University Missourian., 1914-12-31
A Doubtful Success

Success often leaves much to be de
sired. There is hardly a better ex,
ample of a successful man, successful
IN the material and modern American
sense, to be found in the world thar
Lord Northcliffe, owner of the Lon.
don Times.
Lord Northcliffe's rise has been
spectacular. He started with nothing
but brilliant mind, energy, perse-
verance, and most important of all, an
almost superhuman insight into the
desires of ordinary people. Upon a
policy of "Give the people what they
want" he has built the foundation of
his enormous power.
Beginning with the founding of
Answers, he has gradually acquired be-
tween 100 and 200 periodicals. Some
of these he founded himself; others
he bought. He has covered the entire
field of popular journalism. He bought
the Evening News and founded the
Daily Mail. He gave England her
first half-penny morning daily. And
lastly he has acquired the London
Times, the paper that is found in ev-
cry corner of the world. He is rich;
he is feared no other man has his
hand nearer the pulse of the British
Empire; his power is immense.
Lord Northcliffe's success has been
wonderful. He has fought adversity
with stout heart; he has shown
courage; he is marvelously rapid and
decisive; he is good fighter; he is
brilliant and clever He is the high
est type of the man who combines all
the qualities essential to material sue
cess, those qualities that Americans
are prone to worship beyond all rea-
son. 1t is not strange that he is one
of the most powerful, most hated and
most villified men in the British EN-
pire.
But his success is of the sort that
leaves much to be desired. He has
yet to show that he cares for his DOW
er as means to a greater end. He
has yet to show that he realizes the
responsibility that he carries, con-
trolling as he does the greatest Jour-
nalistic force in the United Kingdom.
He has yet to prove that he regards a
newspaper as a public trust; more
than an article of commerce, to be
made as salable as possible.
AS a business man, Lord North
cliffe might be called an unqualified
success. AS journalist, he is almost
as certainly failure.
In England they speak of Lord
Northcliffe as a journalist of the
American type. Are his ideals those
Of American Journalism? Certainly
they are not those of the Chicago Her.
aid and the Kansas City Star. Too
bad We haven't enough newspapers
ike these to make them the recognized
ype of American journalism!
Is is true that Lord Northcliffe's sue
,ess is typical Of what we recognize as
journalistic success in this country?
Does our press regard popularity and
the greatest of newspaper
'irtues? Do our papers follow public
instead of guiding it? II
his is true, it is terrible indictment
gainst the American press.
Large circulations, well-filled ad-
ertising columns and great revenues !
10 not spell complete journalistic sue q
ess. Success means, for journalist, I
triving for and in some measure at $
aiming worthy ideals. Power is not 9
he end but the sacred means for the
chievement of the end. Q
The journalist that fails to use the e
over he has for righteous ends Is O
uilty of great fault. And no class e
men can commit faults with conse- a
uences of such WIDESPREAD signifi- C
lnce as newspaper men can. 1t lies a
thin Lord Northcliffe's power eth d
: to serve England greatly or, by
iling in this. to harm her greatly. CT
oday it appears he has chosen the o.
tier course-B. a