The Stunt Press

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 30, 25 July 1923, Page 10

The Stunt Press

Formerly newspapers were con-* ducted by editors who had a fairly well-balanced judgment and some independence of mind, and were filled with a sense oi responsibility. They j did not try to influence people by in- ' sidiously mixing with news the views [ for which they were working. Now, | however, newspapers have come unI der the control of proprietors who are in the business to make profits. We have a tired population who read mainly to be entertained, and want excitement. It is that which accounts for newspaper "stunts." You must not suppose that the -people in J newspaper offices are engaged will- ! ingly in misleading the public. They are simply doing it 'because thej know It is. what the old man wants. We carried on the .'most'successful war propaganda of any country. We lied extremely well. When I think of the "children's hands cut off" lie and of /the corpse factory lie, T am rather ashamed of the ingenuity which produced that kind of propaganda. This lying did not end with the war. It is going on still. There are newspapers that substitute for comradeship sus- [ prcion and vindictive "revenge, Avho replace the doctrine of love .by the devil's gospel of hatred. They are debasing the moral standard, not only !'of this country,-hut of the world. — I Hamilton Fyfe.