Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-08-13
EDITORS AND ADVERTISING
Newspaper to be Of Value Must Keep
Possession of it's Soul.

Newspaper to be Of Value Must Keep
Possession Of it's Soul.
The life Of a newspaper editor who
tries to form his views conscientious
ly, and who expresses them without
fear or favor, is not bed Of roses at
best: because he is as often misunder-
stood as he is maligned, no matter
how earnest he may be in trying to
serve the public's best interests as he
sees them.
But when such an editor is harass-
ed and annoyed by people who-for the
moment-happen to hold contrary
views, by threats of withdrawal of
patronage" unless he changes his
policy" the burden Of his position,
If he has a fair amount Of self-re-
spect, becomes almost unbearable.
Not that such threats" can, in any
way intimidate an editor who is con-
scientious in his work. and who has a
proper appreciation Of the relative
positions of the business office and ed
itorial room in the publication Of a
newspaper, but they, certainly render
his task more disagreeable-and un-
necessarily so.
After nearly thirty years spent In
the newspaper business-with twenty
years Of that time devoted to editorial
work-we were never more convinced
that whenever a newspaper permits
an advertiser or a subscriber to die
tate its policy, through threats of
withdrawal Of patronage, 1t no longer
needs an editor, but merely an expert
sail-shifter. And, as for ourselves,
we have never aspired to the latter
job.
We throw out these brief observa-
tions, as mildly as we know how, for
the benefit Of those Individuals
some Of whom exist hereabouts-wh
seem to be resting under the delusion
that an advertising contract carries
with it the right to control more than
designated amount Of space in the
paper: and that FOR purely business
purposes only. But we stand ready to
put the matter in more concrete form
whenever we are forced to do so.
In this connection, we may be par
doned for reproducing herewith a few
editorial observations Of our own,
which appeared in these columns on
May "a, last. and which are no less
true. nor less applicable, now than
then:
We have always felt that the public
should value-even though it does not
always do so-a newspaper that Is will
ling to stand criticism. abuse, loss Of
patronage, II need be, in order to seek
and speak the truth; always in the
public's best interest, rather than Its
own-whether so understood, at times,
or not-more than it should value the
kind Of newspaper that merely seeks
to please"
Such q newspaper might go wrong
occasionally-for even an honest news
paper is not nfallible-though it is not
nearly so apt to go wrong as one that
is forever changing its sails to catch
every passing breeZe-but 1t has, al
ways, seemed to us that the public
might better afford to forgive the mis-
takes Of such a newspaper rather
than applaud the other kind for hap
pening, every now and then, to land
on the popular side"
For, be 1t known. the public is,
sometimes wrong itself and when
newspapers highest motive Is merely
to follow public sentiment" wherever
it may lead. it can neither be right,
nor helpful nor sincere at all times.
The other kind of newspaper can be
wrong at times-but it will only be
helpful and sincere. always.
Questions of public duty are not to
be considered in terms Of personal
policy or individual benefit The pri-
vate citizen, or business man, may
think what he pleases: and speak out,
or keep silent. about 1t as he chooses,
or as his business interests dictate.
But it is the business Of a newspaper
to serve the public; to try to think
out what is the best public policy
and then to speak out.
For whatever material independence
a newspaper may gain by sacrificing
principles to policy. look how much
real independence, Of higher and
better sort, it loses by the swap. In
this, and other respects as we'll. We
fear we shall always be poor trader"
and we know our good friend, and all
other good friends. had rather put up
with us poor than pliable.-Augusta
Chronicle,