Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-18
Reporters and the Public.


Newspapers are not infrequently
taxed with inaccuracy in reporting cur
rent events, and the charge is often
sustained. But the fact that much of
this inaccuracy is entirely due TO the
persons who furnish the information
which. under the conditions must be
taken as true by the reporters, Is not
generally known. Ii is, therefore, en-
couraging TO observe that there are
those who appreciate the fact and give
IL proper weight. If everybody real
lied the facts there would be few mac
curacies in the newspapers. Reporters
want 10 be accuTate-do not invent the
mistakes: but almost Invariably do the
best possible under the circumstances
that accompany the obtaining of the
news
Mr. Oren Root, Jr.. one of the mana
gers Of the New York Metropolitan
street railway, at the last annual meet
ing of the Street Railway association
of that state. put more sound advice il
his remarks on the relation Of public
corporations TO the public press than
can ordinarily be heard in such gath
crings My experience he says.
has been that the press desires to re
port truthfulIy the occurrences which
come 70 their attention, and l believe
that very large percentage OF the
measurements of fact which we see in
the newspapers come from either
lack of proper information or from
desire to make d readable story and
without any desire to injure the com
.pany concerned" In his speech Mr.
Root said:
4 do not think you can Overestimate
in the long run the beneficial influence
which polite and courteous treatment
on the part of the officials of the rail
road has upon the reporter himself
however small and unimportant he
may seem. or however poorly he may
be dressed the cumulative effect of po-
lite treatment Of reporters is bound
TO be very great in the long run. | am
reminded of an incident which occurred
last year when there was some crlti-
cism being made of the New York City
Railway company on account OF the
number of open cars that were being
operated reporter came 10 see me
one night when | was leaving the house
rather hurriedly, and prOpounded sew
eral questions TO me on the subject.
did not have time TO discuss the mat
ter very fully with him, but gave him
the facts and told him to so ahead
and write an interview, and ! would
stand for it, | was very much gratitied
the next morning 10 pick up the paper
and find an interview occupying a quar-
ter of column and which was far SUI
perior to anything | could have writ
ten"
This is the soundest of sound sense.
and ought 10 be more generally cOnsid
cred by those whose positions bring
them into contact with news gatherers
ern journalist:
Every one who sees much of news
paper men on the active slirmish line
of the profession knows il to be true:
First. that there are no men who keep
condolences so we'll: second. that there
are none whose advice is so likly to be
wise as to what is to be printed and
what should be left out. and. third, that
any good newspaper man can be trust
ed TO remember that in the long run the
interests of his paper and his own pro
fessionaI interest depend just as much
upon his discretion as upon his energy.
on what he leaves out and what he puts
in"
When the people reach and appre-
ciate these truths there will be less
fault finding with newspapers. and less
reason for unfair criticism.