Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-10-26
A Newspapers Creed.

A newspaper has character, like an
individual. Indeed, a newspaper usu-
ally reflects the aims, the ambitions,
purposes, etc.,-all of which go to
make up it's character,-of those who
operate it. And to keep the name Of
newspaper above reproach is the
chief ambition of every right think
ing editor. Those who are entrusted
with the operation Of newspaper
property are guardians of its charac-
ter, of its good name, during their
incumbency. Therefore editors are
weighted down with responsibility,
some taking it less seriously than
others.
When many thousands of people
have for generations been reading
their favorite newspaper they come
to look upon it as something almost
sacred in their lives. They might talk
about it flippantly at times and say
unkind things about it, but at heart
they love it. A newspaper that con-
tinues to serve many thousands of
people daily throughout the decades
and quarters of a century on down
to century and over must have a
character that commands respect.
And if you were to ask the average
man or woman what he or she likes
most about theil, favorite newspaper
their answers would be interesting.
Certain newspapers stand for certain
things, but the principal things which
newspapers, according to our idea,
should stand for, are: integrity in
news, integrity in advertising, a sense
of fairness that will cause you to re-
spect the other fellows views, and to
be sure never to permit the use of
your newspaper to blacken the char
acter of any man or woman. This,
coupled with the sincere desire to do
something for the community that is
constructive, something that will
bring people together instead of tear
them apart makes up splendid
creed for a newspaper. These are,
very frankly, among our aims for
The Chronicle.
We have read many newspaper
creeds in our time, but we read one
the other day in the Tampa Times
which can not be surpassed. Indeed,
it is so like the ambitions we have
for our paper that we shall reproduce
it and with the permission of that
splendid Florida daily incorporate it
into our creed. 1t is as follows and
every word in it rings true:
"In our determination to make
The Times a great and good news
paper, let us be animated by spirit
of charity toward the weakness and
shortcomings of our fellowmen so
long as their actions are more inju-
rious to themselves than to the pub
lie welfare;
Printing nothing that will injure
or reflect upon the reputation of any
man or woman without thorough and
painstaking investigation of the facts,
remembering that it is better to miss
a good story than to run the risk of
damaging the name and reputation
of an innocent person;
"Abhorring the gossip monger and
the, purveyor of neighborhood scan
dal;
Handling sex crime and revolving
details of all kinds so as to offend
good taste as little as we may, in
the knowledge that many of our read
ers are pure-minded girls and women,
and that an Intentional appeal to the
salacious is indecent journalism;
Refusing to create sensations out
of trivialties, or allow motives of any
kind to inspire overplaying of the
news;
"Vowing solemnly to ourselves
that ours shall be an honest and truth
full newspaper in which shall be
printed nothing but well established
facts, emphasizing constantly that
guessing is unpardonable. and the
printing of irresponsible rumors a
journalistic crime;
''In all of which meriting, as in
dividuals, the respect of our asso-
ciates and the public by fairness to
our enemies, cleanness in our pur-
poses and answering honesty every
minute of every hour.
GAS the character of an individual
is built by thoughts and actions, so is