Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1911-02-21
Working Tfe Newspaper

idea what demands are made upon
the newspapers for free space.
This demand does not come frOm
any particular person or oganiza-
ton, but it is very general. If one
must specialize, it is probably cor
rect to say that those who are most
insiStent are those who contribute
least to the support of the paper.
The demands made upon the
columns of the Augusta Chronicle
has caused that paper to fix some
very rigid rules regarding the same.
The Chronicle makes comment as
follows:
Unfortunately there are people
who rest under the erroneous i'm
preston that newspaper is sup
ported by its subscribers, and that
subscriber has a right to exact
almost any sort of special service
from his newspaper, forgetting that
the advertising columns pay, at
least three-fourthS the cost of pro-
ducing the average daily newspaper,
and that but for this,s subscribers
would have to pay thirty or forty
dollars year for newspaper that
now costs them six or seven. And
yet these same welI-meaning people
would not ask merchant to give
them suit of clothes merely be-
cause they happen to buy a pair of
shoes from him occasionally.
All of which is ment in the best
of spirit and in the hope that it will
be properly understood and appre-
ciated-but it is meant, just the
same"
OftentimeS people bring an article
to the paper which has no right to
free publication and request that it
be published The usually add:
you want something to fill up with
anyhow" Probably it would sur
prise many people to know that it
is a great problem in every news
paper office that amounts to any
thinghow to get in all of the
legitimate items of news that come
along. 1t is not question of filling
up, but how to get things in
1t is strange, but people will ask
a newspaper for free service that
would not think of eating cracker
out of a box in a grocery store
without paying for it.
Newspaper men are always will
ing to measure fully up to the re-
quirements, but there is a limit
sometimes. The load gets too heavy
when his stock in trade is drawn
upon too heavily
Some people accept the work of
an editor as a matter of duty on his
part and never think of thanking
him for any service that he may
render. We have known instances
where every person connected with
some public movement received
thanks except the editor.
The following rules have been
adopted by the Chronicle:
Il. Communications of reason
able length on pertinent public
topics are welcomed, but the writer's
name must be printed with them.
"2. Political communications
will. be charged for at the rate of
10 cents per line, and must be duly
signed and marked Communicated"
IS. In Memoriam" notices, res
olutions of respect, cards of thanks,
etc-whether from individuals or
organizations-will be charged for
at the rate of 10 cents per line.
IS. Write-ups of new industries,
new business undertakings, ETC., and
write-ups Of any and every thing
that means advertising" for the
party of the first part and nothing
for the newspaper-10 cents per
line"
The Chronicle may from time to
time add to or modify these rules,
but it is certain that the Chronicle
and all other newspapers will have
to exercis more common sense and
more business judgment or 60 into
bankruptcy. Newspapers should be
run on business principles. If they