The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-25
B. H. s. COMMENCEMENT
Continued from Page s.)

(Continued from Page 8.) its columns by moneyed interests; th3rd. @ the suppression of truth.
 The sensationaIism of the modern newspaper is one of it's, most striking characteristics. With famboyant headlines; with revoIting pictures and with glaring descriptions 1t blazes forth the horrible details of fagitious crime and scandal with a frequency that creates in an irrational and fool ish mind an h--bitual longing for such disorder. The effect is obvious and the case of Gallagher, the man who attempted to assasinate Mayor Gaynor was dissatisfied with his position in
 life and ho laid the blame for his misery at the feet of the community. He delighted in tales of crime and was invariably seen with a yellow Journal in his possession. His mind soon became a realm of confusion and in the height of his fury he attempted to Kill the mayor. Immediately his name accom- panied by his picture ap- peared throughout the country; re- porters filled his cell in order to inter inordfpate vanity possessed him and he proudly boasted that he was the most talked of man in America. This is but one instahce of the effect of the press sensationalism.
 There is little wonder that the charge of suh-idized columns, is con- tirflally made against the newspaper;
 With the greatest persistency, it will defend a political faction that is re- nowned for corrupt practices, and with the same obstinacy, 1t will at- tack cause equally famed for hon. esty of purpose. This is indeed the most dep1orab1e fault of the news paper since it's primal intention IS de- ception. This lack of principle on the part of the press is not merely con- fined to politics, but it is practiced on all occasions where the perverted opinions of the public may be em- ployed for individual gain.
 The third offense which the news paper is prone to commit is the sup
 pression of truth, or rather lack of is an ungoVernabIe mania for news getting. Upon the least provocation
 it will eZnb bellish a grain of truth with such a mantle of fancifuI details that
 even the small s9eek of reality is
 wholly lost amidst the bewildering
 products of a fertile imagination. The
 weIl-ntght humorous in their incon-
 sistency, while the occurrence of a Hood, cyclone, or earthQ Quake is pro ductive of wealth of exaggeration.
 Runor of any sort is seized upon with the greatest avidity and published with such a tone of conclusion and
 continually busy denying their mar riage or their death. Or, if, per- chance, the rumor is confirmed, the l columns of the next issue gre filled with that saccharine expression of self-cOm placer t'We told you SOL We must now reverse our point of | view and consider the public as the
 newspapers problem The modern
 newspaper is thoroughly business 1 prop positfon. Many of the larger ones 1 represent an investment of several
 million dollars and, as in all proposi- l tions of such large proportions, all other ideals must be regulated by monetary consideration. The news I E-e~---y---e====z.--.s-se depends upon adver- | Using as it's medium of support while i the advertising interests in turn de mand large circulation on the part o1 l the newspaper. Thus it is the prob l lem of the press to please the pub
 lie: not the critical and reserved whose educated tastes seek refine | ment. but the careless, credulous mass l fill of daily news without strainine their mental qualifications. Wha fault can they find with sensational I ism? Why should they condemn ar
 interesting tale of murder or scanda
 merely because it lacks ref1nemen
 and dignity? What matters bigotr.
 and prejudice to them as long as the!
 may wisely argue political question and quote the New York Journal t. sEbstantiate their sta tements; or wh.
 should they reproach the Evenint l Telegram because its nine o'clock ex tra proclains a monstrous fire whicl the morning papers report as a fals
 alarm? These sensational articles tb ese bigoted and unfair staten ents these exaggerated reports are exactl what the common people demand, an since they are in the majority, tn newspaper IS OD11Sed 10 SdC1S1y then
 At the present day, the newspaper : influence on public opinion cores ponds precisely to the character C 7 the general spublic-ft is radical an 1 unreStrained. In a broad sense 9th psychology of the press depends upo s the psychology of the people, and tn N personality of a nation is reflected i ' it's journals.
 Therefore it is greatly to be hope that, as education extends its broader ing influence and teaches more widel it's valuable lessons of moderatio and restraint, the psychology and pe1 sonality of the Am merican people ma l become more and more refined an may reflect their improvements in ths mirror of public characterthe news paper.