The Republican journal., 1903-12-31
YELLOW JOURNALISM.
A Drastic Definition Of That lll-famell
Variety.

| A@SAsV " JVV@AS SAAsA~Ss.s
| A Drastic Definition Of That lll-famed
| Variety.
If quantity rather than quality were
the measure of value ton of diamonds
would be worth no more than a ton of
coal. If all things were to be judged by
mere bulk we should have to abandon
intellectual and moral standpoints alto
gether.
The exponents of what is euphemisti-
cally known rs the "new" journalism
are fond of pointing to the fact that in
some of the large cities those newspa-
pers which are conducted upon cOnser-
vative lines are at a disadvantage in the
matter of circulation as compared with
journals which substitute pictures, large
headlines and trumpery sensations for
news. This circumstance is held to
prove that the editors and publishers
of decent, sane newspapers do not know
what the public wants. 1t is held to
demonstrate further that the ''new"
journal is far more valuable as an ad-
vertising medium than the ''Old" news
paper with smaller circulation. Both
assumptions are absolutely false.
The men who print the real news
papers VI GuAo COuAtAy hAOW OAoSUIy
what their patrons want, and they
furnish what is desired. it is no lack
of knowledge which prevents conserv-
ative publishers from plunging into
the jaundiced depths Of the ''new"
journalism. 1t is, in fact, tenfold
easier to produce one of the much
trumpeted yellow newspapers than it
is to print a newspaper containing the
news of the world presented in credit
able form, editorially and typographi-
cally In the one case nothing is nec-
essary save complete abandonment
of all literary and mechanical canons
of journalism; in the other it is essen
| tial to exercise skill, experience and
Judgment.
So far from being complex and
difficult production, the yellow news
paper is a mere heterogeneous aggre-
CATION of inconsequential rubbish which
could be thrown together by men with
no training in journalism whatever.
1t frequently is thus thrown together.
If conservative publishers do not
adopt ''new' methods, therefore, it is
| not because those methods are too ad-
vanced for their comprehension, but
because "yellow' methods mean the
reputation of all system, tradition
and self-respect in the making of a
newspaper-the conversion of care
fully edited journal into literary slop
| bucket, the abandonment OF those
principles which have raised the Amer
lean press to the highest level ever at
tanned in the history of journalism.
1t is not because respecting pub
fishers fear to compete, but because
they disdain to compete, that the new
|
without rivals.
1t follows that the readers of the con-
servative newspapers are a far more
discriminating and intelligent class of
people than the patrons of the new
| journalism. This is self-evident. The
man who wishes to read the news Of the
day and intelligent editorial comment
cannot find either in ''yellow" news
paper because that style of newspaper
does not print the news-does not pre-
| tend to print the newS-Whlle It's So
called editorials are either twaddle
adapted to the comprehension OF kinder
garten pupils or else anarchist phlloso..
phv paraphrased from the writings OF
nihilism's foremost apostles.
There is nothing in such a newspaper
to attract intelligent readers. 1t clrcu-
lates among people who prefer hideous
pictures and fiaring headlines to
news, or who hope for the complete
overthrow of existing society and a re-
version to condition of anarchy.
The value of such a circulation to the
advertiser can easily be estimated. 1t
is worth nothing at all, because a cir
culation of that character represents
neither intelligence nor purchasing
ability. 1t is composed of people who
have neither brains nor money. One
reader of discrimination and means is
worth more to the advertiser than the
a thousand readers who possess neither
the one nor the other
In short, the pretensions of the new
Journalism are as false with respect to
its advertising value as they are in re-
gard to it's journalistic value. The vel,
low newspaper is a false pretense ana
failure in both direc tions.
1t is a fraud from the editorial and
the business office standpoint alike
Chicago Chronicle.