The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-06-05
TSE EDITORS JOB

Sioux City Journal-"Most any man
can Re al editor" While that was
written IN jest II Is typical OF much
loose thinking about editors and news
paper making Expressed in another
form. most everybody believes he
could do a better job Of editing the
newspaper than the editor who is &C.
ruElly on the job. That is TO say.
everybody feels free 10 exercise the
widest latitude in criticising the pro.
duct OF the editors labor. the news
paper. Crircising the newspaper is
the fRvorite outdoor and indoor sport
OF just about everybody. The news
paper is criticised for what il does and
Tor what II fails TO do. The newspa-
per is continually stepping on some
ones toes. il is continually dieagree-
ing with someone. and therefore il Is
continually being "cussed" by some
one. One thing which the average
man Tin not tolerate is 20 have pee
PIE disagree with him. The editor
thus finds himself in the situation of
not being able to please anybody.
Listening 10 the way men-and won.
en-, too-roast the newspapers, the ed
itor often wonders if the newspapers
have any friends: he wonders how
they manage to retain subscribers and
live. IL is not often that the editor
hears friendly word for the child of
his effort, the newspaper. If readers
think kindly Of il they are likely to
keep these thoughts in the back of
their minds. II is only when they are
displeased that they become vocal.
Why is il that the editors work is sub
Jected 10 such a running fire of relent-
less criticism? For the same reason
that every other business conducted
in the glare OF the public spotlight is
similarly criticised Everything the
newspaper does is done in the light OF
day Everything the editor and his
STAFF writes is in full view of every
reader. II he makes mistakes or COM
mits errors of judgment, they are all
there with the rest. No concealment
Is possible. The merchant may be
able TO conceal many of his mistakes
and erroneous judgments from the
public view, but not the editor. 1t is
a source of delight to many men to
point out the mistakes of other men.
They pride themselves on the keen
ness Of their minds wrich enables
them TO detect these mistakes. A
good many of the severest critics of
the newspaper are men who have
sought to control the newspaper, to
further their own selfish interests,
and have been denied. Such men are
the editors most savage critics Prob
ably the general run of men would
be surprised IL they could know how
many men, and how many kinds OF
men. are trying all the time to con-
troll the editor and the newspaper, in
order that the newspaper may be used
TO advance their petty desires or am
bitions. The editor is forced to be on
guard against these men constantly.
The newspaper often goes contrary
TO the strong desires of ambitious
men. Take note of the man who is
continually berating the newspapers;
who accuses them OF corruption and
all manner of evil intent. 1t would
be found, III the truth were known,
that he had failed to have his way
with the newspapers. that he could not
control them.. could not use them. II
the newspapers had been submissive
to him, he would not have word OF
complaint to utter about them. The
is a human institution, pro-
ddce6 sy human minds. II humanity
were infallible, the editor would be in
fallible. The newspaper only reflects
the daily life of humanity. As such.
1t gives publicity to the mistakes, the
folly. the sins, OF humanity. as well as
to the goodness OF humanity. AS long
as i. persists In bringing to the public
view the mistakes men. and women
make. whether they be mistakes OF
foolishness or sinfulness, Just so long