The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-07-30
RtJsINEss CONTROL OF NEWSPAPER
EDITORIAL POLICIES ..s

Editor and Publisher makes a contribu-
ton to discussion of the public utilities fight
now going on in Congress, and while the
editorial is intended primarily for consle-
Grafton of newspaper men, it involves
that is of vast Importance to the
general public and to all readers of news
papers. Editor and Publisher says:
A considerable section of the reading public
probably believes that the advertising done by
the Associated Gas & Electric system, attacking
the administration at Washington and urging
citizens to wire their representatives in congress
to vote against the Wheeler Rayburn bill and
thus save the widow and orphan investors IN
holding companies represented brazen bribery
of the press. The discovery that an agent OF the
company had the Western Union transmit 1,3OO
kilograms of protest from Warren, Pa, signed
by names taken from a telephone directory, GER
tainly is an Indication Of the inipudent lengths
to which the holding company lobby was willing
to go to influence public opinion.
Our information is that something hike quar-
ter of a million dollars was spent in advertising
Can it be called bribe? To so regard it, the
Senate investigating committee must show that
the advertising influenced the action of editors
in reference to the Wheeler-Rayburn act. There
are, without question, newspapers in this country
that are not above such practices, but they are
few in number and their influence would be
negligible in any political contest. Display ad-
vertising which opposed the holding company
BILL properly signed by an interested advertiser,
would be considered legitimate in most offices,
and would appear without the knowledge or the
concern of the average editor. We do not doubt
that many newspapers published the advertise
nlents in question, and also favored the Wheeler
Rayburn bill in their editorial columns. Others
may have published the advertising while sim
the advertising would affect news on the subject
jot or title, in any newspaper. If the business
was given as a bride, to influence the press it
represents Just another stupid corporation blum
der
The principle involved in the foregoing
is business office control influence or con-
troll of newspaper editorial policies-in
other words, shall advertisers influence or
control newspaper editorial policies?
Speaking for itself the Times-News be-
heves comparatively few of the country
newspapers are influenced in their edi-
torial policies by commercial considera-
lions. Cases where concessions are made
to business patrons that involve suppress
sion of well defined newspaper policies arc
we believe, very few in number.
As matter of fact, only very stupid
advertiser would undertake to buy news
paper support in the placing of his account
A newspaper which could be influenced OF
controlled in this way could not possibly be
a first class advertising medium. It would
lack public interest and confidence to such
an extent that its value as an advertising
medium would be greatly impaired, Ger
tainly if it's lack of integrity was generally
known to the public.
There are two fundamental policies Of
newspapers which, more than anything
else, make them mediocre or outstanding
newspapers. These are the policies which
control the news and editorial columns
Probably a majority of newspaper read
ers' interest centers in the news columns
but good citizens are always interested il
the character of their newspapers; ant
character is, first of all, founded on tn,
principles which controls the policies o.
newspapers. Newspapers of good charae
ter, so to speak, are not only the best ariC
most satisfactory to readers of news, bI
they are the most satisfactory and produc
tive ADVERTISING mediurnS
Advertisers, public utilities or other,