Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-28

MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
The assembling of the newspaper fraternity of Vermont
in Burlington for outing on Lake Champan suggests
numerous "reminiscences well as optimistic thoughts of the
the newspaper future The past quarter
century has witnessed transformation Journalism as well
as in other direction This annual outing of the
bers of the Vermont Press association itself affords excel
Time when the annual Vermont Press excursion par
took of the nature of conference seminar and outing
early journalism in Vermont in the address delivered by
Hon. E. Walton of Montpelier before the Vermont Publish
script this address the Of the Vermont His
torcal society, and it also summarized in Gmans Bbog-
Later these excursions took something of the
nature of political junket and complimentary combination
vded free transportation and in addition sent representa-
tive along to that all the sufficiently fabricated
Joined in the procession pilgrimage
One such trip was Plymouth Mass and the beaches
IN that vicinity Another included Portland Old Orchard
BEACH and SO on still another had Block Island its OBJ
ecve Those gay and festive occasions and had their
advantages. And still of the members of the press
finally protested against having their annual outing turned
from every day life and not merely continuation of the
@ % process in somewhat differ
Uncle Sam and the State Legislatures stepped in
and said the free abuse must STOP and when
ing manner various other changes the better followed
an me mGwpaper men and began to have
servedly. p''''''' "'''-
The public well the publisher and the editor have
PrUnea from the more or less peaceful revolution that has
taken place IN connection with Journalism All classes
now realizing than before that the interests of the
press and the public are really Take transportation
When the federal authorities undertook to operate the
railways and ran number of trains off the schedule entirely
IL peame ancient history and both newspaper and
suffered accordingly When hard times come they pinch
Other illustrations will readily occur to the reader '0'0"S
one mat ne the FL res of the public and the
yet is none the less true Some people notion that
e newspaper throws any into its columns hep fill
what to throw away from the tremendous amount of matter
constantly pressing for publication.
Moreover the public has little conception the efforts
made by reputable newspapers to In the
hrs place reputable afford to print
printed dscredits all the neghborng items and INJURIES
he OF the journal for truth and veracy beyond
ne aD OF mere money to repair In the place the
reporter Tor newspaper experiences difficulties and
over ON Tremendous obstacles at times in trying
rnor to newspaper refuse help sbstantiate and in
item that will scred negbor and yet those will be- t h
very e individuals to complain that newspaper gets
We are all realizing to-day that publicity is the most pow
er1u factor IN public life By this not mean the mere
news or even newspaper publicity exclusively or editorial in
fuence We that you and we and every other person
are unconscousy influenced by the that publicity NAV be
given to our acts The decrease in proteerng at
inns particular time because of the publicity given the
ana course OF action of the proteers the courts is the
latest ana most significant instance of the wholesome effect
OF publicity Responsibility for publicity itself as power
Tor good thus becomes tremendous.
nave often sad that if newspaper printed what the
readers OF sensational matter than they under existing
conotons OF newspaper publicity Personal gossip is always
Inc most absorbing kind of especially if favored or
gny seasoned with scandal The things which the report
ers uncover but verify or the printing of which Woud
not be conducive to public welfare innunerabe Yet as
RUE tn public gives the newspaper little credit for the ex-
veal. " ~ ~ 'N NN'iio"
Inc newspaper is remarkable evolution in various
respect other than mechanical Our list of first newspapers
shows the publishers had conception of the power of pb
Guy as factor IN government and and the well being
OF tnG community in general They thought principally of
aii4i L reading merely while to-day many will
US tha ne would rather fine the over than
nave his name get into the paper connection with public
misdemeanor. ~ " r0
~ lake as an illustration publication recent as the
Teel Mountain Repository for the year 1892 printed in
burlington by Edward Smith and edited by Zadock Thompson
the author OF "Ihompsons Vermont" and other writings
"A pound volume OF this publication, which lived lust one
year. lies before The number this monthly for January
contains the prospectus of the PUBLICATION itself sketch of the
epeoon from Canada description of the strange Boon
Opas Tree found in Java number of poems description
a winter evening in Iceland article Result of Steam
Noaches making the startling statement that The
started the first steam carriage the greatest benefactor
10 the cause OF humanity the world had on
1t would be mistake to that the power of public