The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-01-13
SPACE GRATING

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fruitful topic just now. Publisher
complain that they are overrun wit
requests from multitude of source
for publicity through their columns
for which the promoters do not war
or expect to pay. Often, in fact ger
orally, the objects sought are worthy
though sometimes tinged with selfish
ness. So far as they can and no
unduly burden themselves or thei
readers, publishers respond to sue
requests. But it is clear that the,
cannot give anything like the pub
Lefty desired to these matters, whicl
every day or week would fill their col
umns to overlooking, to the disap
pointment of readers, who pay for thu
news and not for puffs given enter
prises. Nor can the publisher exteno
his pages to accommodate this kind OF
copy without heavy expense tina. he
cannot bear and should not. A news
paper is primarily business enter
prise-a fact that is not always under
stood. 1t cannot be conducted wholly
for the promotion Of worthy purposes
without regard to its duty as bread
winner for its proprietor and others
dependent on it.
Somewhat amusing, at times, is the
attitude Of individuals in this matter.
If public affair is gotten up, The sue
cess of which demands publicity, there
is no complaint of proper charges for
job printing in connection herewith,
such as handbills and posters; nor for
the expense of their distribution by
hand or mail; nor for music, hall and
other expenses attendant. But when
it comes to the newspaper it is ex-
pected, for some reason, that the pub
Usher will boom the thing from the
right up through to .he end
purely on account of the conviction
not always shared by the publisher to
the extent that it is by the promoters
that great benefit will flow to the
public or the community through the
of the enterprise. 1t is
forgotten or at least discounted, that
every line of type or space in the
has a marketable value to
he publisher just as much as the
sugar in the grocer's barrel has to
he grocer; that he cannot use it more
han once, and that there are only so
many lines available. The idea that
IN editor is always hard pressed for
opy and welcomes contributions"
rom any source and Of any nature
alculated to "fll up" does not repre-
ent conditions as they exist. Rather
he struggle is constantly to find room
or what has to go. News Of the
ewsy kind is always desired because
hat is what readers want, pay for and
xpect to get, and it is the duty Of the
to provide it without refer
nee to the desires of space grafters.
We believe the chief blame for the
valanche of graft copy that pours in
, newspaper Offices rests on the pub
shers themselves. If they had long
20 adopted business rules in respect
it the abuse would have been ended
e now. But they are easily tolerant
it, occasionally yield TO .he plead
gs and Establishments poured upon
lem, and have no set principles with
gard to it. Nor is there any uni
rmity among them. One publisher
very free with his space-perhaps
he is situated he can afford TO be- !
lille others canno. and consequently I
e not. What one charges for an !
her gives without charge, though
.rhaps making it up by charging for '
her things that the first one gives {
ee. 1t is very common to have some a
her paper quoted against one when
publisher undertakes TO realize Z
lall amount for the use Of space UNI h
r circumstances that clearly warrant g
m. So long as this condition pre-
lis it will be difficult 10 discourage
tempts a. grating, though no pub !.
her who believes his charge fair will /,
thdraw it because he is told some y
aer publisher inserts such things u
e. But this condition tends 10 the n
1tinuance Of efforts 20 work the =
y publisher. 1t is human nature i,
/ TO take kindly 10 the idea Of pay w
!, for anything that it can get with a