Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-06-14
Newspaper Business and Ethics.


practical, serious side Of newspaper
making at the recent meeting Of the
South Carolina Press association than
at any previous meeting of which we
have any recollection, and the inter-
est in the subject was probably more
marked.
There were four especially strong
papers touching along this line-those
of Editor Gonzales, Of the Columbia
State, Editor Christensen Of the Beau
fort Gazette, Editor Jordan Of the
Dillon Herald and Editor Erwin of
the Chester Reporter
The paper of Editor Gonzales seek
ing to crystalline sentiment in the di-
rection of establishing a proper stand
ard in journalistic ethics, and the pa
per of Editor Jordan calling attention
to the fact that so many papers are
being operated without regard to or
dinary business principles, were prob
ably of most striking interest.
Editor Gonzales sought to impress
the idea Of moral responsibility both
on the part Of the editor and the pub
lie, and Editor Jordan sought to
awaken the editors to a proper con-
ception Of their business responsible
ity These two papers although along
different lines seemed calculated In a
way to teach about the same practi-
cal truths. At least, 1t Is clear enough
that Advancement in one line leads to
progress in the other and vice versa.
While 1t is shop question about
which the public cares, very little be-
cause 1t is not concerned from that
standpoint, it is nevertheless a fact
that editors and publishers in South
Carolina have paid but little atten-
ton to the economic side Of their bus
mess in times past, and most of the
very noticeable Improvement that Is
to be credited to the press of South
Carolina during the past ten years is
traceable to better and sounder busi-
ness methods.
1t seems that anybody ought to be
able to understand the elementary
principles of a productive business of
whatever nature-that unless receipts
exceed disbursements the business
cannot last. 1t Is a fact, however.
that up to only few years past most
of the country publishers seemed to be
absolutely oblivious of this principle,
and it is a fact also that many of
them are as yet only beginning to
grasp a very faint idea of it.
That there has been much improves
ment in the business methods Of the
country publishers within the past
dozen years Is not to be denied. Most
of the publishers can see 1t by taking
a look backward and 1t is not too much
to say that the public realizes it also.
While there may be difference of opin-
ion as to the reason. we are inclined to
trace much of the Improvement to the
widespread adoption of more eXpen-
sive printing machinery, particularly
the linotype, and we reason like this:
Nearly every country editor who has
ever bought linotype has of necessi-
ty done so on credit, and Immediately
realizing the ineXorable conditions
Of the obligations necessary to be in
Cured under the circumstances, he
began to make it his care to have peO-
pie pay him for everything that ought
to be paid for.
Every newspaper in South Carolina
that has purchased linotype machine
has materially increased it's fixed
charges by the step; but we are in
clined to the view that each one so
doing has at the same time increased
it's income. and placed its general bus
mess on a higher plane.
l. And we are inclined to think that
>same condition has had it's infu-