Gilpin observer., 1913-04-24
MEMBER COLORADO EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION
THURSDAY, APRIL "a, 1918.
"PlEAsE DON'T PUBLISH"

Every newspaper is famhlar with
the request, please do not publish
anything about it." Sometimes it is
made in the form of demand and
suits if acquiesence does not follow.
There are few things, the Louis
vile Herald says, the public ought
keep in mind in the matter of a news
papers relation to the printing of
news.
To begin with, newspaper owes
am obligation to dts whole circle of
readers to print fair, comprehenr
sive report of the days happenings.
1t cannot overlook this responsibility
merely to please individuals. That
policy involved an injustice to the
many and favorit.sm to the few. Who
shall be favored?
Much of the news that is printed
unfortunately occasions annoyance
and often heartache to somebody.
That is AN unavoidable incident of
newspaper business. Is there justifi-
cation for shielding from such conse-
Quences the man or woman who has
influence, socially or in business,
while the many who lack lit must be
treated without such consideration?
Persons who wish to escape pub
licity should be careful not to make
news or should count the cost of ad-
vertisement to THE world as part of
the price they must pay for wnaT they
have determined upon doing.
There are certain easily defined
zones of publicity. The individual
who steps into amy of these may
count upon getting his name in the
newspapers. One lis in the courts,
civil and criminal. The man who EN-
ters law invites advertisement. Yet
many men-and sometimes women
appeal to a newspaper to suppress
reports of legal proceedings in order
that they may be saved annoyance.
The time to consider immunity is be-
fore resort to law
ties of life is another means of en-
tering the publicity zcne. Conduct
that is off the beaten trail affords
news. Those who defy social obser
sthuticrs must net expect to escape
print, and should not ask to be saw
ed from such notoriety.
Further, much injustice may be
tongue of gossip, uninformed of the
real fact, cam do hundred times
more INJURY to the innocent than pub
Hcaticn Of the real truth will do to
those actually tnwolved Often news.
paper is shielding the reputation of
a score from the scandal of suspicion
when, it dis telling the truth about
one who has incurred the liability
to censure.
Al newspaper, with a sense Of re-
sponsibiljty, Will exercise a certain
discrimination. There may be times
and circumstances that justify sup
preston. Some happenings may, i'm
the reporting of them serve no proper
end. OF two things the responsible
newspaper will be zealously careful
the coed name of q woman and the
reputation of financial institution.
Both are of that delicacy TO be cas-
lily hurt. The good name of a woman
is treasure beyond price, and cloud
cast upon the reputation of bank
or trust company may cause loss to
thousands who are dependent upon
dts solvency.
But this lesson the public should
leann-the way to avoid publicity is
TO avoid departure from the beaten
track: and let this be added to tt
II you have d.verged into the danger
zone the way to obtain conslderate
treatment is to assume that you are
n subject fer news, and to take the
newspapers into your confidence fully
and frankly.
Such confidence lis rarely abused, |
and assuredly never by any news
paper that makes profession of de-
cency or has regard for ethics.