Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-27
On Critics, Public Artists and Newspapers

l -NO"OPCSPOH v ~
service is expected OF IT, its opinions must
be sound and founded on ripened judgment
and only expressed after careful and ma
ture deliberation. When paper has
reached this stage Of its career, its critical
function is It's most potent force, but its
criticism must be constructive at all times.
The artist often overlooks one aspect OF
criticism: that is, that any notice the news
paper gives TO the performance Is given as
a favor. not as the recognition OF a vested
right. The artist or the actor invites the
public, and with the public the newspaper,
to attend the performance. The most
natural question afterward is, did you
like my singing. or my acting? Did do
we'll" The newspaper answers this ques-
tion through It's columns. its critic express
ing praise. cautioning modification or de-
manding improvement, as the case may re-
quire But this answer is not given as a
due, save as politeness requires that a civil
question be courteously answered 1t Is the
right Of the newspaper to devote It's space
to the discussion of other topics, ignoring
the performance to which 1t has been in
vited. And this course Is frequently pur-
sued, although very few really meritorious
undertakings fail to receive serious con-
siderauon. The newspaper is not unmind-
full OF the fact that It owes something to
the public. and this brings on the decision
as to whether the performance is one Of
such Importance that other information
provided in crowded columns for the critics
answer to the artists question.
Many distorted ideas as to the exact
function Of a newspaper in this regard find
expression. once a we'll meaning woman
came to The Bee with the photograph of
young musician. asking that It be in
serted, with an editorial endorsement to
the effect that the young person was about
to take the place made vacant in the local
artistic circle by the death OF one Of its
most distinguished members. Considerable
effort was put forth to explain that the
endorsement could not be given until the
young musician had actually proven suffi-
cient capacity to take up the work laid
down by the elder, but in vain; and It was
equally futile to attempt to show that the
publicity sought was advertising, pure and
simple, and should be paid for. The cham
pion Of the young musician was in no mood
for drawing what seemed TO her fine
distinctions; It was a chance to help
the younger to succeed, and she
could see no reason why The Bee would
not be willing to give the endorsement
asked and to publish the picture free. An
other paper would, but 1t would be much
better to have it in The Bee, for this paper
is more widely read and would carry more
influence. Finally, entirely out of patience
with the obdurate person, whose obtuse-
ness is only equalled by his obesity, she
withdrew her favor from The Bee, saying
she would see that one of the other papers
got the item. And one of them did; the
announcement was made Just as was re-
quested, and perhaps no harm was DONE
but the vacancy left in the artistic circle
Of Omaha was not filled; 1t has not closed
for that matter. In this case the request
was that the paper use it's influence to OBJ
tain for a teacher pupils that might not be
secured in any other way. 1t was solely
for the benefit of the teacher, the public
had no concern in the matter and yet the
refusal to give away a considerable por-
tion of valuable advertising space, and
to accompany it with a statement that
could not be supported in reason resulted
In making a permanent enemy for the
paper. While this is an extreme case, It is
of type SO numerous that they are con-
slueFeu ually experiences. Reputable news
papers apply one strict rule to these mat
ters. Advertising as such must be paid
for; newspaper Of influence has only its
advertising space for sale, and It cannot
afford to give 1t away. If the person seek
ing public favor is OF sufficient Importance
to demand consideration, attention will be
given within certain we'll determined lines.
Achievements that mean something to the
growth of the community along right lines
will always be accorded full encouraging
publicity, while undertakings that are for
selfish purposes must be dealt with as
such and solely on a commercial basis
.