Arizona republican., 1916-02-21
Filling Up Corners.

The Fourth Estate" journal devoted to the newspaper business, unfortunately does not come to the attention of the aity otherwise there would be better understanding between newspapers and their readers Though the newspaper is regarded both by the public and the law sem-public institution, though it is visited in the course of day by more people than visit any other private institution and though there is a greater familiarity of the public with newspaper workers than with the attaches of other institutions, the public knows less about the perplexities newspaper people and the complexities of their duties than they do about the troubles of such aloof institutions as banks and railroad offices.
 The chief public msapprehension is that the main problem in the office is to find matter fer the columns of the newspaper. That is and then, a real problem for the advertising department of most newspapers; fact it a rather standing and nsolube problem but it is for the editorial and reportorial departments. The public would derstand this better if it could hear the curses loud but deep" of editors when sorting the must so' stuff and of the make up man. and if it could the volume of "overset" matter, of which is dumped into the 'helI-box the morning, sad economical waste), no further available. It might have been good matter the day before. But stuff that comes into newspaper offices evan-' esoent the rainbow.
 Members of the aity who do not understand these things often wonder why certain matter which they had laborously contributed does appear Its ab- sence is charged up the bad judgment of the editor who, a of fact decided after due and trained consideration and knowledge of his consti tuency that it of great interest large a number of his readers much of the other before him. He could not, therefore sacrifice space matter of interest a single contributor a rep resentative of a considerable group of his read CTS, but which would be of little interest to the great mass of his readers The conscientious editor does not consult even his interest in the matter before him. It may appeal strongly to him but he knows that will have such appeal the large majority of the subscribers
 Now and then in a moment of weakness the editor sacrifice space which, by the way, does belong him. but is the property of several thousand subscribers and of which he is only the custodian, article that friend of his friend of the paper has contributed and which is of interest at all to subscriber in ten This is a species of em- bezzlement misrepresentation only little less glar- ing than the crime of a trusted custodian of funds who abuses his trust accommodate a friend But that is not a common fault in newspaper offices
 The Fourth Estate" cites the following instance:
 "A few evenings the Montreal Herald and Telegraph representative attended a meeting in aid of of the many good for which public sympathy is sought in these days One of the speak much respected doctor of divinity deplored what he thought fact that the newspapers paid little attention to the which he had so much at heart
 Why, he said there is scarcely anything in the papers about the work, and when there is it is only to fill up a corner"
 The Herald and Telegraph, the day was moved to the following admonitiOn to the laity:
 This good man had never been ar editor O a daily newspaper in city like Montreal That is why Q did not know what he talking about.
 fripd o Spt i'm rpbt
 Nobody said word for the newspapers. We didn't expect they would
 Most of those present probably thought that re- ceiving appeals for aid relieved editor If any anxiety as to the danger of going press day without all the corners filled up, and doubtless some of them did feel that it perfectly news papers and their editors terribly selfish if not absolutely wicked institutions
 Articles such this do not often appear in the newspapers
 We are used to popular misconceptions
 We don't like to talk about the power of the press and the great influence we wield in moulding public opinion.
 But we felt that, just this once We owed if to Divinity and to his hearers that are newspapers m Montreal that never to press without a certain amount of what is known free publicity" for one good another
 This matter varies in form Sometimes it is an appeal; sometimes an acknowledgement; sometimes q