The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-09-05
DISCUSSED BY
JOURNALISTS
Themes Of the National Press
Association Meeting,
SEVERAL ABLE PAPERS READ

President John II. Murphy at the An.
nuaI Meeting In Philadelphia Told
How to Secure Better News Service.
p. q. Young Spoke on Intricate Prob
Iems Of Publishers.
Philadelphia.-Wi 126 publications
represented the fifth annual meeting
of the National Negro Press associa-
ton was called to order in Cherry Me-
mortal Baptist chuch in this city Mon
day morning, Aug. 18. N. B. Dodson.
chairman of the executive committee.
after making brief Introductory re-
marks, introduced DR.. R. R. Wright.
Jr., editor Of the Christian Recorder
and chairman Of the local committee
on entertainment, who presided over
the meeting. during which time ad-
dresses of welcome were made by Chris
topher ]. Perry, editor Of the Tribune.
and DR.. William NJ. Slowe. The re-
sponse to these addresses was made
by Mr.. Charles Stewart of Chicago.
Abstracts from the proceedings Of the
Chicago meeting, 1912, and the midwin-
ter meeting held in this city February.
1918, were read by Mr.. Henry Allan
Boyd, corresponding secretary. Mr..
Boyd's report showed that great
work had been accomplished. The
membership has been increased to 103
A newspaper directory. printers and
publishers guide. has been compiled,
printed and distributed to members Of
the association. t.-s2 -.,s -, :.,e.. :
The directory gives the number of
publications in each state, name Of edi-
tors, when issued and kind Of paper.
whether secular or religious. 1t is il
lustrated with pictures Of some of the
general officers Of the association, vari.
GUS cuts showing portions of the plant
of the National Baptist Publishing
House in Nashville. Tenn. and other
display advertisements.
It carries grouped picture of four
of the oldest and best known editors
among our people. such as John H
Murphy. editor of the Afro American
Ledger of Baltimore; William H. Stew
art, thirty three years editor Of the
American Baptist in Louisville; Chris
topher J. Perry, twenty nine years edi-
tor of the Tribune. and T. Thomas
Fortune, who is recognized as the dean
of the quill brigade. Mr.. Fortune is
the founder and was for over twenty
five years editor Of the New York
Age.
How to Secure Better News Service
to Our Papers was the subject for
discussion for the afternoon session
Monday. Mr.. ]. H. Murphy read the
able paper, giving various suggestions
as to how to secure quicker news ser
vice and how all papers belonging to
the association might combine to syndi-
cate the news to each other weekly.
Mr.. Murphy's paper was referred to
the executive committee for action.
Young, editor of the Norfolk Virginia
Journal and Guide. read an interesting
paper on Expert Methods Of Extend
ing Newspaper Circulation and the
Management Of Agents"
Mr.. Young said: THAT these were
two Of the most intricate problems
with which publishers have to deal.
The methods of which am speaking
are those which have been used from
time to time in my experience and may
be familiar to all. If you have tried
them all, you have gained some expert
ence and perhaps results. II you have
not tried them all you are fortunate
In some respects, as some Of them are
experimental and expensive. Getting
subscriptions is an easy proposition.
but holding subscribers is the real
problem.
IT have reached the conclusion that
there is one practical way to hold sub
scribers and that Is to create a public
demand for your newspaper. There
was a time when the personality of
the editor rs the chief asset for t"'
newspaper in building and extending
us circulation, but that time has
passed. We young men cannot build
our papers with the same kind Of ma
terial with which Mr.. Fortune built
the Age or Mr.. Perry built the Trib-
une. The American people want news
first and opinion last. You will find
three -fourths Of your average readers
more interested in the news column
than In the editorial.
"T do not wish to discount the value
Of the editorial page as a circulation
builder, for few newspapers in the age
of new mania attain more than a local
reputation unless they maintain a
strong and forceful editorial page.
Every Negro newspaper Is regarded as