The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-10-14
THE FUNCTION OF THE PRESS

THE FUNCTION OF THE PRESS
Like most other institutions. the press is now
beng subjected TO critical examination extend
ing to lis foundation and ultimate purpose Men
inqurng why it exists. what is its true Office,
the common veal or the will of selfish interests
whether it is doing its duty, whether is serving
TIC common veal or the will of selfish interests
Some OF these TOPICS in one form or another, are
discussed at every gathering of representatives of
the press, or of pubcists interested in the problems
Ct the press.
Without answering them categoricalIy, it may
be said that the modern newspaper is carrying
load Of responsibility not equaled by any other
ence, active or passive. whether it is conscious of
that influence or not The poorest little gutter
snipe, which is devoid Of principles and cares
nothing for a single one of the problems of civil
zalion. nevertheless, cxerts tremendous force
upon its readers. Unconsciously they take their
color from it. If it is cynical or careless or ig-
norant regarding big questions, they become so
too 1t is moral anaeslhec, though it mis- ht be
The last of all to discover that fact
To succeed either in village or a metropolis,
a newspaper must lead. 1t must stand for ideas.
Ii must have policy. 1t must have before it an
ideal of some sort. 1t need not preach nor moral
ize. But there sermons and moral lessons in
every event that is recorded, and in its treatment
of the news puts the sermon or moral lesson
before the public. 1t can not tell the story without
doing So
1t the press, as a whole, is not so potent force
for progress as it should be, the reason is that
it is human institution, subject to all the frates
of humanity, and with multitude of temptations
to which other professions are exempt. Three
sets of interests continually tugging at it. One
is the public, which simpl wants, is supposed to
want. the truth. Another is the public man, Of
Ger, leader interest, who wants the press to pre-
sent the facts in light favorable in his cause The
third is the advertiser who desires that the medium
of his publicity should create an atmosphere fav-
orable TO his business
The lapses ct the press, of which every critic
has numerous examples, are all traceable to this
triple force operating in opposite directions. To
expect that any human being can constantly sit
in judgment and pronounce just and unbiased
verdict every question in the face of these con-
hicting interests, is to expect more from an editor
than from judge. minister or a law-maker
But admitting that the Fourth Estate is not ey-
empt from error, the fact stands out that its record,
as whole is amazingly clean. 1t has been the
greatest of all modern forces in the curbng of op-
preston, the destruction of injustice, the emanc-
patton of the people and the protection of society
The press can stand all the inspection which the
public or any other agency, cares to bestow upon
it; and the nght-minded newspaper man is always
pleased at every evidence of a genuine desire to
improve the tone and quality of the newspaper
Where the Stork Stops" may be an appro-
pirate newspaper heading in some papers. but in
Lakeland the ancient and honorable bird doesn't
Stop; he keeps right on the job.
We doubt that the lengthening of womens
skirts will come any the sooner for all the cutting
remarks hat have been made
The cool mornings have put more work on
the alarm clocks.