Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-24
THE IDEAL NEWSPAPER.


Jcrt of "Thc ideal newspaper" OF
course n turns ON the debaters notion
~ what constitutes such a paper. and
each individual has his own ideal
But there seems 10 b. general desire
for a public Journal that shall be- free
from the seusationolism II the times
and be honest and truthful ia So. proc
seutation o. facts and occurrence
without partisan and soctariau bias
and presenting the better side Of cur
rent events Ignoring the grossly orim-
nal and suppr sing The horrifylns de-.
tails Of calamitios and woes
a veteran editor. +. Prcntiss Bailey
Of the Utica. y. Y, observer. says.
"The IDEAL newspaper must be created
by an ideal public" That Is one way
Of setting forth a common opinion
among Journalists While the public
does not really create the popular
paper, Il IS certain that the demand
induces the supply. and that tho sue
cessful newspaper is that which its
readers want While q public journal
may succeed I'm guiding the public
mind on many matters, Il must fur
nish such news as is desired by the
masses OF readers or IL viii fail Of the
support that IS essential 10 its main.
ienance. II NAV do much toward
forming an ideal public" but II can
rot live unless It comes ~ to some
thing approaching the ideal ot that
public.
The general reader ~ newspapers
wants TO know what Is going on in the
world, and often the opinions ~ the
paper cut but a secondary figure in
his estimate Of rs value The style
IN which the news is presented has
much TO do with It's acceptance and
there Is too much Of desire and taste
for exaggeration and what IS called
spice to secure accuracy and the sim
pie truth. The reporter or general
newspaper man wishes 20 make his
stun interesting and attractive and
the consequence is highly colored and
sometimes distorted accounts NJ real
events and occasionally downright
fabrications These ought % be
frowned down and stamped out Of re-
spectacle publications. and the read
ing public should be against such mis-
leading and deceptive arucles and
stories. for Tidy are worse than worth
less.
Fictitious interviews" fake "spe-
Gals" false headlines. written 10 de-
oeiye the hasty reader and stating mat
tiers not to be found IN the body Of the
article; attacks on individuals. unwar-
ranted and often llbelous and afro
cious; distortions OF remarks by pub.
lie speakers and writer's; personal de-
famation; malicious lnsinuatlon: spite
ful and persistent assaults on men who
disdain 10 reply or to resent them;
foul epitheis yenomous yoidings Of
spleen and The prostitution Of the
press 20 individual enmi,y and wrath;
these are some OF thu marks OF the
yellow Journalism that is coming 20
be despised and that &c IS 20 De- hoped
win soon be rejected OF men and ale
lowed 20 lapse into desuetude IL not
TO reach utter reputation The pub
lie must begin the work Of their COM
demnation and destruction by ceasing
90 give them their support either as
puyeyors Of doctored nevs or dis
players Of the ygu, of business.
People get into the habit ~ continue
ing 70 patronile a paper that they have
Tor some time subscribed for or ad.
Nertised IN. while they condemn d for
its unrellablliiy and Gross indeccnry or
vile personalities. As is argued ln
many leading magazines and other
prints. the fault lias with those who
sustain such publications LeslIes
Weekly commenting on the subject
remarks: IN advertisers would bow
cott the Indecent DRESS. decency would
once more resume its sway Money
makes the mare 81" That is in The
line OF truth. But there is another con-
fidera,ion. Some folks continue 90
make 10 possible Tor Infamous sheet, 10
pursue their evil work and influence.
because they fea- % invite their at-
iacss by quitting This is sheer moral
cowariice And 90 is poor policy for
business Is injured bv the maintenance
81 such mensros 90 the public peace.
and the general loss oc,asioued De- much
greater than is imagined
That errors creep into The most 05re.
ful az daily newspapers ls not to be
wondered AZ, when vc consider The
great variety ~ The sources NJ inf,r.
nation and the rush OF getting out
such A mass of news ,n so short q
time. II is marvellous that The Nuulefs
are not more numerous aud moruy-
ing But &c Is vllful mendaeity thar IS
10 be condemned. the manufacture
% matter that has po basis 10 truh.
the ylliihcauon % character With de-
sign and purpose 90 mal.gn ana iuiurs.
the voidlng a hate and frothinF 81
fury that do no good io The public
and are indicative ~ % depraved heart
AMI a deformei disposition. These are
unmistakable signs Of corruption and
moral deoav and should provoke Dis
gust and cease m gsin the 1id necss-
safy 20 their existence
The ideal newspaper" 10 a phrase
that bears many meanings each ac-
oordlng 20 the views and opinions n
'he person expressing O.. a newspaper
hist does not r.re accounts ~ The evils
well AZ me goods o. actusl ne vil
- e out before me live journal