FUNCTION OF NEWSPAPERS

Evening Star, Issue 19003, 27 July 1925, Page 9

FUNCTION OF NEWSPAPERS

A LEADING EDITOR TALKS At the centenary celebration of the Halifax Mechanics’ Institute Mr Arthur Mann, editor of the 1 Yorkshire Post,’ addressed a meeting on ‘Newspapers in National Life.’ Mr Maim said; “ The first function of a newspaper was to toil truly the news of the day, to give a faithful record of events published apart from any attempt of propagaudism, leaving that to the leading articles. The newspaper thus enabled men and women to view the happenings of their time in calmness and with deliberation, and, thus guided, to take action accordingly in. whatever sphere their interests or duty lay. It was the duty of the Press not only to give tho news fairly and as fully as possible, but to present the news of the day in proper focus. _ “ The newspaper was not serving the public rightly if it gave undue space to tho ugly tilings of file, and ignored or gavo comparatively little attention to mutters of a more elevating and inspiring character. At tho same time, lie did not believe public interest was served by the suppression of nows simply because it dealt with the unpleasant side of life. Public interest should bo the guiding consideration. “The influence of the Press on the character and happiness of the people for good or evil was, he thought, never greater than at the present time. The leading newspapers were doing their utmost to focus opinion on the problems of (he day; trying to ascertain through special articles, correspondence, and interview the opinion of tho best authorities on schemes for the revival of industry: directing attention to electrical developments which might bring many changes iu our social habits and perhaps give us a purer atmosphere; doing all they could, whatever their politics, to support tho statesmen iu their call to tho nation to pull together in these trying and difficult times.

‘‘Tho progress and development of the human race depended on ideas. The newspaper could ho described as the testinghouse of ideas. Ideas, through the newspapers, went through the crucible of public controversy, ami in time were accepted or rejected. "He asked the public to realise that, just as Journalists had a responsibility to the people, so had the people a responsibility to journalism, to try to discriminate between what was false and what was true: between whajt was fair and what was biased; between what was obviously inspired by a desire to promote the public weal and what was printed for selfish ami sordid gain. They often heard of the influence of the Press upon the public; let them not forget the influence of the public on tho Press. “ Letters to the editor complaining of tins or that newspaper feature wove not thrown into the waste paper basket. They were studied and pondered over. A resolution from the .members of an institute such as that would be like)v to carry much weight if it protested against any undue prominence given to an undesirable class of pews, lie would like to see the public show a greater and healthier interest in tho character ami quality of their newspapers.”