The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-08
THE MODERN NEWSPAPER.

by Rev Charles NJ. Sheldon1
Everything in this world, including
newspapers and churches, editors and
ministers, is imperfect and in the ma
ture of the case open to Improvement.
We all recognize this fact and this dis
cussion on the Modern NeWspa per is
not in the nature of an attack and a
defense, but rather, take it for grant
ed, it is in the minds of all those who
take part in 1t. a good natured discus.
sion of one of the great factors in our
civilization with a real honest purpose
in the heart of it all to contribute
something to this factor which will
make it more perfect than it now is.
This is the object of any real criticism
not to tear down, but to build up
and that in brief is the object of the
writer of this paper
I will divide my part of the discus
sion into three sections First, the
strong points of the modern newspa-
modern newspaper. Third, the future
possibilities of the modern newspaper.
j. The Strong Points of the Modern
Newspaper.
1. The modern newspaper is
splendid everyday source of world
knowledge.
With remarkable energy and enter
prise the managers of the modern
press reach around the world with
long arms and strong hands to secure
knowledge of world events. These are
brought + our doors at a minimum
expense. World history, the advance
ment of science, the movements of
government. adventure. sport, com
merce, human energy in various and
interesting forms becomes a part of
the individual readers education. The
modern paper serves a vast number
of individuals working for the enrich
ment and interest of their lives.
The modern iS
advocate of the people
In very many important cases it
starts reform movements for the good
of the entire community. In very many
cases the newspaper originates plans
Tor human betterment- sometimes on
an exceedingly large and unseIfish
scale. If it had not been for the as
sistance of the newspapers in Kansas,
1t is doubtful if the present prohibit
tory law would now be in force In
general, the press of the state in over
whelning majority Joined hands with
the church and good citizens to advo-
cate what was in many ways a very
unpopular movement which cost many
papers heavily in a financial way. The
same use Of the modern newspaper is
periods of history.
8. The modern newspaper is of great
educational value with special features
of an educational character.
carried
from day to day are in many papers
of great assistance in shaping public
opinion. Articles are published in the
daily press gathered from the ends of
the earth from the best literature.
from the best minds, both past and
present. One could gather from a file
of daily papers in this country whole
volumes of literary value These are
continually coming into the homes of
the people and enriching and enlarg-
ing the lives of the readers.
4. The modern newspaper is a
medium of intelligent publicity be-
tween states and nations.
A newspaper is a democratic thing.
1t is for all the people. One of the es-
sential things in a government is that
the states in a republic like ours
should be acquainted with the history
of one another. The newspapers fur
nish this history. What once took
days and weeks and sometimes years
to accomplish Is now brought to public
notice in short order through the press
and even country as large as our own
with its varied interests and different
local concerns is in a remarkable de-
gree unified and knit together through
the printed pages of different news
papers of the different states. each
one taking account of the doings of the
entire people. In the same way the
knowledge of other countries and their
affairs thousands Of miles distant