Newark post., 1911-03-08
EDITORIAL WRITER-.FUNCTIONS
AND RESPONSIBILITIES

| l II + junction and power OF the edl-
| ,orlal writer has again come up fOr
discussion. Magazine writers ana pub.
! lie men iii general are debating the
! question. " neither the editorial COL
umn OF the average newspaper is still
| the power that it was in the past is d
matter that is time and again discussed
by newspaper experts and the public
| al large. For some years past now the
| news column has been written with
the idea OF influencing the reader. ac-
cording to the policy being pursued
by the management of the paper. l.,
seems that recently there is reaction
sry movement and that the editorial
column is to become stronger power
WIKI this possibility OF Incl easeu
power and influence, there comes the
additional demands ana increased re-
sponsibility OF his position. Ii the pub
lie are TO look to him ,or a certain
amount OF guidance that information
by virtue OF nIs position gives MN.
MS position Is one o. no mean proper
uOns. Nor is II one OF lite RESPONSE
Dll1ty.. 1t necesSltales above ali, close
apphcatlon and cool judgment. with
out lear or favor must he treat all sub
Jects before those who reau ana re-
spect his views. Then according to
lis strength OF character, his sympa-
thy Win The people, his ability as a
writer and his personality as man
VIII MS power be reckoned
n Boston paper speanlng OF this
question reviews some OF the requisites
necessary for such an once.
ne must meet the demands OF hon
es.y, oil responsibility, O. qusnty and
OF enlightenment, which latter is moi
Always shown by a championship OF
anything and everything tnat dlrfers
from what has been
'iie must meet the demands OF hon
es.y. these are not satisfied when he
reirans from taking his neighbor
umbrella; he must 40 great deal
more, he must faithfully and jealousy
guard the lmeres.s OF that pubnc when
trusts him, which really looks TO him
10. o.:ly .or d great ueai oi inioru1a-
ron but much guidance, and admits
MIN as friend TO its fireside. there TO
iSlk 10 women and children. often
times to lead their pleasures and to
co.or their views,
~ tie is contided in. he is de. erred to
he is constantly asked w hat 40 Nu.
think about this question:: and his an
SWer must be the more responsible.
because he has virtually Gained for
himself the right to give it and claim
dit touching all manner OF subjects
that come before mems attention.
Modern society for centuries has
mad small opinion OF the trustee that
shlrks his trust and pockets its emo..
ments, and the journalist is TODAY the
nf Il,
needs keenly, good trustee. The
Journahst stands at the head OF tn.
pubics reservoir of information and
advice, and as he keeps it pure and
clear will he be rewarded. As he lets
IL be rolled or tainted will he be re-
warded also. but in Justices sterner
metal
The journalist is un.'er no sort OF
du.y TO say what the public will like
Wi.ly-nilly; he must tell the public the
acts, but he is under no duty to give
them facts that can never be anything
ese than worthless. He is best serv,-,,
he public when he says honestly ana
plainl ly what his opiniun is on a subject
otherwise he had best leave j. alone
and confne himself TO Shakespeare and
the musical glasses.
LdSH redder OF his paper Is an argu-
ment lor care, for justice and ior that
honor that qua Ids the welfare tf one,
brother man. Each reader tacitlv asks
HIM to tell the truth, to give good ad-
vice and to voice what to the best OF
he writer's opinion is the reasonable
and Wholesome opinion that he hopes
his readers will adopt or have alieadv,
The editorial writer does not exer.
cise his functions for the purpose OF
lNFLAMlN PREJUDICE, OF
DlSTORTING GENEROUS VIEW
OF FOSTERING HATRED AND
ENVY. His work is to do the oppo-
site OF all these things and to march
with his readers into the light and not