The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-05-20
STATE ASSOCIATION
OF PENCIL PUSHERS
MEETS AT NASHVILLE
EpIToRs ASSEMBLE IN FoRTlETH
ANNUAL CON-
cLAvE
MILTON NAMED PR SIDEN
]. /. Finney, or Columbia, gave the
Fraternity Some Pointers on Run
ming a Daily in Small
Town.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, May 17.-(Spe-
cial)-The Tennessee Press Associa-
lion met here today in fortieth an
nual session with vice-president Geo.
". Milton presiding. and a fair at
tendance. W. B. Romine, OF Pulaski,
X. B. Cayce, of Martin, and ]. l. Fin
ney, of Columbia, made addresses. At
the election of efEcers this afternoon
George F. Milton was elected presi-
dent. A committee was appointed to
draw suitable resolutions on the death
of the late H. B. Miller. Of the law de-
partment of the n, c. st. L. Rail-
way.
]. /. Finney, of Columbia, spoke on
Running a Daily Paper In a Small
City."-He said:
Running a daily paper in a small
city is a hazardous undertaking. All
publishing and printing establish
ments are a precarious business but
perhaps in no line are the returns
more uncertain than in conducting
daily newspaper where the field is
limited. The path of journalism is
marked with wrecked hopes and
blighted prospects. An accurate cen
sus OF the newspaper graveyard would
show statistics that would appall the
stoutest heart of the most courageous
publisher. The successful and pro-
ftable publication of daily newspap-
err in a city of less than ten thousand
neople. where its entire constituency
may read the great morning metropo-
Titan paper before breakfast and the
modern city afternoon daily at the
supper table is indeed problem that
only the most energetic, persistent
and enthusiastic optimism should at
tempt to solve.
The difficulties appear all but insur-
mountable and it would be hard mat
ter to tell just how they are over
come and how a field already pre-emp-
tied by newspapers which the local
daily can never hope to rival is to be
successfully occupied. 1t is only by
making the local paper an 1nstltu-
ton of a city, one of its public assets,
a source of pride to it's inhabitants,
that this can be done. No daily can
live in a small city without the sup
port of the substantial business ele-
ment, the friendly encouragement OF
the best class of people, and, most
important of all, the hearty good Will
nf the women of the community. The
paper must make itself fixtures even
a necessity in the lives and Thoughts
of its people and it must do this
without pandering to any selfish ana
without surrendering one iota OF It's
independence or FORGETTING its self-res-
meet. II cannot become a fixture or a
public institution if it is mere Wea-
Their vane or simply barometer OF
public opinion On the contrary IL
must help to create and mold PUBIC
opinion; ever leader never follow
er. 1t should ever cherish the good
opinion of the good people it serves
as its dearest and most priced posses
sion, but it must never fear to breast
the storms of adverse criticism II
stern and rigid adherence to duty and
a devotion to the highest ideals OF
journalism invite it
It is obvious that the local paper
in a small city cannot compete In It's
general, foreign and special news
columns and magazine features Win
the metropolitan dailies which are de-
livered to its readers almost as early
as it goes upon their reading tables.
In two departments only can 1t nope
to make a place which others cannot
FILL First, by printing all the local
news that a proper conception OF jour-
nalism makes it proper to publish.
This il the most important OF all
nC pap
daily be a faithful chronicle of all the
happenings of its city and county
Remember that a dog fight between
the CANNES of two prominent citizens
of Columbia on the streets of that
city will arouse more interest ana
cause more comment than the loss OIL
one thousand persons by earthquakes
in Costa RIGA or the most learned de-
Sertation that Parliament ever heard
on the development of the BRUSH
Constitution. The marriage OF two
Young persons of wide local acQuaint-
ance will excite more curiosity ana
the papers account of the wedding
will invite more attention from Its
readers than the peaceful death OF
ono NJ tho crowned rulers of Europe.