The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-01-09
big CITY PAPER
CRITICIZED BY
REV. RICHARDS
But Credits Paper With
Ethical Advancement
In Century

While crediting the metropoli-
tan newspapers of the country.
with an advance in ethical stand
ards and in their presentation OF
news, Rev. Friedrich B. Richards
pointed out Sunday evening cer-
tain paths along which, he de-
clared, the newspapers OF the
present day could seek still
. greater Improvement. By freeing
themselves from the control OF
heavy advertisers, and corpora
tions and by the omission from
their columns of the salacious de-
tails of crime, divorce scandal, and
sensual escapades, Rev. r. B.
Richards, pastor OF the North
Congregational church, asserted
the metropolitan newspapers
could advance their standards
still farther.
He dealt briefly with the sub
jcct, "Newspapers and the
Truth" in a joint service, parti-
cipatcd in by the members of
both the North and South Con-
Conversational churches of st.
Johnsbuly at the Please-U
theatre. He reviewed supel'fiel-
ally the inaccuracies and short
comings, which he attributed TO
the great city papers.
The metropolitan newspaper
is the wonder of the modern
world, he said, in opening his
currents events talk. With the
most up-to-date presses, far-funG
news gathering services and re-
portorial staffs embracing hun
dreds of persons, with forests IF
pulp-wood to furnish the news
print, and with highly moderniz-
ed mechanical processes, the big
city newspaper of today is in
class by itself.
Rev. Mr.. Richards said that
the Sunday edition Of some metro
politan newspapers consumes ten
acres of pulp wood. 1t would be
better sometimes, he added, were
the ten acres left standing.
No great event happens any
where, unless the telegraph wires
become hot with the forthcoming
news reports. The great news
gathering agencies do not hesitate
to charter steamship. During
the war, aeroplanes were called
? upon to do their part in obtain
ing pictures and reports Of the
manocuvrcs of the enemy, that
the readers in another continent
might know what was transpir-
ing.
He reviewed the development Of
ethical standards during the past
century. Editors a 100 years ago
attacked viciouSly editors of op-
posing creeds and political be-
licfs. Now, such things are left
unsaid or, better. they are couch
cd in more courteous and respect
full terms.
Present day inaccuracies in the
news columns are due to the
haste which accompanies the
makeup of d daily paper. The
news must be gathered, verified
and printed, Rev. Mr. Richards
said, within two hours. Little
time is left for sufficient verifi-
cation. In the large cities, he as
\ serted. young reporters are not
properly trained to discriminate
between what should be printed
ard what should not be printed.
He explained that reporters of
snorts and politics are usually
well versed in their subjects. but
those writers assigned to church
ubiects. are often woefullv ig-
uorant of the matter to be printed.
"Are you not tired of reading
of the eScapades of the Still
mou's?" Rev. Mr.. Richards asked.
"Thev are thrust right before our
cvcs". So lone as the public de
wands such stuff the rapers will
sn'-nly it. It is the business of
pnhGc oninion 70 array itself
galu~J the publication vi SUCH -
(Conunueu On page t"Uy