The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-03-20
THE NEWSPAPERS-GOD BLESS EN-

During the past ten years more than 400 books
have been written newspapers. Every day
thousands OF letters on the subject of newspapers
written by readers
1t is wholesome sign of the times that present
day newspaper service the most vital and dominat-
ing agency for communication the world has ever
known, is being closely examined and scrutinized
these days by friends and foes alike
- The newspaper, along with the school and the
pulpit, has helped give us in America the highest
average of intelligence this old world has known
- mo subject discussed among newspaper and
advertising men," in the words of the late Marlen
E. Pew. dean of the publications industry rivals for
interest the amazing development of the communica
tions service in this country. 1t is what we are
dealing with in varied forms, and while most of
comprehend its social, political and economic Value
few realize the extent of the giant web that serves
to make people with common life-patterns
and national ideals In the modern day, thanks to
this system of communications, Americans stan
dardized from border to border and very rapidly
a trace of sectional differences in thought behavior
dress and custom, is vanishing. The agencies of
communication present in every community. The
i triumph Of the system is that it has produced an
age of common understanding. American public
opinion, which gave the daring forefathers plenty
of trouble owing to crazy misunderstanding and wild
sectional differences, in this day is cohesive unified
common and dependable The frightfu schism on
the slave question could not by any stretch of imag
ination, today. Washington the national
capital in early times seriously objected to because
its extreme Eastern location is the center of national
life in this day, thanks to the communications net
work. When tragedy or good fortune occurs among
the people of any county CITY, or state the facts are
known in few hours in every county. city and state
Understanding, appreciation sympathy, fly fast
wings and in every direction. We people"
The personnel required to render this nation
wide service all of the daily newspapers of the
country is in excess of $4,000 full time employees
and if we're to include the carriers, the total is
more than 100000. Part time and unpaid CORES
pondents would add 100000
This service is maintained primarily TO deliver the
minute by minute-day in and day out-spot news
report ito practically every home in every city in
the land having daily newspaper and there
LAST of these ctes-in fact 406 morning newspapers
sell 100000 copies day-1,577 evening newspapers
sell about 25000000 copies day and 500 Sunday
papers sell more than 31,ooOOOo every Sunday.
That the American people grateful and ap
preciatve of this vitality important service is shown
by the fact that they pay than $250,000,000 a
year to have these newspapers delivered to their
homes and by the further fact that during the past
ten years this daily and Sunday circulation has in
creased than 100000 copies per day and more
than 100000 copies per Sunday.
Newspaper service is not perfect-any more than
humanity is perfect-t mirrors each day the passing
scene-mistakes do occur-some editors and publish
selfish intereststhis is all true-but the
miracle is that few mistakes are made considering
the speed with which the service is rendered.
The remedy for newspapers which are false to
their implied trust which regard themselves purely
commercial enterprises with public responsibility
Is as it always has been, process of arition Good