Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1913-09-05

1
| hold them, that he be able to
write we'll and quickly that
which he has picked up in his
news rounds, that he be thor
oughly loyal to the newspaper on
which he is employed. He must
| have akeen instinct for news
and an indomitab1e perseverance
in the task of digging out the
truth about things. He must be
accurate and reliable in his state
ments and reports. There is no
excuse for reckless exaggeratlon
or Misrepresentation of the facts
in order to make a ensat1On,
USE OF AsoLUTE TRUTH.
Now while l have been en-
phasizing the Importance of ac-
curacy of statement in the news
columns, I would not have you
think that l advocate telling the
absolute truth, the exact truth N
newspaper columns on all oeca-
Sions. Facts should never be
misrepresented, nor reckless ex-
ageration INDUCED in in order to
| make a sensation. Yet the use
of absolute truth in regard to all
matters would not be tolerated
by the public and would soon put
any paper out of business.
In writing up a wedding it is
essential, of course, that there
be absolute accuracy as to the
names and circumstances attend
the wedding. 1t is then per-
missible and the invariable Gus
tom for the paper to say that the
groom is one of the most promis-
ing and successful business men
of the CITY, despite the fact he
may owe everybody in town and
be incompetent in every line, ardI
it is also proper and right to say
that the bride is accomplished
and beautiful and popular in a |
wide circle of friends, regard |
less of whether or not she is pc 81
sessed of any accomplishments or
beauty or is popular. Such devil
atoms from the strict truth arel
expected. 1t is also permissible
to say that the newly married
couple has started OH a long
honeymoon tour of the East, all
though they may have certain
knowledge tibet they only went |
as far as Pipestone springs.
Nor is newspaper expected toI
tell the exact facts in writing oil
a prominent man who has passed
away. 1t is we'll to speak of him
as a successful business man, but |
it is not always best to particu-
larize as to the manner III which
he accumulated his fortune, and
it is always we'll to speak of him
as model husband and father |
without too close scrutiny of the
facts. There are many particu-
lars like these which have men,
toned, concerning which news
paper is not expected to tell the
literal truth and it would be cruel
and mean Of the newspaper If it
told the exact truth regarding
many things. That is materially
different from deliberate mis-
represention of facts where mis-
representation of .exaggeration
could do harm. Newspapers
should tell the truth but they
should tell it judiciously. They
should tell all the truth that it is
expedient for the people to know,
and that is more than some of
the people at times want to hear.
MUST NOT SUPPRESS NEWS.
A newspaper which suppresses
news is a business cheat. A
newspaper contracts with It's
readers for a certain sum to give
them the news of the day. 1t is
definite contract. The news
papers which suppressed part
of the news of the day is
just as guilty of breach of con-
tract as is the subscription. The
editor may exercise his judgment
and sense of taste and of the
proprieties in displaying or mini
MIXING items of news OF various
kinds, but if the news is fit to
print the subscriber is entitled to
have it. If divorce cases, for ex-
ample, are to be published at all.
they should all be published. No
| favoritism should be shown IN
leaving out certain divorce cases
and printing others, or in omit
ting the offenses of some people
| and printing similar offenses
when committed by others. 1t
people do not want their names
in the papers they should keep
out of trouble.
AS general thing l am OPP
posed to newspaper taking. News
may be legitimately invented or
brought about or pushed along
or developed, but things which
have not happened should not be
represented as having happened.
Interviews should not be publish
ed unless they are bona fde in
! terviews, actually given to the
newspaper printing them.
/