Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-05-14

conditions OF modern journalism IT.
self An essential or success, ia the
case Of the modern newspaper, is o.
large circulation. No paper which is
either secretly or openly subservient
to any interest opposed to the in-
terests Of the people can gain and
hold largo circulation. Open adj
vocacy Of private interests would
mean immediate discredit; secret
advocacy would delay the inevitably
downfall, but 1t would come along
just as surely Tho people have a
keen Insight into this matter and
they cannot be deceived for any great
length or time
A year or two ago. when, in his
opinion, Mr., John y. Rockefeller.
Jr., was being wrongfully criticised
by tho newspapers, he said that no
was In q most unfortunate position,
that he could not get his side OF the
case in the newspapers and that II he
bought a newspaper to present his
side, nobody would read il and mo-
body would believe 1t If they did read
1t. And that is approximately true.
There is q positive as we'll as
negative side OF this phase 81 modern
Journalism. Not only does the
Twentieth Century newspaper re-
frain. for vital reasons. from advo-
eating bad causes, but, for the same
reasons, IL makes a point or lighting
for good causes. II must be active
in behalf OF tho public interest or II
cannot meet the competition IL will
be suro TO face. The formula here
IS the Same: aggressive efforts for
the public welfare makes big circu-
lations: big calculations make pros
porous newspapers. Joseph Pulitzer
was perhaps tho first OF the modern
editors who consciously put this
theory into practice. Charles IT,
Grasty, formerly Of Baltimore and
now Of the New Y ork Times, was one
of the pioneers in that form Of jour-
nalism. Now it is accepted by prac-
tically all up-to-date editors They
lie awake nights in this age trying to
schomc IN some now activities in be-
half OF tho public. for they have
realized that that pays. This, Of
course. is mcioly another way Of
saying that honesty is the best policy
Ia journalism and that'the newspaper
publishers have found it out.
Is the new type Of newspaper as
influential In framing public opinion
as the old? ! think SO. People do
not blindly follow editorial opinion
as they once did. the spread OF edu-
cation and the greater general know
ledge Of public affairs prevent that.
but they are just as responsive to
sound argument as they ever were.
The complete covering OF the news
today results In the people being just
as well informed on public questions
as tho editors themselves; they are
in mass, quite as capable IN criticism
and as discriminating in analysis as
arc the editorial writer's. But the
editorial columns OF the news
papers direct the current OF pub
lie discussion, the news to base
opinions, tho newspaper, In whole.
IS the agent wherethrough pub
lic sentiment Is crystallixed and
made effective. Whatever loss In I'M
nuence may have resulted from tho
Increased habit In the people OF
for themselves Is more than
compensated for by the Par greater
audience which the modern news
talked to hundreds. The modern
editor talks to tens and hundreds OF
thousands Nowadays the influence
OF newspaper depends largely upon
the justice Of the causes which ii adj
vocates Those which fight aggres-
sively and fearlessly for Whatsoever
things are honest. whatsoever things
are pure. whatsoever things are just.
things are OF good re-
nort" have no reason to complain OF
any lack Of influence in their COM