West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-03-02
The Small Town Newspaper
(Robt. $. Mann Professor OF Journal.
ism. University OF Mlssouril

,ate the principles OF some political
division. It's character is that OF a
man. and man in his home town
must be a Democrat or Republican
or n Bull Mooser II he active I'm
Affairs; and every newspaper must be
active in affairs. A small town news
paper must also be independent. plac-
ing right before party and with cour-
age to stand for the right regardless OF
political affiliations or patronage.
A small-town newspaper Is human :
II has n soul. Being human. Il is sure
to favor those who favor Il. Thcoreti-
cally. a paper should be absolutely
without fear or favor in publishing the
news OF the community Practically.
II cannot be. never hesitate to pub-
ish an item about non-patron II the
publication OF that item will accom-
plish some good purpose The publi-
cation then becomes duty. II TO
publish the item means only that YOU
are carrying out an arbitrary news
rule the chance is that the rule ought
20 be broken.
a newspaper should favor neither
subscribers nor advertisers regarding
publication of news. Current happen
ings should be printed unless there Is
strong chance that the publication
OF the facts would do more community
damage than good
n newspaper should never be inde-
pendent I'm politics unless the editor is
independent In politics. II the editor
has no political convictions. his paper
should have no convictions; IL the edi-
tor has political convictions. his pa-
per should have political convictions
In other words, the editorial policy OF
the paper should be dictated by the
conscience OF the editor, and should
honestly reflect his belief and convic-
tions. The fact of the paper being
printed in "A small town does not
change the absolute necessity for the
editor to be fair and honest with his
subscribers.
a newspaper should be Independent.
do not mean that 1t should not be al
lied with political party; rather, that
1t should have fixed political princi-
pies. / do not think any newspaper
should bind Itself to "A political party.
regardless OF whether the party ia
right or wrong paper that did that
would be no better than the heeIers of
ward boss.
a newspaper has no right to sup
press news because the interest of n
subscriber or an advertiser might be
jeoparded. On the other hand. IL has
no right TO make sewer of itself. II
ought not needlessly make the bur
den of any person heavier. or add un-
necessarily TO the sum OF human woe.
AS / see 1t, only the interests of the
public ought to be considered in judg-
ing news-if the public ought to know
It, print It; If no useful purpose can be
served, suppress II. Who ought not
to be a determining factor.
Now let me add this A newspaper
ought to be honest I'm a business wav.
with Itself and with every customer
1t ought TO have fixed rates for ad-
vertising and stick to them. Il ought
to have a definite policy as to the char
acter of advertising that goes into it's
pages. and It ought not to deviate
from its policy. It's advertising rates
ought to be sufficient to make the
newspaper profitable. The newspaper
that Is prosperous can be independent
the newspaper that is not prosperous
must be servile. independence. intel
ligence, character and good business
management are necessary II a news
paper Is to be vehicle OF service.
And II service is not the impeIling
thought behind a newspaper. then the
newspaper has no excuse for existence
and the man who engages in newspa-
per work ought to be doing something
else.
UNlIIfNfnI
questions al all. II can hardly avoid
political affiliations. n an editor be-
lieyes IN Republican doctrines in the
main and breaches his beliefs. his
newspaper Is inevitably classed az Re
publican. II he Is a Democrat or
Progressive or Soclalistic in his be-
liefs HIS paper reflects his Views. and
Is classed accordingly. If by inde-
Dendence is meant a paper which dis
cusses political questions and vet is
without political affiliations. 7 think Il
has rarely, if ever existed and would
not be worth much II Il did exist.
] believe IN tho newspaper which has
views on political questions and is not
afraid TO express them one that is not
hide bound either in its partisan zeal
or in It's erratic efforts 70 be lndepond
ent The best newspapers are those
which give the news, political or 9th
erwise. fully and fairly without bias.
and which discuss public questions I'm
their editorial columns from the hon
est viewpoint Of the editor or owner
Such papers cannot well avoid being
allied with some political party. Tn
smaller towns where there is but one
paper. the non-partisan publication
which avoids the discussion OF parti-
san political questions IS frequently
desirable.
a newspaper should give the news