The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-04-23
THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
ENTERTAINMENTS.

paper from those expecting favors at
the hands of the same. The Globe laid
down some rules some three or more
years ago which 1t has faithfully adher
ed toto charge for long obituary no
tice. cards of thanks, lodge resolution
and public entertainments which charg
ed admission; other matters free. But
1t has always considered that mention
Of entertainments, even where given for
public benefit, certainly entitled the
press to reciprocal courtesy on the
part of those promoting the same othe
wise the editor. who is not as a rule
rolling In opufence, is taxed more than
4 other citizens In the public interest
IGranseville Is not the most ideal in its
conduct along this line: in fact. we
have seen few places which have been
| more parsimonious In their treatment Of
the papers than this same place where
we are now living, and there are no
places we know of where the papers
work harder and do more gratuitously
for the public than here In Grange
| Vile. Recently after devoting col
| umn or two to boosting a public en-
| tertainment gratuitously. and receiving
no recognition of the same, the man
| agement explained to the writer that
| the cause of it was that you were ex-
pected to come around and ask for
what you wanted" No self RESPECTING
newspaper man wants to be put in such
a position and no person who has gump-
ton enough to appreciate good treat
ment will knowingly place him in such
position, and require him to come
around and ASK for them 10 return
the favors which he has extended The
return should be made freely and lib
orally without request or mention in
any manner on the publishers part The
Following comments along that line from
the Caldwell Idahoan are directed well
to the point:
The usual courtesies of the press
In connection with public entertain
ments are often overlooked in Ban
don Newspapers are only quasi pub
lie institutions, often quite mater
ial yet always human If compu-
mentary mention, DIETER defined as
advertising in disguise) or subse-
quent comment is desired II might
at least be favored with compliment
airy admission. Furthermore it Is
universally customary"
We clip the above from the Bandon
world, published In our neighboring
state of Oregon. We can hardly agree
with all of 1t. But with part of 1t we
are heartily in accord. The local press
Is not extended the courtesies due it.
Fhere Is no power, i'm any community
greater than the local press And it
Is anxious to boost every worthy cause.
Today there will be great republican
meeting in this city. And with char
acteristic neglect its promoters will fail
to extend to the press an invitation to
be present, and it will also fail to pro-
vide table and chairs for the local re-
porters. 1t is just such little things
as this that glaringly set forth the rude
provincialism of a people. 1t is a fail
Ing of the small town. And, when the
affair Is all over, it's promoters will be
loud in their denunciations of the local
press because 1t has failed to "plays the
story up as its dignity merited ~, The
press should be invited to all public
meetings, and conveniences should be
provided It, Some few years ago when
Caldwell had a splendid opportunity to
get on the map-we refer to the visit
or PRESIDENT Taft-the provincials here
tailed to provide entertainment and con-
veniences for the some 80 great corre-
spondents who represented the press
bureaus and great dailies of our coun-
try. And while the committee took the
president up to the fair. 1t left the cor
respondents kicking around at the de-
POT, and instead of from a half to a
column writeup. Caldwell got line men.
'foh' ana the people of Canyon county
were misjudged because of the crude.
Ducoiic simplicity of its entertainment
committee. The press is entitled to
ri noiA
In respect to complimentary tickets
to local entertainments Such tickets
always create in the press a Friendly
Keeling. and, when furnished in time,
usually bring a complimentary notice.
The complimentary notice given when
complimentary tickets are received is
an exchange of courtesies and should
be so considered But there is objec-
ton to them. Too many people in ex-
tending these courtesies do it grudging-
ly and expect 1t to offset their adyer-
Using account. Others call 1t dead |
heading the press and come to look
upon 1t as sort of charity act. And
this Is its great bad feature The press
Is In no sense an object of charity. 1t
is the communities greatest asset and |
ior the great work 1t does 1t is too |
OFTEN illy-requitted The good work Il |
does is labor of love and self abne- |
CATION and that, too often is its only |
recompense. IL the complimentary is |
really courtesy extended, II fills the |
editorial heart with joy; IL It is not ex- |
tended as a, courtesy. it fills that same |
heart with an altogether different feel |
ing. When an entertainment is given |
IN response TO charitable impulse. |
the press Is glad to do its share in the
way of advertising the event free. but
when II Is given for profit, the press
wants toll on the spoils. justly it's
due. We believe in these few lines we
have set the whole matter clearly be-
fore our readers