The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-03
What L. NeANs1


For weeks Golfers has been printing series
Oh brief articles written by editors of daily news
papers in America what Is News They
nave been interesting. largely because OF the
variety or views expressed in defining what the
average man thinks admits of an easy state
ment OF its meaning In this symposium Mr.
Josephus Daniels. editor of The News and Oh
server, was asked to make a contribution and
Golfers publishes 1t follows:
To the Editor-News is the story OF everything
that happens the inspiration of happenings and
the result Of such happenings.
IL VIII not do for Il journalist merely to print
that John Smith Killed Bill Jones with the state
ment of the kind of revolver he used and the
part OF the body IN which the bullet entered.
and when he win be buried-that is the sim
piest part of the news story. The real news
~ the cause OF the murder. what led up to II.
the motive. and II is here that lies the differ
ence between tho real news story and the duh
statement of fact. And beyond. the story to have
the necessary Incidents the writer must look for
ward to the trial of the murderer. the condition
IN winch the murdered mans family IL left, and
every detail of human interest that the I'M
portance of the crime warrants
The same broad treatment OF any occurrence
must be given the story, IL it ~ a report OF n
religious gathering where the reporter will go
pack or the public assembly To the inspiration OF
tits source-and will project himself into the
future TO show what will be it's outcome.
American people wish expurgated news
paper. They wish the story of the deed told just
as ii is. The motto Of editor should be that
Of a great man who said TO a painter: Paint my
picture, warts and all A newspaper that ex-
purgates is not newspaper. 1t must print all
OF the news. good and bad--the story of the
IT the most depraVed criminal that. a
man reads the paper. he sees life as it is
1t is, of course. necessary for the Associated
Press and kindred news agencies to prepare their
news In colorless way-that In say, in
waY that Will be. acceptable to papers OF all
shades of opinion, politically, religiously. etc.
However. an editor of Il newspaper OF influence
ought to put the editorial stamp everything
that goes into his paper that touches the people
politically, religtously. and morally. II he Is wag
ing war In his editorial columns to drive graft
TOR eVi3 from his community. the news stories
4 should have headlines In keeping With the edi
toral policy; and every man the paper. while
4 this fight Is on. should regard himself =
! PEELED to get up all the legitimate news that
would strengthen the papers position In the
/ night or course, no statement of facts should
ever be printed that is not true, and people who
have different opinions should be given place In
| the columns to express their views tfor. in a
/ large sense newspaper must regard Itself
d common carrier, but the paper should be a
pUs4tfsse fofNce. tft evtsry' wfio pfckE II
the cause ii espouses 1t should make available
/ every item of news-local National, and foreign
that will emphasize and strengthen the eonten-
| ton that la being made in the editorial columns
I Ii has been too often the that in editorial
pOllm~s the editor breaches sound doctrine by
lack OF purpose and Of unity of thought and ac-
| ton.
\ The policy OF a paper should be 10 print all
/ the news. Dish il UP attractivey and all
the that helps to effect reform, and use
| IL in the way that will be most telling in con-
work for the upft of the community and hu-
manity.
Raleigh n C..