The Profession of Journalism

The Profession of Journalism - A Collection of Articles on Newspaper Editing and Publishing, Taken From the Atlantic Monthly

The food of opinion, as President Wilson has well said, is the news of the day. The daily newspaper, for the majority of Americans, is the sole purveyor of this food for thought. Citizens of a democracy must read and assimilate the days news in order to form opinions on current events and issues. Again, for the average citizen the newspaper is almost the only medium for the interpretation and discussion of questions of the day. The composite of individual opinions, which we call public opinion, must express itself in action to be effective. The newspaper, with its daily reiteration, is the most powerful force in urging citizens to act in accordance with their convictions. By reflecting the best sentiment of the community in which it is published, the newspaper makes articulate intelligent public opinion that might otherwise remain unexpressed. Since the success of democracy depends not only upon intelligent public opinion but upon political action in accordance with such opinion, it is not too much to say that the future of democratic government in this country depends upon the character of its newspapers. Yet most newspaper readers not unnaturally regard the daily paper as an ephemeral thing to be read hurriedly and cast aside. Few appreciate the extent to which their opinions are affected by the newspaper they read. Nevertheless, to every newspaper readerwhich means almost every person in this countrythe conditions under which newspapers are produced and the influences that affect the xcharacter of news and editorials, should be matters of vital concern. To newspaper workers and students of journalism the analysis of the fundamental questions of their profession is of especial importance. Discussion of current practices must precede all effort to arrive at definite standards for the profession of journalism. Only when the newspaper man realizes the probable effect of his work on the ideas and ideals of thousands of readers, and hence on the character of our democracy, does he appreciate the full significance of his news story, headline, or editorial. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 61982
Author: Bleyer, Willard Grosvenor
Release Date: Apr 30, 2020
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Bleyer, Willard Grosvenor, 1873-1935