The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-01-06

knows how to run newspaper, due
no doubt to the proclivity OF the pub.
lie to offer advice as to the nature OF
the news matter which should be Civ.
en- space.
The path of the editor is one that
is not without its thorns under the
most favorable conditions, but he
should not be condemned because he
is unable to follow out to the letter
the average layman's ideas ( journal
ism.
The prominent business man land
usually one of the heaviest advertis-
ers) offers the criticism that there
isn't sufficient local news printed. 81
don't care for general news; get all
that in the big dailies," is the tenor
of his complaint, and he then adds the
further bit of disconcerting informa-
tion that there Is lots of local news
which you don't get at all"
The next kicker is prehaps banker
who came to the state from Kansas
some two years ago. He enters the
Office with a clipping from some paper
published in his home town which he
thinks of widespread interest. An ex-
animation shows it to be a disserta-
ton upon the banking laws passed by
the last session of the Kansas legis-
lature.
Then comes the practical man in
blue jeans who was never accused OF
affecting evening clothes in his life
and places the ban of his disapproal
upon the society events. He is fol
lowed by the churchman who decrys
the space wasted on sporting news,
and mildly expresses his amazement
at the moral makeup of man who
would publish story of a prize-fight
The man with sprting procliyities,
who has been subscriber of the pa
per since the first issue, would like to
have a little dope on the diamond
turf and prizering events.
Then the society leader thinks ii
passing strange that the person
who writes society should not have
heard of the quiet little party she
gave to few friends on Tuesday
evening, and states that in her opin-
ion II more attention were given to
such affairs and the country CORES
pondence cut out the circulation
would be greatly increased.
Next farmer friend remarks:
Say, brother, can't afford half a
dozen papers, I take only yours.
wish you would give us little more
of the general news so the folks down
our way can know what is going on
in the world"
In his inexperience the business
man who protests against the lack of
local news is actuated by the fact
that his neighbor Brown left for the
state capitol last week and no men
ton was made of it; the banker be-
lieves that every paper in creation
is on the exchange list, and the local
editor should have time to read them
all, particularly with reference to fin
ancial matters; the society matron
evidently thinks the society reporter
should make the rounds with the
night police force, and be able to
tell in what house function was in
progress and to know intuitively who
was there and what was served for
lunch-and so on through the list
If each one would telephone or
otherwise convey the particular bit
of news in which he is interested, 1T
would gladly be given space. The
newsgatherer cannot be everywhere
at once, and he cannot possibly
know the movements of all the peo-
pleof the town, without the coop
Grafton of the public itself.
The newspaper is semi-public in
stitution. The citizens of the COM
munity have right to be interested
in it, as is refeckts the life of the
town. The editor merely acts as the
chronicler of, events and endeacors
to separate 4the gold from the dross
in the matter of public questions. He
usually gets two meals per day, a
place to sleep and the pleasure of
paying the overdraft at the bank for
his trouble.
1t is probable that there is not a
man with years experience on the
city desk of any newspaper in the
country who has not received all these
and complaints. but still Is
glad of all suggestions. He wants to
please all classes. but it is mighty
difficult task with the amount of time
and space available.-Ex.
A guest in a Cincinnati hotel was
- - c,l I~slInI TI4 rorr0 navkor