The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-10-16
WHAT is NEWS?

"News, according to the code of ethics of the
Kansas State Editorial association, "is the i'm
partial report of the activities of mind, men, and
matter which do not offend the sensibiIities of
enlightened people"
That definition of news is, we believe, one of
the best yet framed. And we are especially par
tial to the clause: (which do not offend the
sensibilities Of enlightened people"
For a number of years much criticism has been
directed at the press of America because of its
alleged habit of playing up" the sensational, the
sordid, and the suggestive.
W. do not believe the situation in this respect
is as bad as it is painted, but we must admit that
some newspapers do so offend, and that their
reprehensible course tends to blacken the reputa-
tons of their more deserving contemporaries.
To give the matter a local application, it may
be pointed out that there is much constructive,
as well as destructive, news originating in Boze-
man and the Gallatin valley. To play up" the
news which gives pleasure and profit to it's read
ers, and to pass with brief mention such news
as might, if unduly elaborated upon, not only
prove undesirable from the psychological stand
point but Offend the sensibilities of enlightened
people" is the policy of The Courier.
Yes, there were several brawls, one or two
divorce cases, a few arrests for various Offenses
against good morals and the law, and a lumber
of other unfortunate incidents in Gallatin county
within the last two weeks, any one of which
might have been played up" as a good story"
by the recounting of sensational, sordid details.
But what did the remainder of our people do
during the same period? Those cases involved
less than 1 per cent of Gallatin's population. They
concerned persons who, inadvertently or other
wise, wandered into bypaths from the broad high
way along which civilization is over progressing.
Is there anything inspiring, is there anything
good, in holding up their mistakes to the public
gaze?
In a community and in a territory such as
ours, the commonplace is real news. We are not
s~urfeited with a vivid sensationalism, as are folk
who live in great cities; we still possess that
calmness of mind and clarity of vision which
enable us to appreciate the real constructive
things our people do.
So The Courier will continue to feature aging
dOings and events which by many of our metro
pOlitan contemporaries might be classed as toe
common and uninteresting" for more than the
briefest mention. We believe in the inherent
good sense and wholesome tastes of the great bulk
of the American peOple-the many, many mil
lions Of solid, substantial, God-fearing citizens
whose conduct is worthy of praise, whose ideals
are high, and who are the real backbone of the
American commonwealth and of civilization itself
Their activities do not get quite so much pub
Lefty, but they are, nevertheless, virtually al
that count.
In short, The Courier will try to print all the
news, but with proper emphasis upon those things
that benefit and rebound to the credit of tn,
communities we serve. We want to put pleasur,
and profit, not heartaches and questionable in
f%luences, into our news columns to be c~onstruc
tive, not destructive; to 50 handle the news mat
ter available that we can go before the children
of BOzeman and the Gallatin valley with a clea
conscience and clean hands.
And that last is the final and acid test for an,
newspaper.
CARELFSSNECC AT CROSSINGS