The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-10-25
THE ETHICS OF JOURNALISM
By REV. JAMES T. COTTER
Gunnison, Colorado.

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though comparatively recent, The
Press is public institution. and must
necessarily have as its primary object
the welfare and good of society. The
invention of the Printing Press in the
18th century was certainly the great
est benefit to mankind in the diffu-
sion of knowledge and truth 1t is
still powerful engine for good when
controlled by proper laws, But un-
restricted by moral principles, this
instrument for good has, and does be-
come, a pernicious source of evil.
This is especially true of the daily
press and cheap magazines which are
brought within such easy reach.
Some one has well said that the
journalist, with the powers behind
him, has more to do for good or evil
than the members of any other pro-
fession, in creating and shaping the
thoughts of the multitude Compared
with him, the teacher, the preacher,
the artist, the politician, the man of
science are restricted, interrupted,
indirect in reaching the minds of
their fellow men.
Sociology has recognized the Press
as widespread and growing profes-
sion, and considers it one of the chief
organs of social control, and endeav-
ors to lay down rules for it's proper
government.
The Press must be regulated Like
every profession an ethical code must
direct its actions. Moral principles
of truth, justice, and charity must be
the basis of its pronouncements, and
the guide of its authors, if it is to
continue in the field of public well
fare, And the press becomes a per-
verted organism when it does not
function for the moral welfare of so
ciety. Certainly as we glance through
the daily press of today, we are
forced to the conclusion that it is
perverted organism, gone away from
the original paths of knowledge and
truth, trampling on the principles of
truth and justice, and leading astray
the minds and hearts of men.
1nasmuch as Journalism is a new
profession moral theologians as yet
have not discussed its duties at any
great length, much as that is to be
desired. 1t is necessary therefore in
establishing an Ethical Code for the
Press, to bring its activities within
the jurisdiction of the fundamental
moral principles of truth and charity,
justice and right.
The cardinal sins of journalism to-
day seems to be venality, dishonesty,
sensationalism, all three leading to
violation of the virtues first men
toned. In the first place, our present
day publisher seeks financial returns
at any cost. To do so he must please
his special patrons, his political
friends and advertisers, even though
Conscience is sacrificed in the trans
action, He is slave to venality
himself, and he enslaves the minds
and deforms the character of his
readers. The Editorials are a reflex
of his affiliations, and the general
reading matter is colored and dis
torted accordingly. In word, the
venal publisher will sacrifice all
moral principles, truth, justice, and
charity particularly, to secure finan-
cial returns So that the reader is
not getting facts, but a distortion of
facts in which he cannot RELY. The
public is thus imposed upon, and
false standards of life are created.
Truth, justice, and charity are vio-
lated. Scandals are paraded at length
70 satisfy and intensity a morbid Gu
riosity and vitiated public taste,
with view to increased circulation
and the consequent financial rewards
such a propaganda of crime tends to
arouse the vilest passions of men.
leads to their downfall, depraves So
c1ety, and sins against the law of
charity,
but the Press will answer that it is
just giving the public what thew rel
Ism. I deny that there is any general
demand to be fed out of intellectual
ana moral cesspools, and if there he
any such' foul press is making them
stiil worse and polluting the atmos-
phere for the innocent. yitiatina
their tastes, and finally contaminat.
ing them with the contagion.
Inc Press must be regarded in the
llght of a public official who enters
into contract with society to carve
them we'll The journalist who serves
for consumption damaged goods and
poisoned draughts, who puts a pre.