Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-30
XIV.
Newspapers,
Yellow and Pink.
By
FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

either 10 pictures or sports. A vast ma
Jority of the women are seen with one of
the picture papers in their hands. These
picture papers publish the news of the
cay in brief bulletins. and give the greater
part Of their space to photographs The
weekly illustrated journals of London
are by far the best I'm the world, and the
cheap daily picture papers are the equals
of the best weeklies in America or in
other countries. But, in view OF their
large circulation. 1t is amusing to hear a
London journalist criticise American
newspapers because they devote SO much
space to illustrations.
The real difference between American
and English newspapers is a difference
imposed by law,
Difference Imposed and is not the
Lr result of superior
~ morality on the
part of English publishers. The libel
laws in Great Britain are 50 very strict
that much matter commonly printed in
America is excluded from English news
paper columns. Then also. the British
law prevents press comment upon mat
ters sub judice," that is, the papers may
not discuss a case in court until after IL
has been finally determined. They may
print concerning such cases only what is
a matter of public court record. This gives
them the right to publish the testimony
taken in open court, and, exercising this
right. the most staid and respectable
British journal sometimes will print things
which could not appear under any cir
cumstances in the yellowest American
newspaper But at the same time, the law
prevents Journalistic interference with
legal procedure, and such a thing
trial by newspapers in criminal case
is impossible. In this respect British
journalism. or rather British law, is
UNNECESSARILY superior.
In the matter of advertisements the
London press rs more liberal than that
of the majority of American cities. Per
sonals'' of doubtful character are printed
even in high-class journals, quite as
freely as they used to be in New York
Even the most respectable newspapers
carry advertising announcements of d.
vorce spies and private detectives, gen
tleman' or lady Loan sharks and
usurerS also are admitted to the adNer-
Using columns of even the best papers
*
When it comes to politics, British news
papers are both better and worse than
those in America. Be-
Treatment of cause the Enlish jour
n,.I. mails continue to report
AoAA'Aoo' public speeches ver-
Odtm. tnere is no temptation TO sdTDle
or color the utterances of political men.
The interview has not made any ap-
probable advance in England. and. there
fore. there is very little complaint OF
incorrect quotations. So far as the news
columns are concerned. the British press
is on the whole superior to the American
in its treatment of political affairs.
But in editorial expression the British
newspapers are much more partisan and
much more inclined to be unfair. Nearly
every newspaper is an out-and-out parti-
san. and il as Jealous in its support OF
its particular faction were the repub-
lcan and democratic newspapers of
the United States forty years ago. The
editorial writer is always serious. and the
spirit of levity has not yet invaded the
editorial sanctum as it has done in the
United States. British pert paragra-
pher is unthinkable.
In the matter of headlines the British
differs from the American be-
cause of the difference in the character
of it's readers. An Englishman looks
his paper and finds the head
line NAVAL and Military Intelligence"
Then he proceeds to read all about the
army and navy. An American insists
prehensive review of the news. and IL
there is anything that particular morning
in army or navy circles which interests
him he will read it, not otherwise. Dur
ing pOItlcdl campaign d LONuOH NEWS
paper will carry for months the single
headline The Political Situation" Never
more. never less. that headline indicates
to the reader where he will find the
political news, but it does not give him
any idea of what that news may be. The
British headline differs from the Ameri-
can because it is designed for a diffenent
purpose.
On the whole. it is perhaps fair to say
that the English people, having the yell
lows in mind, have the belief generally
that the American newspapers are much
more wicked and indecent than they
really are; while the American people,
having The Times in mind, think that
the British newspapers are much purer
and better than they really are.
TOmOrrOw-THE BRITISH CRISIS.
xXVI-SpOrt and SpOrtsmen.