The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-03-09
"Please Don't Publish"

ANSIy oIIeC III q Wullc SOIIeJllllS
happens IN Palatka concerning when
the newspaper editor is approached
with the request, PLEASE don't pub
llsh." This has oeen one of those
"once in awhile weeks. That these
occasions come to other editors is evil
dent from the following editorial on
the subject in Wednesdays Tampa
Tribune:
Every newspaper is familiar with
the request please don't publish any
thing ABOUT it." Sometimes it is maze
IN the form Of a demand and accom-
panied by threats Of dire results ii
acqulescence does not follow.
There are a few things the public
ought to keep in mind in the matter
OF newspapers relation to the print
ing of news.
''ln the first place, u. newspaper
owes an obligation to its whole circle
OF readers to print fair compre-
hensive report of the days happen
lngs. 1t cannot overlook this respon-
slbllity merely to please individuals.
That policy involves an injustice to the
many and favoritism to the few. Who
shall be favored?
Much of the news that is printed
unfortunately occasions annoyance
and often heartache to somebody.
That is an unavoidable incident of the
newspaper business. Is there justi-
tication for shielding from such con-
sequences the man or woman who has
influence, socially or in business, while
the many who lack it must be treated
without such consideration?
persons who wish to escape public
ity should be careful not to make news,
or should count the cost of advertise
ment to the world as part of the price
they must pay for what they have de-
termined upon doing. \
There are certain easily-defined
zones of publicity. The individual
who steps into any of these may count
upon getting his name in the newspa-
pers. One is the courts, civil and
criminal. The man who goes to law
invites advertisement. Yet many men
and sometimes women appeal to a
newspaper to suppress reports of le-
gal proceedings in order that they
may be saved annoyance. The time to
consider immunity is before resort to
law.
"Departure from the conventionali-
ties of life is another means of enter
ing the publicity zone. Conduct that
is off the beaten trail affords news.
Those who defy social observances or
tread upon established institutions
must not expect to escape print, and
should not ask to be saved from such
notoriety.
Further, much injustice may be
done by the suppression of news. The
tongue of gossip, uniformed of the
real facts, can do a hundred times
more injury to the innocent than those
actually involved. Often a newspa-
per is :hilding the reputation of a
score from the scandal of suspicion
when it is telling the truth about one
who has incurred the liability to cen
sure.
"a newspaper, with a sense of re-
sponsibility, will exercise a certain dis
elimination. There may be times and
circumstances that justify suppress
sion. Some happenings may in the
reporting of them serve no proper end
OF two things the responsible news
paper will be jealously careful-the
good name of woman and the repu-
tation of financial institution.
"Both are of that delicacy to be east
ly hurt. The good name of woman
is a treasure beyond price, and cloud
cast upon the reputation of bank or
trust company may cause loss to
thousands who are dependent upon its
solvency.
"But this lesson the public should
learn: The way to avoid publicity is
to avoid derarture from the beaten
track; and let this be added to it--if
YOU have divorced into the danger
zone the wav to obtain considerate
treatmnet is to assume that Won are q
subject for news, and to take the
newspapers into your confidence
frankly and fully
Such confidence is rarely abused,
and assuredlv never by any newspa-
per that makes profession of decency
or has regard for ethics.