South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-31
Publicity Vampires
Who Draw Big Pay
To Work The Press


Thanks 20 the war we have with
us more than ever the press agent.
A press agent may be defined as "a
newspaper man who has left mis-
profession in order 20 make more
money writing stuff that makes life
miserable for his former associates
in the news room.
Press agents sprang Vp during
the war along with the new. million
aires. and now their tribe is in
creasing faster than that of the lat
ter. Newspapers were found TO be
such easy suckers that "A new press
agent is made every minute to use
UP valuable white paper and fitch
valuable space from unsuspecting
publishers
1t must be great TO be a press
agent. Instead of having 10 grab
a bunch Of copy paper anad ad-
venture into he city in search OF
news, the press agent sits behind a
Typewriter in a comfortable office
hnd turns out copy from bulletins
4 and reports furnished him by the
third assistant secretary to the
fourth vice president of the com
pany he works for or takes notes
from the secretary of the commit
tee he represents. Nice job, Ell
There ar diverse kinds Of press
agents. but the gents may be rough
" divided into two Classes-thOse
who work for a corporation and
those who are employed by some
movement" Nearly all tire COM
panies trust companies and railroad
corporations employ men 10 prepare
copy explaining the growth. de-
velopment and policies of their vari-
Gus corporations This copy is moth
ing less than advertising and fills
the editors waste baskets.
The second class of press agents
represent some movement which
aims at the upbuilding Of something
or other or securing the independ-
ence OF Some little nation, or obtain
ing special privileges for the so
Ciety for the Prevention Of Some
thing or Other
Copy prepared by these press
agents is-if not advertising-pur
and simple propaganda. and the
publisher who cares more about Sc
curing concessions for the Hotten-
tots lowering the duty on rubber
heels TO Armenia. or helping the
dcmopublican party To success so
that all the politicians can get more
pie, is not a business man. to say
the least.
IL is 10 their credit, however. that
few publishers are fooled into Civ
ing up space 20 the press agent who
IS boosting some petty little game
There is growing suspicion in
many newspaper Offices. though
that the press agent has a big part
in creating the white paper short
age. The realms of paper that ne
Erinds into copy on his trusty mill
would print entire editions OF many
newspapers The average editor re-
CARDS printing the press agents
stuff much as he would if q shoe
dealer were 10 take n pair of shoes
from his shelf and present them 10
a stakeholder i'm an oil company.
Press agents. like other fads. may
die of some day. Not. however. un-
M ireland gets home rule the Good
stone Rubber Co. corners the tire
market and home is provided for
rheumatic ukelele PLAYERS.
But until then we will probably
have with us the press agent. and
viii have TO tolerate him with every
incoming mail The only Consola-
tiou editors have is that the reverse
side OF the press agents copy makes
excellent scratch paper i'm these
days of II. G. L.
But what does the press hound
care He draws salary that
makes that Of the eagIe-cyed editor
who scOruS TO use his COPY look
like q 30-Cent bcefsteak. smokes
50-ceut cigars. and when his daily
grind OF two hours or Whereabouts is
done rolls home in his Rolls Pack