The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-05-05
PERSONAL JOURNALISM.

dIIulcoS llIcs
PERSONAL JOURNALISM.
AS this paper has always claimed
the right to criticiSe other professions
and callings In life, 1t seems only jus.
tice to call attention to a few of the
many mistakes in our own line OF bus.
mess. AS we endeavOr to make this
paper a "hOme paper" perhaps the
Home Circle column is a fitting place
to point out some of the evils of the
press, as we view them.
There was a time when the news
paper echoed the nObleSt sentiments,
when our greatest lei and women
were proud to speak through it's col
umns. Those days are past. Cool, cour-
teOus argument is seldom found in the
newspapers OF today; neither is there
any dignity in their criticism. Now
find the I Q iigiOus news and the quo.
tatiOnS from the stock exchange side
by side. They pander to the bad in
Stinct of the money seeker. They ac-
s without pity and defend without
reason. They elevate and pub dow
regardless OF merit. But why is it so:
Why this lamentabie transition in the
press Of our country? The cause Of this
change Is Sadder than the fact itself.
The people demand just such a press.
A noble, dignified preSo can only be
possible when a noble public demands
it. An unhealthy desire to satisfy a
longing for gross pleasures has made
Our newspapers what they are. Jour
naliStS admit the evil effects of sc nsa-
tiOnal reports of criminal acts, and ad.
NIT that 40 persou has the right to
SOW the seeds of disease in the phySi-
cal body OF his fellow men; yet they
are guilty OF sowing moral and mental
disease. which is Il far greater crime
Many read the newspapers, who are
the border OF responsibility and
suggestions of crimes easily take root
in such minds. The Sickening details
of diabOlical crimes are sources of evil.
Blood curdling headlines draw the at
of those who are hungry for
adventure, and the young are eSpeci-
ally damaged by what they lead to.
1t is true there is a class Of readers
who repudiate all that is impure in
literature, as the child before its mind
is contaminated with the base and
vulgar elements in life, loves that
which is beautiful and will lay it's tiny
on the petals of a flower and
show its admiration long before it can
lisp a word.
The demand for immoral papers is
sad comment on the tendencies of
the times and the temptation to en-
sure a large circulation by pandering
to the tastes OF the visions, mas led
many Of them to prostitute their pur-
'ty in order to place them on 4 tinan-
;ial basis. We have journalists who
would Scorn to publish ought that
would corrupt the reader. yet such pa
)erS are generally the mes who suffer
or the want Of patronage. DR.. Adams
# the Advance says, The newspaper
men come nearer holding the helm of
than any other class of men.
They have the whole world for an au- |
Hence. We have them with our break |
asst. The breakfast goes to the body
nd the newspaper to the moral SyS-
EN-. Ii u coffee were poisoned every
the race would soon die. Ii
put poison into tire newspaper the
ace will soon be bad" Many news
aperS give three columns to a sensa-
ional divorce and three lines to the
office of a golden wedding
These pests of journalists never hes
late to invade the homes of sorrow
nd SO picture to the world the sacred
of stricken hearts. They ex-
ose to view the long hidden skeletons
)und in SO many closets. They have
be audacity to pry into the affairs Of
be family. We read that the Athe-
ians were famous for their greed for
Ossip, yet even they had their limit.
he dead were as sacred to them as
heir gods. In u day all personal
latterS are diSSected. The qualities Of
uman pity seems to have faded out
[ journalism. The reporters pry into
ne corners of, the sick room and ia
ne most indicate manner expose
18th revolving minutnesS the different
bases of disease. Even the last words
[ the dying are blazoned in the head
mes of the newspapers. They revel in
u sorts of sensational reports. The
lore sensational the reports the more
)mpensations they receive from the
Slurs on women are looked
pom as choice morsels, to be chewed
y the public, thus ~pandering to vul-
ar tastes Of those who have mothers,
ives and sisters to whom they are
,debted for every spark OF respecta-
ility they possess. Here nearly every
ian and woman gets his OF her dose
{ current slang. The demand fori