The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-03-27
WHAT THE NEWSPAPER is

The following is a thesis written by
Miss Laura Wood, a member of the
class in journalism at State College,
and shows that the course taught by
Prof. Starring is bearing fruit. 1t is
the aim of the professor to bring into
the minds of his pupils a true appre-
citation Of the country newspaper and
lead them TO use it in the building up
OF their business, homes and lives.
No attempt is made TO teach journal
ism as a profession, but rather as an
accomplishment which will round out
the balance of ones education:
The Town And The Newspaper
A middle-west congressman was
once heard TO remark that not one
single u%tterance in any paper in the
United States failed TO make some
impression on the members or con-
gress in Washington. Does this mean
then that the country newspaper has
some part in the solution of national
questions? II certainly does, for the
politician knows that the editor, whose
interest lies wholly within the bounds
OF the county, will not only express
some very rational ideas, but will also
give an authentic of the con-
ditions in that papers community.
For the people OF the country. the
editor Is the spokesman of the out
side world. He prints everything that
will interest and benefit the people.
In politics the broad, unbiased atti-
tude Of the average editor makes his
paper the greatest influence in legis-
lation in the county. In social affairs
there is a personal touch in every line
which means that the editor reaches |
the hearts OF his readers and makes
his paper an indispensable asset in
their homes. He expresses sympathy
when it is needed, he gives helpful
publicity to all honorable causes, and
justly criticizes the unworthy. In
short. he does more to assist the town
in advancement than any other man
in the community.
What then would the community do
without a paper? How would ideas
and local news items be exchanged?
Only by word of mouth, under which
condition no report could be relied
upon. How would the Advertising be
done? Resort would have to be made
to billboards alone, a method that is
not only unsightly but unsuccessful
In gaining maximum publicity as we'll.
Farmer Brown might have a sale and
no more thar a dozen attend. Why?
Because there was no method of let
ting the farmers of the community
know about it. Advertising makes for
a healthy business. and healthy bust
ness makes for strong town and coun-
try life. Which place is the farmer
living midway between two little
country towns going to patronize?
Will 1t be the live, thriving town
where the people cooperate to build
up a business and where a newspaper
is printed and sent out to bring in
more citizens and more trade, or will
1t be the dead little Mail Order com.
munity without advertising, without
a newspaper? The former, of course.
And what of proposed local i'm
provements and reformed? What
healthy means Of discussing them
would there be in the absence of a
newspaper? By word of mouth only.
and consequently the proposition
would lack the enthusiasm that a
good, authentic article in the local pa
per might afford, Events Of interest
and importance to the community
might come and go without the sup
port Of loyal citizens who had not been
informed Of their appearance. People
would be blind to the activities OF
Red Cross work and of all wal activi-
ties. Every phase Of community life
would be affected and a keen appreci
of the intrinsic value Of the
would be developed. h