The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-17
SEES The VALUE OF
DAILY newspapers
BISHOP scADDINe GIVES Eplsco-
PAL cHuRcHMEN some GOOD
ADVISE an SPOKANE ADDRESS
URGES A NEEDED REFORM
AGENCY or GREAT EFFICIENCY

~AGNGY W GREAT EFFlCtENGf
Newspaper men should be treated
as allies instead of spies and imperti-
nent meddlers In things which do not
concern them. we can take them In
ing and. by treating them as friends
instead of enemies secure their con-
hdence. good will ana Co o-operation."
Rev. ID. Charles Scadding, bishop
of oregon, said this in tine course OF
an address on The Secular Press as a
Missionary Agency, at the biennial
sessions of the eighth missionary de-
partment Of the Episcopal church in
Spokane, when his churchmen from
Washington. Montana, Oregon, Idaho,
Wyoming, California. Utah, Nevada,
New York, Pennsylvania and several
other states were in attendance.
Bishop Scadding intimated that the
average minister does not know news,
when he mentioned that frequently
an items of vital Importance is con-
cealed in mass of matter otherwise
Of not the least interest to the reader.
Talks About sIOveniy Copy.
IF you could hear the righteous IN
dignation and the unrrgnteous abuse,
and, fear, profanity. created in news
paper offices Fridays when all hands
are called to fix up the church notices
for publication, there would be instant
reform in this direction" said Bishop
Scadding II am told that week af-
ter week and year after year there are
poured into the newspaper offices
these carelessly written notices, often
in almost undecipherable chirography,
with no regard for the style of the
paper for which they are written.
frequently written on odds and ends
of paper and often on both sides and
thrown together in a haphazard sort
of way.
The task of preparing several hun
dred notices has become the most de-
tested work in the newspaper Offices,
and every Friday our civilized infiu-
ence on the working staff is in large
measure undone. 1t is only due to the
newspapers that we be courteous, even
in this small matter, and take pains
to secure uniformity and cleanliness
and the. present WE'LL dressed and |
carefully prepared copy
I'm preparing matter for the press
you should observe newspaper rules
of composition: Tell your story in
the first three lines-three words are
better-and elaborate afterward. Then
the reader can not ring Off before
you have told him the gist of what
you have to say"
Newspapers as a Missionary Agency.
Bishop Scadding saId the value of
the newspapers as missionary
agency depends upon the willingness
of the ministers to go and make
some effort in assisting it; "and," he
added, "in considering the subject 1t
is. necessary for us at the outset to
appreciate not the theoretical function
of the secular press, but what it ac-
tually is, and what it actually does for
the people. 1t is not the 'moulder of
public opinion often it is not even
the leader; but 1t does supply the
fagts, the fancies, the fatlacies, If
you please, on which public opinion is
based. .a1
1T must be borne in mind that the
newspaper, even though it has twenty
four pages, has not u single line to
waste. 1t pays thousands of dollars
for matter it does not print, and it is
safe to say that no newspaper uses
half the matter poured in upon it by
the press associations, its special cor
respondents and the public generally.
The great bulk of this news matter
is bought and paid for, though never
destined to see daylight, not because
it is not news, but because matters
which the trained senses OF the editor
prenounces more important news
crowds 1t out.
Now, 1t cannot be argued that we
should encourage sensational doings
with the view of calling public atten-
| ton to the church and it's work Even
! to a salacious morsel the editor him
self would prefer piece of news of
| an entirely different character, but
he has his finger on the public pulse
and he knows what is required. To
me it is a certain indication, when a
newspaper shows disinclination to
give space to an article, that it will
not be read il published.
Urges a Generous Attitude.
I'VE can assume a different atti-
tude to the newspapers. We can take
generous view of existing condi-
tions, accept the newspaper as hav-
ing a right to all our news and show
them that we are in sympathy with
them.
IF we are to make good use of the
secular press we can not over esti-
mate the Importance vf the makeup
of our articles and news notes. / be-
lieve that there Is much of our work
that could be presented in such dress
that it would be attractive to the
editor and, consequently, to the peo
| Pile. I fully believe that the establish
ment OF news clearing house in the
eighth department., under the manage
ment of our departmental secretary
to whom missionary experiences, news
notes and brief church teachings
could be sent for general publication
in the secular press, would be an ex-
pertinent well worth trying.
ut must be remembered that the
secular press is democratic forum.
1t reminds me Of what the coIored por-
ter in barber shop said the other
4 III a. . 49,