Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-12-31
TO PRINT OR NOT TO PRINT?
By L. G.. Hall, Wareham, Mass,
Membea Executive Committee N f. A

Every country editor is sooner or later confronted
with the problem Of ito print, not to print. Parcu-
ary is this true of country editors because they know
the details OF everything that happens and clearly
have in mind the personalities involved in every item of
1t is this close contact with the community that
makes the problem hard for the country editor. He
often must stop and weigh the pros and before de-
termnng his course Of action He has to view the mat
ter from all angles. His readers want the news good
news about themselves and bad about others. But
ne must decide whether all is good for them to
HAVEN other words whether the publication it will
do good harm, help the community njure it. The
readers OF country and small town papers get the
almost quickly the newspaper does The details
pass from to Those who know all about case
are the most interested readers and the most critical
Often those who have been most active in circulating
some choice bit of scandal the bterest in condemn
ing the newspaper that publishes it. Being his
readers meeting them daily, and knowing their rela
tionships and their circumstances the editor of COM
munity newspaper has knotty problems to solve
because print that which is true but be-
cause he knows the effect it will have many cases
the harm it do The question be decided by
code of ethics though such codes are helpful in general
The decision must be personal generally decided may
be considered most helpful to the community How diff
ficult this to accomplish knows better than an
editor There great deal of hypocrisy the part of
most papers whose slogan Cali the that's fit to
print In almost every daily newspaper office there
secret list of which never under any crcum-
stances to be mentioned in any derogatory This
list consist of big advertisers of persons financially
Interested in the paper of personal friends of the
publisher editor.
The writer makes it practice to consider each item
OF news offered for publication according to the invd-
ual circumstances involved If it's publication tends to
humilate mental suffering to any person or
class of persons it is blue penciled This may seem
tmd and coorless to publishers who pride them
elves their fearessness and independence But it is
nothing OF the kind. It's just common sense. When no
good is to be accomplished newspaper has mo
right to lnJure the feelings of person in the
munIty than has the scandal mOnger who goes about
spreading gloom about the community The right of a
newspaper to into the personal affairs of ndvid
ua may be properly questioned The only time when it
Justified is when crime has been committed and
even then the criminal has rights which should be
respected There is certain type of American journal
ism which is deporabe We all know papers of that kind
which inject tnge of sensationaism into all it's writ
ings and which aims to excite the interest Of the reader
by playing up particular features which pander to the
love for scandal No thought is evidently given the
suffering that may be caused to the innocent long as
papers sold and circulation maintained But such
papers are mostly city dailes and seldom are found
among the country weekies The country paper bears
too Intimate relation to its readers to admit of such
course None of the foregoing remarks should taken
to that the paper should not stand it's guns when
there is principle involved that it should hesitate
to call public attention to the spots the commun
ty when there chance of healing them through arous
ing public sentiment against them. The newspaper
be an instrument for good for evil according to the
way is used by those who responsible for it's
tents Mostly the country newspaper publishers have
keen sense of their responsibility to the people they
serve and be depended upon not to abuse the priv
ege they have by being able to make public matters
which they cannot legally be blamed, but for which
they can be morally censured The successful news
papers those which have the respect their readers
Such respect cannot be gained unless discrimination
is wisely used in determining what print and what not
to print. No outside censorship is needed