The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-06-09
GOING OFF HALF Cooked

There is a very noticeable and alto
ge;her dep:or@ble tendency on the
part Of many newspapers TO sacri
fee accuracy and mature judgment
in their editorial comment for the
sake of making this comment time
~" In order to be the first in the
field with an editorial expression on
any happening OF importance not a
few papers rush into print with edito
rails which are not only based upon
mature deliberation-as all editorial
comment should be-but are predicat
ed upon either incomplete or entirely
erroneous impressions as to what are
the actual facts, says tho esteemed
Macon News.
This tendency is strikingly illus
trated in the case Of editorial ex.
Drcssions Of many newspapers con.
corning the recent naval battle in the
North Sen. without waiting for full
details many papers rushed into print
with editorial comments. Many point.
Cd out that England's long-yaunted
supremacy Of the sea had been proven
only another English Illusion; others
spoke Of the staggering blow that had
been dealt the worlds greatest sea
fleet; while still others seemed to see
visions of the entire British navy
scuttling 70 cover Of British coast de-
Tense guns while Germany usurpod
Britain's long unchallenged mastery
Of the figh seas.
In view of the fact that Gcrmany's
victory has dwindlod until now it has
become no victory Mt all such com
ment shows up for Just what it is.
the vcriest drivcl. Because Of their
haste to be the FIRST In the field with
an expression Of some sort, these pa.
pcrs are made TO look foolish. Because
they were not willing to base an
opinion, they find themselves dlscred-
tied In the eyes of the public.
That such course is both unwise
aud unfair to the clientele of any pa
per goes without saying. Particular
~ since the beginning Of the European
war, newspaper readers have come
to learn that many seemingly we'll au-
thenticated reports later prove to be
false. They have come to understand
too that this is no fault of the paper
which prints these reports, as the pa
per must take them as they come.
expression however, is an
entirely different matter. Here the
paper is supposed to express its own
opinions based upon a com
prehensive survey of all obtainable
data opinions growing out of mature
thought and deliberation after all tho
facts arc in. And for this reason in.
ncuracies which are overlooked as
matter of course In the news columns
OF paper produce In the mind of the
average reader skepticism as to the
papers reliability when they appear
on tho editorial page.
And when all Is done and said. re-
gardless of how loudly or how often
the public may assert it's conviction
as TO the falliblllty of the press. there
can be no question but that when the
readers of Il paper come to look upon
that paper as unreliable, irreparahle
damage has been done damage from
which both the press and the public
generally suffers. Accustomed there
fore, as the average American editor
is to feeling that being first" covers
y multitude of aims. there IL no room
To doubt bal that both the press and
the public will he gamers when all
newspapers reach that point where
safety rather than speed is the con
sideration of paramount Importance in
controlling editorial expressions.