Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-02

L the foot of Niagara Falls broke unexpect-
edly while a number of sightseers were cross
ing it, All but three of them had miraculous
escapes. Those three man, his wife and
STRIPPING were caught. They perished, after
great endeavors on the shore at their rescue,
but especially after heroic efforts on the part
of the two men to rescue the woman. Next
morning their story was printed in every
newspaper in the land One of the usual
press dispatches, that was all. And yet
Maupassant himself could not have bettered
the art with which it was told. He could
not have bettered 1t because there was the
absence of all art in the story The re-
porter who wrote it, confronted by such
circumstance felt too small to project him
self into 1t, and 1t ran from his pen just as
it happened. BY all the standards it was
one of the most perfect stories ever writ
ten. People read it in the morning paper,
and by night, very likely, it was forgotten.
1t is altogether unlikely that many readers
of the story bothered to ask themselves who
it was did that remarkable piece of writing.
There, in epitome, Is the whole business,
art-and fate-of the newspaper. In no
other purchase that man makes does he
obtain such preposterous value he gets
in his daily paper for penny. When times
may curtail his stock, the manufacturer may
close his plant. A newspaper must come
forth every day to hold its circulation.
Often it must spend the most money when
it is making the least. They tell a story
of an English newspaper owner whose man
ager one day warned him that they were
losing money.
"Hm!" was the reply THAT means we
are not spending enough"
Daylight as Policeman
Nothing looks easier and more fascinating
than to run newspaper Nothing is easier
than to crittcise a newspaper certainly.
Every citizen IN this country entertains the
private opinion that If called upon he could
better any paper of his acquaintance No
with trucking, double le-dealng and subserv-
ience to favorite or dominating interests
especially advertising interests. And yet
the newspaper is the one business in which
these practices are next to impossible. EN-
erson once said, Daylight is the best police
man." Daylight plays upon every word in a
newspaper. 1t cannot favor any clique; 1t
cannot promote single evil interest, but |
the fact is instantly advertised and the
paper at once becomes nothing but a print
ed circular. Two journals in two large cities |
of the East owe their recent decline to just
that circumstance The public spotted them |
at once.
And every editor OF a newspaper knows |
that the pursuit of the truth is dificult |
enough in itself. In the first place. there is |
no possible definition of what constitutes
news. No two editors, no two readers agree
upon it. In this very issue of this very
paper there may be an item or article which
strikes one man favorably.
That's why l buy this paper!" he ex-
claims 1T always gets after the news.
Here's proof OF what I mean" And he
points to the item under his eye. But his
next door neighbor may take the same item
to say' why do they print such stun as
that2 want news in my paper!'
What Is News?
That is why every successful newspaper
Is generally the expression of one man, Its
guide and maker He Is successful because
his guess as TO what is news and as to how
The news shall be presented strikes nearest
10 the average public notion OF what Is news.
He draws plentiful assistance from his
readers, OF course. Few persons know the
pressure OF criticism under which an editor
works. He ID plagued by people who want
% utilize this engine OF publicity In their
'wn interest. He Is plagued BY people, i'm
poFtaht people malicious people, whose
earnest aim Is 70 avoid publicity Faddists
lnd cFanks are eternally after him ana al
ways in critical or appealing mood. Few
'eople take the trouble OF praisIng a paper
o its editor. They become vocal only yghan
rritated. or stirred with passion for re-
orm.
Why do you not vigorously push this
much needed reformf one q them WIN de-
nand.
why do you not dsnounee this nagrant
bass2 demands another
Hoth men foFset lhat newspaper. 70 exist
{ al ana ae ehat good Is cen. mesl exist