Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
JoURNALIsM THEN AND NOW.


JOURNALISM THEN AND NOW.
Not infreQuently has it been said
that journalism in the past decade OF
two has experienced the same changes
to circumstances that have wrought
transformation in practically every
line of useful endeavor. It has been
pointed out that the personality OF the
editor is not so strongly impressed
Upon his readers as was the case in
the olden days when Greeley, Dana,
the older Bennett, Curtis, Medill and
score of others whose names might
be mentioned were conceded to be the
moulders of public opinion in America.
Indeed, but two remain of the most
conspicuous of the old school OF edi-
tors. who in logic and diction made
their impress upon the history of their
time. These are Colonel Henry Wat
terson of the Louisville Courier-Jour-
rGl ard Whitlaw Reid of the New
York Tribune. Both have illumined
the pases of their profession and both
have welded tremendous influence in
the politics of their respective parties
and Of the nation. Both likewise have
at:eined high honor 1t the hands of
the parties 10 whose guidance and
destiny they have so handsomely con-
tributed.
The treEd Of public thought, though,
has pertaircd to policies rather than
TO personages. 1t has been alleged that
the spirit of commcrcialism of the age
is proving "a dominant factor in the
publication office. and that thus has
come about a deplora5le change from
what it was in the days when the press.
undismayed and Needless of the cost,
furnished 20 the world both the sword
arm OF justice and the bacon light OF
truth The charge that the newspaper
OF today is controlled by the counting
room is not supported by the facts.
There are instances, of course, where
the newspaper without conscience sells
its convictions, or at least its alleged
convictions, as a man would his
soul or his birthright; but,
happily, this is the conspicuous excep-
ton rather than the general rule. In
every well conducted newspaper plant
the business Office and the editorial
room are separate and distinct insti-
buttons, one welding no influence over
the other or seeking to control Or di-
rect the other. The publisher and the
editor may be one and the same, but
If mis- business is properly organized,
the heads of the two departments that
come in contact with the public are
distinct. Each works on we'll defined
lines. This is as it should be. No
newspaper can expect to WELD an in
fuence whose editorial policy is in
fuenced by commercial considerations,
or is hampered in the least by any
ambition or inspiration other than to
serve the public without bias or fear
according to conviction and conscience.
While it Is true that many of the
great journalists who elevated the pro-
fessfon have passed, and few have risen
to take their places IN the halls of
fame, the influence of the news
paper has not been dimmed The re-
sponsib1lity Is as great as of yore, and
while the editor Of today may carry
just as much Of a load as at any time,
the element of cooperation within the
editorial department finds a patriotic |
devotion that makes every man a sol |
der for the paper he serves. The edi-
torial we has almost completely van
ihsed, and in its place has come the |
name Of the paper whose voice is heard |
And perhaps this is just as well.