The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-25

Today. -, ', - .>-.-.
Certain hystericaI magazines of the
up lift character have said that jour
nalism is a menace to good society"
said he. There are newspapers and
there are newspapers.
There are two different types of
journalism. I am speaking of good
journalism for which most of cur edi-
tors stand. Journalism stands on two
legs, one of which is advertising and
the other circulation. The larger
source of revenue comes from the
former.
1.-THE newspapers are sensational,
mendacious, trivial, narrow and unin-
f1uential are some of the indictments
that have been brought forward. II
they are true, journalism should be
abolished as mad dog is abolished
from a community.
1.-The good society of which I refer is
not the cream nor the froth or dregS,
but the great middle class to which you
and I belong. 1t cannot be shown that
journalism is guilty of mendacity. Get
the facts are the instructions given by
editors to reporters.
Every newspaper that holds a
reputable position has truth as its basis
of good journalism. No reputable paper
knowingly misquotes. If it is done 1t
is because you and 1 don't see things
just right. Isn't it strange that the
truth ever gets into the paper when the
news passes through so many hands
before it finally apears in print?
What Is SensationaIism?
"In the second place, to use a
preacherlike phrase, journalism is call
in itself were. wrong. Sensationalism
may be good or bad; il may consist of
an account Of a Layrier's missionary
banquet, or police happening A
newspaper is not doing wrong when it
publishes what the people are interest
ed in.
at is said of the modern newspaper
that it is run to make money, but in
that is it different from any other
proposition? We pay our preachers to
call US hypocrites and liars; we pay
our doctors to kill us; we pay our gro
cers-yes, when we can. Ninety out
of 100 newspapers In this western
country are not purchasable. Has it
ever occurred to you that commercial
ism does not enter into journalism as
much as it does other professions?
again journalism is said to be
trivial because it prints things as they
are. The very triviality of the news
paper makes it a reflex of the COM
munity.
1--WE are told that journalism is mar
row and uninf1uential. It is somewhat
woman's having very much power, but
she leads men around by the nose
You do not hear of newspapers boast
ing excepting sometimes when they
want to increase their subscription,
but the newspaper changes the COM
munity; changes it's government and
creates an atmosphere which did not
before exist.
1.-The national newspapers are here
in the great middle west. If you draw
line at Chicago on the east and Den
yer on the west you will get the news
papers that print the whole news of the
country. I would rather take the To-
peak State Journal or the Daily Capt.
tai for real news than any New York
paper"
Mr.. Cook on the Fair.
Preceding Dean Williams address H. L.
Cook, the new secretary of the Kansas
State Fair. association, made few re-
marks. Aside from your adequate
grounds" said Mr.. Cook, Gin order to
have successful fair there must be sys-
tematic advertising, and the procuring of
good exhibits. There can be a good clean
fair established in Topeka which can be
strengthened from year to year. Elm
mate the things that are not square and
right.
1--WE expect to make a start that will be
recognized by the state. Topeka is the
natural location for a fair and there is
no reason it should not be made the state
fair in every sense of the word
A meeting of the Ad club is called for
next Tuesday noon to discuss the State
Fair T1roDOsitiOn.