The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-06-07
THURSDAY, JUNE Z, 1917
SHOP TALK

|
day some mad because The Robson
ian had made small charge for pub
fishing a card of thanks. He had
been taking the paper for quite some
spell and he did not approve at all of !
the paper charging him for letting
folks know how much he appreciated
their kindness during a certain try
ing ordeal. If a man is not willing
himself to pay small charge for
having published card of thanks,
why should he expect the publisher
of his paper to pay for it The Rob
esonian charges a very modest rate
for publishing obituaries, resolutions
of respect, cards Of thanks and such
like notices, not as a matter of reve-
nue. but as matter of protection;
but for such a charge the paper would
find itself embarrassed often because
Of lack of space to publish such no
tices and the regular amount of news
It has to carry. Such notices are
all right and proper, but they are not
of special interest except to those i'm
mediately concerned, and fair-mind-
ed people as a rule recognize the JUS
tice of such a charge and pay it will
ingly. AS a matter of fact, most
newspapers give far more value for
the subscription price they charge
than man can get for his money
placed anywhere else, and in addi-
ton to that newspapers give more
free service than any other institu-
ton. Perhaps it is the fault of the
newspaper publishers themselves that
So many people have the idea that
any and every service should be per-
formed by newspaper without
charge, but unless newspapers make
a legitimate charge for their ser
vices they cannot give the very ser
vice subscribers demand. Little as
some people seem to think so, it
costs real money to publish news
paper like The Robesonian, and it
has only two ways of getting that
money: selling the printed paper it.
self and selling it's advertising space.
Giving away advertising space is
just the same as giving away mon
ey, and the man who made the COM
plant the other day-and such COM
plains are mighty rare these days
would not come to the publisher and
ask him to give him half dollar in
money. That same man would not
expect a bank to lend him monea
without interest just because he hao
been doing business with that bank
He recognizes the fact that a bank
or makes his money by lending mon
ey. Still a bank is generally consid
eled more of money-making insti
tuticn than a newspaper land better
able at pinch to lend money with
out interest than a newspaper is tx
give away space. And if a newspa
pei is to live and give its subscrib
ers the sort of service they deman,
and must have, it must be conductes
along business lines, just as much s.
as bank or any other business in
stitution.
We are not complaining. Most PEG
pie recognize the fact that it cost
money to run newspaper and tina
publisher must run his bushes
along business lines, but once in
while a person hobs up who does nc
seem to understand; hence these fe7
words of explanation.
The Robesonian is always glad t
serve its patrons in every possibl
way; it aims to give every subscril
er and every advertiser full value fe
his or her money; it does not try
see how little it can give for what
gets, but how much it ca
give; it does not want
cent that it does not honestly ear
Which facts it would be well for ar
TO consider who may be disposed l
censure the paper for trying to pr
feet ITSELF