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Editorial
August 10, 1916
The City Itemizer
Water Valley, Yalobusha County, Mississippi
What is this article about?
Editorial from the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch defends newspapers as commercial institutions, arguing that their profit motive ensures fairness, community service, and public trust, while failing papers pose risks.
Merged-components note: Image bbox overlaps with editorial bbox; likely an illustration for the editorial piece.
Clipping
OCR Quality
85%
Good
Full Text
The Newspaper.
Yes, the newspaper is a commercial institution. It is a business proposition conducted for profit. It manufactures a product which it must dispose of at a greater price than it costs to manufacture. If you want to look at it that way, all right. It is correct. But bear in mind also that the finished product is something more than the printed pages. As it appears, it is composed of sheets of paper covered over with printer's ink. But neither the paper nor the ink is the newspaper. These characters which are stamped upon the sheets represent the current events of the day, the editorial comment and the advertising comments. But these items of news and these editorial comments and these advertisements are not the newspaper. The newspaper is something over and above the paper and the ink and the characters which the newsboy sells you. Yes; the newspaper is a commercial institution, and it is well that it is. Its success depends, therefore, upon its merit—upon what it does for the reader or purchaser of it. The prosperous newspaper is the one most able to render the best service to the community. It prospers because people have faith in it. It prospers because it is so conducted that the people do have faith in it.
A newspaper that is not a successful commercial institution is a dangerous proposition. If it is successful it cannot afford to be otherwise than fair and generous in its dealings. It could not run the risk of losing its prestige by selling its editorial opinions, for instance. It could not afford to advocate something for the community in which it is printed that would be injurious to that community if it is making money in the community. Only the paper that "doesn't pay" can afford to take such chances. Only the paper that isn't prospering as a commercial proposition is to be feared in a community. So it is a blessed thing that a newspaper is operated for profit and that its profit comes from its successful operation. That insures that it is going to be operated for the benefit of its readers—a sort of reciprocal arrangement.—Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch.
Yes, the newspaper is a commercial institution. It is a business proposition conducted for profit. It manufactures a product which it must dispose of at a greater price than it costs to manufacture. If you want to look at it that way, all right. It is correct. But bear in mind also that the finished product is something more than the printed pages. As it appears, it is composed of sheets of paper covered over with printer's ink. But neither the paper nor the ink is the newspaper. These characters which are stamped upon the sheets represent the current events of the day, the editorial comment and the advertising comments. But these items of news and these editorial comments and these advertisements are not the newspaper. The newspaper is something over and above the paper and the ink and the characters which the newsboy sells you. Yes; the newspaper is a commercial institution, and it is well that it is. Its success depends, therefore, upon its merit—upon what it does for the reader or purchaser of it. The prosperous newspaper is the one most able to render the best service to the community. It prospers because people have faith in it. It prospers because it is so conducted that the people do have faith in it.
A newspaper that is not a successful commercial institution is a dangerous proposition. If it is successful it cannot afford to be otherwise than fair and generous in its dealings. It could not run the risk of losing its prestige by selling its editorial opinions, for instance. It could not afford to advocate something for the community in which it is printed that would be injurious to that community if it is making money in the community. Only the paper that "doesn't pay" can afford to take such chances. Only the paper that isn't prospering as a commercial proposition is to be feared in a community. So it is a blessed thing that a newspaper is operated for profit and that its profit comes from its successful operation. That insures that it is going to be operated for the benefit of its readers—a sort of reciprocal arrangement.—Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch.
What sub-type of article is it?
Press Freedom
What keywords are associated?
Newspaper Commercialism
Press Integrity
Community Service
Profit Motive
Public Faith
What entities or persons were involved?
Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Defense Of Newspapers As Commercial Institutions
Stance / Tone
Supportive Of Commercial Press Ensuring Fairness And Community Benefit
Key Figures
Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
Key Arguments
Newspaper Is A Commercial Institution Operated For Profit
Success Depends On Merit And Service To Readers
Prosperous Newspapers Build Faith And Provide Best Community Service
Failing Newspapers Are Dangerous And Can Afford Unfair Practices
Profit Motive Ensures Fairness And Benefits To The Community