Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-15
"BIC BUSINESS" CONTROL.
or u. S. PRESS REFUTED
French Sociologist's Statement That Adj
vertisers Rule Policy Is Denied
by Leading Publishers.


Economic independence Is essential
to intellectual independence. and that
is what advertising has brought to
American newspapers. Its secret, in
sidious influence, of which laynen
whisper. Is a myth. The revenue 1t
produces, which enables them to stand
on their own feet and look the world
in the face, is fact-because, for the
first time in human history. they owe
nobody. No far-fetched, finely spun
analysis is necessary to understand
based on nothing so distinctly as lack
of unity, and lack of unity means
nothing so distinctly as the utter i'm
possibility of exerting anything like
concerted influence. Even If adver-
Users wanted to influence newspapers,
they could not do so, because they
could not agree among themselves.
The only common interest they have
in newspapers, the only cause that
ever finds them united, is the Image
rate.
"The 100000 which American
newspapers receive from advertising
annually not only enables them to
stand on their own feet and act in
dependently, but to render service
in the collection and distribution Of
news which is unequaled in any coun'
try on Gods green earth"
Millions for independence.
Ralph Pulitzer Publisher and Editor
New York World:
M. Andre Siegfried, In his otherwise
admirable book, Anne: lea Comes OF
Age" makes the charge that our great
financial interests are able to control
the policy of our newspapers through
giving or withholding advertising.
It seems to me that the least ap-
propriate persons in the country TO
refute this charge are the newspaper
proprietors. If We were succumbing
to bribery or blackmail through our
advertising columns, We should be the
last men in the world to admit 1t. j
happen to know that the World In It's
career has deliberately thrown away
many millions of dollars of advertising
by attacking for the public good various
interests which thereafter very nat
urally refused to advertise in hostile
paper. I know that the World VIII
continue to throw away many millions
in such advertising. am sincerely
convinced that with the exception Of
a few blackguardly sheets, which are
very precisely known to the profession
which they dishonor, the press OF the
country does not prostitute itself b.
ders of its advertisers.
But 1t would take more than q sena-
torial investigating committee to prov
this fact So ] am afraid We sha'
have to allow NJ. Siegfrisd to con
tinue believing IN MS dragon.
Inquiry Would Convince"
william o. Taylor. Publisher, Boston
Globe:
M. Sieefried's article attacking great
American newspapers shows enc thing
that he Is not wen acquainted with. the
American newspaper field
A successful newspaper in the United
States must be absolutely free from
control by advertisers or any outside
influence, otherwise it would soon lose
its position in its community.
The successful newspapers in the
United States are almost 100 per cent
privately owned and free from all out
| side influences.
think a little investigation by NJ
| Siegfried would readily prove to him
| that his information was wrong.
Repeats Old SANDER"
Frank Knob. General Manager. Hearst
Newspapers:
The charge made by Andre Siegfried
that newspapers are venal and subject
to the corrupt influence Of big adver-
tisers is. OF course, merely reiteration
of an oft-repeated SANDER In which Ill.
informed people frequently indulge. The
real truth Is that probably never IN the
history of the world were the great
newspapers so utterly free from merce-
nary control as they are today.
have a fairly large acquaintance
with the editors of many OF our great
papers. do not know of single editor
of standing, connected with great
newspaper who would permit for one
instant any advertiser. no matter how
big. to dictate his editorial policy.
Newspapers have become. 1t Is true,
great commercial enterprises. but with
their initial resources they have become
less. instead of more. SubServient to out
side financial influence.
Readers Would Object"
Robert Mclean. Manager, Philadelphia
Evening Bulletin:
can only say that the American
citizen Is discerning reader. and If
the American newspaper editor were
subject to the influence Of high finance
and big business" as M. Siegfried
charges. the editor might Just as well
hang up the shutters and send for the
sheriff, because his readers would melt
away as rapidly as snow In the SUM-
mer sun.
4 lvertisers Spurn Power.
Joseph Pulitzer. Publisher and Editor.
st. Louis Dispatch:
Andre Siegfrted has written a great
book In America Comes Of Age" but
he is wrong in what he has to say about
American newspapers. or course. there
are few crooked newspapers and Of
of course there are some slick or tinaid
publishers who are always on the fence
who color" their news and who never
speak out editorially lest II offend some
OF the so-called big interests among their
advertisers. know such newspapers are
the exception, and a very small excep-
ton at that.
To a newspaper man M. Siegfried's
charges are preposterouS. I refer those
who doubt this statement to the large
advertisers of the country. These adj
vertisers know that they could not in
fuence the American Press II they
would; and that they would not If they
could. Advertisers know that n press
without public confidence soon dies. and
they Will tell NJ. Siegfried that an adver-
Is worthless. not only to the public II
betrays but to the advertisers as well
sincerely hope that NJ. Siegfried viii
give this phase of hts subject more
thought and that In future editions of
his splendid work he viii quality his
altogether too sweeping generalization
as to the venality of the American Press
Sees Little Evidence.
+. lansing Ray. President. ST. Louis
Globe Democrat:
I have not read NJ. Siegfried's book
as vet, although have II at homo and
anticipate doing so shortly. I have heard
1t quite highly praised. and imagine that
as whole his Interpretations OF Arneri-
can conditions are quite interesting.
l think that your answer 10 him on