans Democrat.
Speaking of the things which sell news
papers,, said a gentleman who is con-
nected with the counting room of a big
daily paper, lit is a curious fact that prize
fights take high rank when ii comes TO
creating a demand for newspapers. A few
years ago New York paper took the sub
ject up and made a rather interesting cal
culation, and so far as l am able to judge
there has been no reason for changing the
general estimates made at that time. There
are, however, a few reflections which one
might make on the subject generally. The
demand for newspapers in this connection,
must be separated from the ordinary de-
mand made by the men and women who
are on the regular subscription list. l have
In mind the sales that are made in the
streets and over the counter. l may call
them the extraordinary sales. Crime, it
may be said in a general way, sells the
greatest number of newspa pers. When
there is a local coloring to the offense the
sales in the particular case will probably
show a higher percentage than the sales
under other circumstances. Take, for in
stance, local riot. The sudden outbreak of
violence of this sort will result in a heavier
rush on the man who hands out the papers
than any other occurrence, and the boys
who sell the papers on the street forced
TO carry a heavier bundle In order to meet
the demand. l may remark in passing that
the newsboy is a wonderfully well-posted
fellow the value of news. He knows
what the public wants, and he governs him
self accordingly. a few years ago the riot
here in New Orleans furnished a good illus
traton of the heavy demand made for
newspapers under circumstances of this
sort. The riot that grew out of the Hen
Messy killing, for instance, and the Charles
riot, here in New Orleans, are notable in
stances In this connection, and the Hay
market riot in Chicago serves 10 illustrate
the same point. Happenings of this Sort
of course, have a local colOring and they
swell the local demand. BY local demand
is not meant the demand within city linn
its. The territory Immediately dependent
upon local papers for the news is also in
cluded. Proximity has a great deal to do
with the value of news. For instance, one
man killed in a certain community is of
more Importance from a news standpoint
TO the paper published in that community
than the killing of six men at some other
point. But | am drifting somewhat. Getting
back to the relative Importance of happen
1ngs of general nature, | would rank
them in this way: First, an international
prize fight for the championship of the
world; secondly, certain violences, like
train robbery and riots. attended by loss of
life and property; thirdly, presidential cleo
lions. There are notable exceptions to this
general rule. There are storms, and fires,
and the assassination of rulers, and things
of that sort. Take the Galveston storm as
an instance. The happening resulted in a
tremendous sale of papers all over the
country. The assassination of Mr.. McKin-
ley is another instance of the exception.
But as a general proposition a contest for
the championship of the world in the prize
ring is the most important event, and per-
sons who have wondered why newspapers
publish the smaller pugilistic events by
rounds will probably know why it happens
when they understand the high rating Civ
en- the prize fight from the news stand
point. This is the way events are rated,
and it may be accepted as a general stand
ard for the country