The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-01
WHAT A NEWSPAPER OUGHT TO PRINT AND
WHAT 1T OUGHT NOT TO PRINT.

dishonor of woman, especially under
the pathetic and tragic circumstances.
AS a newspaper, the News and OBJ
server in handling this story is willing
to place, side by side with that of any
other newspaper it's several stories of
the tragedy, its cause, and all that has
followed. Without self-praise, we may
say that no other paper has published so
ing upon it. 1t is always compatible
with the highest newspaper delicacy to
print the news without offending the pro-
prieties or good taste. Whether this pa
per has done this is for it's readers to
say 1t has the satisfaction of feeling
that 1t has lived up to its news motto,
First of all the news" without pander-
ing to Police Gazette methods or max
ing merchandise of a tragedy that was
breaking the hearts of good men and wo-
men. 1t is all right for a newspaper to
display business enterprise upon correct
principles but to seek to coin money
out of the anguish of bleeding hearts is
the trade of a ghoul.
There are tunes when a newspaper
must print in every detail stories that
tell of wrong-doing, but these occur only
when there is public service to be rem
dered or as reports of trials in the
courts. Something like fifteen years ago
a public official in North Carolina, highly
honored and influential in church and
State, was on trial for conduct which, if
true, made him unfit for the position he
held. The State stood aghast at the
charges of his infidelity and immortality.
The evidence was revolving to print or to
read, but it had to be printed. Why? Be-
cause the people never would have be-
lieved him guilty if they had not read
the clear, positive, nauseating, circum-
stantial evidence in detail. The evil
dence convinced the State of his I'M
fitness, though many good men long
refused to believe it. For the puri-
fcation of the public service the publica-
ton of the evidence was essential. 1t
revolving testimony, even if it was unfit
to read than to permit an unfit public Of
fetal to remain in a high office calling
for the purest life. The alternative. Was
clearly presented. and in the face. of
much criticism and personal risk the
writer did not hesitate to print it in it's
lie service demanded it. Nothing less
important would have justified such pub
LEGATION. Public hearings and trials,
where sworn testimony is given, must,
too, frequently be printed, though the
newspaper man would much prefeFD to
exclude it from it's columns. But that
is already public property and it's publi-
eaton necessary in order to print the
news. sre
Capable journalists will often honestly
differ as to what is legitimate news.
Sometimes one man will print in detail
what another will merely give by way
of suggestion, each being guided by dis
own sense of his public duty. The test,
is, therefore in this, as in most other
things, one of motive. If a newspaper
errs in giving sensational stories of
delicate nature from no motive except
to properly serve its readers, nobody will
be warranted in severe criticism, even
though pointing out the error. If, how
ever, it seizes upon some tragedy, to
print unnecessary and sensational stories
to pander to a depraved taste, in order
to exploit itself as Contemplating and to
increase it's sales and cash receipts, then
it is no longer respectable or decent 1t
has sold its virtue for a mess of pottage;
for thirty pieces of silver it has be-
has sold its virtue for mess of pottage;
it has bartered its soul for thirty pieces
of silver.