, 1923-08-12
Harding's Newspaper Creed

When Warren Harding became a presidential
candidate in 1920, stories concerning MIN hau d
high news value. Marion, at the time was a camp
inc ground for the newspaper writers OF the coun-
try. They overran the front porch, played on the
lawn, were at home in the Harding living rooms
and in fact behaved just like newspaper men gen.
orally do when they are out to cover an assignment
that involves nationwide interest. The puollc
knew Warren Harding only superficially ana II
was the business of the writer's to make MN known
intimately, therefore no feature OF ms poyhoou'
youth and manhood was overlooked. The Marion
Star office was a great hunting ground LOT II was
here that the presidential candidate mad spent n
rreat share of his life and matters of human in
terest could be turned up in almost every corner
of the entire establishment. -
One inouisitive investigator p~rowling about the
sonctm discovered. pasted to the wall, a set of
rules embracing Mr.. Harding's code of ethics in
conducting the newspaper business. These rules
had been in force for many years and guided the
Marion Star through all the struggles to prosperity
and n prestige second to no small town daily in
Ohio.
The code follows:
4Remember, there are two sides to every question.
Get both.
DBe truthful.
get the facts. Mistakes are inevitable, but strive
for accuracy. / would rather have one story ex-
actIy right than a hundred half wrong.
"Be decent. Be fair. Be generous.
"Boost-don't knock. There's good IN everybody.
Bring out the good in everybody, and never need
lessly hurt the feelings of anybody.
"in reporting a political gathering, get the facts;
tell tnc sloTy as II Is; hoN . yNN "N"N AN -
"Treat all parties alike. If there's any politics
to be played, we will play 1t in our editorial col
umns.
"Treat all religious matter reverently.
"If it can possibly be avoided never bring igno-
miny TO an innocent woman or child IN teillng OF
the misdeeds or misfortune of a relative. Don't
wait to be asked, but do it without the asking.
"And. above all, be clean. Never let a dirty word
or suggestive story get into type.
81 want this paper so conducted that 1t can go
into any homo without DESTROYING the innocence OF
any child"
Mr.. Harding's newspaper creed was given a wide
publicity in the presidential campaign and fell
under the approving eye of millions of newspaper
readers. 1t could scarcely escape a new season of
publicity in recent days when the history OF his
life was woven into the sorrowful story OF ms
death and burial.
1t is not that the creed is new or that it is un-
known to readers that it is again reproduced here.
1t is because it its splendid doctrine, for all pub
fishers and writer's to embrace. Every self respect
ing newspaper writer will follow the Harding rules
almost mconsciously. They are so eminently right
SO fair and considerate. SO well calculated to serve
in any and all communities. So designed to estab-
lish respect and goodwill between publisher and
public. a corner stone and foundation for an en-
during superstructure.
If all publishers observed more religiously the
Harding code the newspaper profession would be
on n higher plane and it would be a happier coun'
try.
To sacrifice truth and fact for speed is one of
the greatest and most common offenses in the pub
fishing business. 1t gets nothing really. A pub
llSner may ueem IL an advantageous advertising
point but it isn't. His speed and carelessness of
fact, in nine out of every ten cases, have given to
the public an untrue story. One of no value. The
public quickly learns and while as a general thing
it is impatient for details it is willing TO wait a
brief time for what it knows it can rely upon.
II is far better to lose a good news item, or pub
lsh it the following issue. than it is TO print the
item without yerification, do an injustice or violate
the truth.
In our own experience We have very generally
followed the Harding creed, and in future will fol
low it more closely. because it is good.
As between speed and truth il is the application
of the old fable of the hare and the tortoise. Truth
is enduring and may be depended upon to win all
races in which 1t contests with speed.