University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-02-10


at assembly.
HONEST AND SANE JOURNALISM.
The question as to whether policy
OF honesty, truthfulness and sanity in
journalism can be followed out sue
cessfully has been much debated In
most cases, however, it has been con-
ceded that the carrying out of such
policy is not only possible but in. fact
is carried out in an admirable way.
The writer CT an excellent article
on Is Honest and Sane Journalism
Possible?" in the November number
OF the Review OF Reviews thinks hon
est journalism possible and much to
be desired. He says there are hopeful
signs ahead for the advance of Jour
nalism il this respect for editors are
ready to admit that reforms are
needed. In his estimation. although
the American newspaper has gained
in many respects and lost in others.
the gain far exceeds the loss, because
the advance in public opinion and pub
lie standards marks the advancement
OF the press
In discussing the defects OF the
modern large newspaper this writer
places especial emphasis upon the do
ing away with news taking of all sorts,
the separation of the editorial matter
from the news matter, the harmful in
tluence of advertisers, who seek to di-
rect the policy of the paper, and sen
sational headline writing.
On the subject of taking" padding
and dist0rting news this writer says:
1T is perfectly true that there is no
higher and juster court than enlght-
ened public opinion, and no better gov
ernment than government by discus
sion. But public opinion cannot be-
come enlightened and discussion can
not be profitable when the press per
verts distorts, suppresses or juggles
the facts
Although many journalists are well
aware of the need for a great indie
pendent newspaper with a policy of
strict honesty, giving to the public
what each class of people demands,
no one has yet ventured to start such
a paper. Indeed many persons be-
lieve the maintenance of such a paper
cannot be possible without large en-
dowment fund such as is created for
public Libraries, schools and colleges.
But if a system of honesty, truth
fulness and equal fairness to all Gus
toners in business works well, why
cannot it be managed successfully in
journalism? 1t can. journalism
needs to be lifted from the old "rut"
into which it has fallen and placed
upon the safer, surer ground of hon
esty.
1t is probable, as the writer before
icy there would be a momentary de-
cline in the power of the press. But
this would be only temporary. The
people would have to be educated up
to the new journalism. They are nov
educated up to the sensational. de-
liberately falsifed reports and mis-
representations. and before journalism
can succeed with its new policy they
must be educated up to it,
1t should be the aim of a newspaper
to get at the truth, to be behind
worthy enterprises, to expose wicked
ness and crime, to influence public
opinion for high standards, to follow
out an honest policy of its own. Too
often newspapers do not practice
what they preach They will de-
nounce crime and fraud in the col
umns of the paper while at the same
time an unfair and unjust policy of
their own is being carried out.
But with the awakening of the
press to present conditions and the
need for a more substantial change, it
is to be hoped that journalism in gen.
eral will be placed on new basis of
truthfulness, honesty and sanity in all
things. The schools of journalism
now being established over the coun-
try should have great influence in
that direction.