The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-16
From, Other Pens


NEWSPAPERS AND THE WAR,
Mr. Frank B. Noyes. president of the
Associated Press, has been exposing q
fallacy which largely affects the public
mind: 1t is that newspapers welcome war
or wars; that the publication of war news
ls source of great profit to them. aud
that they are all immensely happy over
the continuance of the great war In
Europe.
fishers by far-that is of all the fmpor-
tant Or widely circulated newspaper
hold much different if not exactly the op-.
The best exposition OF their views. a.
held by them pretty much all over the
country, has been made by President
head of the Associated Press, but an ex-
perienced publisher and careful observer
who is in close touch with the entire
declares that on no other class of busi-
ness men in this country does the war
impose heavier burden than it does on
the American publishers. 1t Is thus that
he analyses the situation:
The newspapers of large circulation in
this country are almost without excep-
per for these papers costs more than the
wholesale selling price. There Is a loss
on every copy sold and the greater the
excitement. the more extras issued, the
greater the loss
I'm ordinary times this loss is made up
by advertising receipts. 1t is obvious.
advertising in this additional and tenn
porary circulation. The sad reverse of
this is true. In all times of excitement
ual exceptions of course. but they are
sporadic and only prove the rule.
If this measured the extent of the dis
aster to the newspapers that war brings
they would even then be somewhat worse
off than the average business concern, for
with diminished advertising earnings they
would have increased circulation losses.
The tale of woe Of the newspapers has
only begun. however. The usual business
concern when trade is bad whether from
preston may. be. trims its sails for the
storm, curtails the working force, reduces
the output. War means to the newspaper
an immediate and tremendous increase to
its cost of production.
Take the Associated Press, for ex-
ample. This is a cooperative and nom
profit-makng organization Of some goo
tate the exchange of news between its
members and the collection Of original
news for their joint benefit.
I'm times of peace it maintains news
bureaus in all the world centers of news
and the cost of its operations runs an
nually to an enormous sum- The little
furry of the Spanish-American war, how
ever. cost the Associated Press $275,000 In
addition to its normal expenses. = ~
In preparation for the proverbial rainy
war, an emergency fund of 100000 had
been accumulated. Since the latter part
Of July. this has been eaten into at an
must expand its corps OF correspondents at
all news points from London to Toxic,
must multiply its cable expenditures by
five-or by ten if the censors graciously
permit.
AS with the Associated Press, SO with
all individual newspapers, large or small.
The maintaining of editorial and mechan-
zeal forces during unusual hours to pro-
vide for the prompt publication of declar-
tons of war and great battles alone
amounts to a heavy burden.
1T Is when the case of the individual
great newspapers, like those of New York
and Chicago. is considered that the full
nouncement as tc war Ia established, SO
far as the newspapers is concerned
1 These newspapers feel bound in the
performance of their duty to their readers
to DO a large amount Of original news
gathering i'm addition to that done for
newsgathering organizations and the ex-
pense to them is simply staggering.
1T is doubtful whether any of the pub
fishers of the great newspap ers can even
now refrain from either tears or bad lam
guage when he thinks of the orgy of ex-
the Standardization war.
1.-The ordinary profits Of the most PROS
porous vanished into thin air and the less
fortunately placed found themselves
facing enormous deficits.
Narrowing that recollection has
present titanic conflict continues for a
considerable time and the newspapers
keep up their expenditures en- the scale Of
August and September.
TT may well be that all newspaper
owners will be praying for a censor who
will forbid any reference to the war to be