Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-01
INFAMOUS JOURNALISM.


One Of the excresences Of modern
journalism, particularly OF the yellow
hued variety, is that which Is known
as the fake Interview. IL is the
custom OF a certain class Of "enterpris-
ing" reporters to hunt up persons who
have obtained some prominence In
business. politics, religion, commerce
or public office, and elicit from them, II
possible, answers to questions, which
are very often impertinent and person.
al, and then proceed 10 dress up what
they obtain by way OF reply, In man.
ner to suit either the wishes of the
papers they represent or the taste Of
large portion of their readers When
they cannot succeed in extracting any
thing from their Victims, they invent
what they desire and present II TO the
public as though It were genuine.
That Is bad enough, but papers given
10 that kind OF journalism often add to
the wrong that is done. by making edl-
torial comments on the fahricatlons Of
their reporters, and usually rub It in
with yigor. often denouncing In UNI
measured terms the innocent or mis-
represented objects Of their venom.
This is one distinctive mark Of yellow
journalism" It may for time make
some impression on the minds of the
kind OF people who enjoy such pabu-
In I'm I1g an he 81 40
cent folks, and results in weakening
II not destroying the influence Of the
paper that lends itself to such tactics
Truth wins In the long run, but Il takes
time frequently for It TO come up out
Of the falsehood that IS cast around IT,
Another blotch upon modern Journal
lem Ia the flake report" Public speak,
ers are made to utter remarks they
never delivered or even thought of,
II anything they say Is reported II is
20 mixed and mingled with the COM
nents or inventions Of the reporter that
the whole story IL but a buresQue or
distortion, and the public are de-
celved or mystified thereby.
This Is particularly Infamous when
religious subjects are treated. No
preacher however careful In his re-
marks, & safe when the fake re-
porter dishes up that which he en-
deayors TO convey 10 his hearers. We
frequently receive communications on
this subject from persons who, after
listening with pleasure to a discourse
by some Elder OF our Church. finds To-
his disgust IN a hostile paper a mess OF
Misrepresentation OF what he heard.
and not infrequently something that
the speaker did not say or even allude
TO.
Like the other evil TO which we have
drawn attention these fake reports"
are usually followed up By editorial
comments based on the falsehood VIC
have exposed and this is sometimes
kent up day after day, accompanied by
Iidlcule, abuse and language NJ only for
the lowest class Of fallen humanity
And the deprayed writer's imagine they
are striking heavy blows at the objects
OF their anger when they are
only exposing their own turptude
and prostitution of Journalistic talent.
They make Of themselves spectacle TO
heaven and earth, and lay up for them
selves a great measure Of that ndigna-
ton which win be surely poured forth
when Eternal Justice renders It's judg.
ment.
The law Of libel IN this State need,
10 be amended and improved Nothing
should be done which would In any way
cripple or infringe upon the liberty OF
speech or Of the press. as that term IS
understood IN law and In common
sense. Every person should have the II.
berty TO express his Views on any sub
feet, II II does not interfere with the
rights and liberties OF other people
SO with public prints But no pape,
and no individual should be permitted
to abuse, misrepresent or injure In any