Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1925-10-28
The Newspaper and
Public Opinion

The greatest human factor i
the world is public opinion
is courted by statesmen and pol
ticians and feared by the vicious
Many a potential criminal stick
to the straight and narrow pat
because he fears the opinion O
others. Men and women ofte
give of themselves and their sub
stance for no other reason thai
that of the personal popularit,
which may follow the accomp
lishment Of something worth
while.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., with
unlimited wealth and high so
cial position chose the newspaper
field as his profession. With un
limited opportunity before him he
became a publisher. His reason
for choosing this field of endeavol
was recently given by him in the
following interview;
Il had long been impressed with
the thought that the newspaper
publisher exerted great influence
for good in the community, and it
seemed to me that newspaper pub
fishing afforded the broadcast OPP
portunity for public service of
high order.
"The placing of practically IN
limited powers in the hands CT the
people, through the constantly in
creasing tendency toward repre-
sentative government throughout
the world, has increased the pow
er of public opinion to a hitherto
unknown force.
This power, which the growth
of democracy has served to glori-
fly, | believe is affected more by
the press than any other influ-
ence. Representative government
has served to dignity the institu-
ton of the press and has increased
the public responsibility of the
publisher.
"To me the newspaper is a sort
of public utility, a public servant
charged with the task of informing
the people, fully and frankly, on
all subjects of general interest in
order that the mass sentiment of
the people may be enlightened and
most conducive to the public well
fare.
THAT is the great hope of de-
mocracy-a virile and informed
public opinion. This majority SEN
timent is an should be the supreme
dictator under a democratic form
OF government, with due respect
for the rights of minorities, of
course
"To this end the newspaper is
perhaps the greatest contributing
factor, and for that reason | think
there no higher service that can
be performed than conscientious
ly to publish a newspaper, free
from personal bias and selfish in
terest 1t was for that reason
mainly that I decided to devote
my energies to this public serv-
ice"
The newspaper, large or small
is either one of the greatest We
hicles for good in the community
or it s the most useless adjunct
and Mr.. Vanderbilt has discover
ed the only basis on which tc
build-that of service to the pub
lie it seeks to serve, free from
personal bias and selfish inter
ests. Once the newspaper be
comes a mere tool in the hands o
it's publisher, it loses whateve
prestige it may have had and it
value to the community is nil.
1t IS a public utility which mus
serve its community, whethe
profitable or not. The bushes
side must forever remain entire
ly separate from the news AM
editorial departments. Othe
businesses may adopt policie
which will increase profits. Tn
newspaper cannot. A news stor.
may ALLEVIATE its best customer
An editorial may be the mean
of a heavy loss in circulation, bu
that cannot be helped. Probably
in the long run it profits by be
ing honest with its readers, bu
even that must be secondary If
the thoughts of the publisher il
he is to serve his community cao
fulfill his mission in life.
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