Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-06-04
Does the Country
Press PussyfOOt?

(The American Press BulleLln)
Students of journalism usually in
clude in their criticism of the country
press the fact that often the weekly
newspaper has little individuality,
that it straddles most issues and that
those issues of Importance 1t falls 10
straddle it avoids treating entirely.
There is a measure OF truth IN the
criticism, but it is difficult to see just
what the publishers can do to change
the condition. The practical fact is
that the publisher must live, and II
requires no argument to prove thaC II
the country newspaper were conduct
ed along lines which often spell sue
cess for the metropolitan daily the
country editor would soon be without
an income. This is particularly true
where there are two papers in town.
Let one paper show it's vigor and in
dependence and the other pussyfoot
to please everyone in sight and the
pussyfooter will soon have all the
business.
Peculiar as it may seem, publication
of matter with a sting in 1t has very
different effect in the home town
newspaper than it has when it is pub
lished in the city newspaper. The
contact between the home newspaper
and it's readers is closer than is found
in the cities. The country editor must
be very careful of what he says in
print. What he says of pleasant ma
ture may pass without much comment,
but when he diScloses a skeleton in
the closet or holds anyone up to pub
lie criticism the fact is long remem-
bered. Usually in a small town such
publication is regarded as personal
affront no matter how much the pub
lished matter may be justified IN TACT.
The proud boast that 1--WE print all
the news is all very well for the city
daily, even if it be only boast, but
the country weekly that prints all the
news will soon find itself in hot wa
ter.
The printing of the news is one of
the greatest problems of the country
editor. Appeals for the suppression
of legitimate news are frequent and
insistent The young man who has
taken his fathers car on Joy ride
with one of the village bellies only to
find himself arrested for speeding or
possible violation of the prohibition
law does not mind the incident so
much provided the news can be kept
out of the home town paper. II 1t is
not kept out then often the editor has
an enemy for life. Also such enmity
usually extends to the parents OF both
parties, to their friends and to the
numbers of other persons who feel
the editor need not have gone out
of his way to cause more trouble than
was necessary" The fact that the
editor is in the business of printing
news is not taken into consideration.
In the same manner the treatment
of the village officials must be Inquired
gingerly Criticism bust be of the
mildest character if engaged in at all.
The successful weekly paper as rule
prints a colorless report of the village
meeting and allows the people to form
their own judgment. In the news
favorable tinge must be given to al
most everything that is done. If taxes
are high then the reason must be sat
isfactorily explained; if improvements
are not made then proper excuse
must be provided. The situation is
not so bad for the publisher where
there is only one paper in town, but
where there are two-Watch your
step.
Added to this comes pressure on
the publisher from his local mer-
chants. The merchants feel they are
the heart and soul of the town and
that nothing must be done that might
injure their interest, no matter what
they do against the public interest.
If they are notorious price robbers
the publisher must remain silent. If
they are criticised, or there be pub
lished news they don't like. out comes
their advertising. They swing the adj
vertising hammer without conscience.
This system of blackmail-for it is
nothing else-extends also to the job
work of the publisher, so watch
your step" is not such a bad slogan.
Of course there are country news
papers so firmly entrenched that they
do manage to hold some independ-
ence, but there are not as many as
there might be with public advan-
tage.