A CLERICAL MENTOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21643, 13 May 1932, Page 6

A CLERICAL MENTOR.

In a second contribution to our correspondence columns the Rev. K. D. Andmvs-Baxtcr returns to the subject of the newspapers, what they publish, what they do not publish, and the why and wherefore of it all. He has certain views about the considerations by which a newspaper is guided in respect of what it prints in its news columns. If those views were correct, what then? All that would be left to Mr Andrews-Baxtcr would be to select from the choice available to him the journal which gave him least cause for dissatisfaction. He might perchance discover the perfect daily newspaper—from his point of view—but he might not. As there is little opportunity apparently of seeing Mr Andrews-Baxter’s ideal daily newspaper in the meantime, it is unfortunately impossible for us to measure by it our own shortcomings. But, as it happens, our correspondent’s views respecting newspaper estimates of news values are open to a good deal of correction. He expresses a doubt ■whether all newspapers allot space impartially, even in accordance with

their own opinion of news values. We are not concerned to speak for “ all ” newspapers. But there seems to be a pointed application in his statement, “ Much which you would like to say, and which should be said, is left unsaid because it would not pay from a commercial point of view.” Because Mr Andrews-Baxter thinks it is so he says it is so, but he is still incorrect. Even newspapers may presumably be permitted to have their principles. Our correspondent would not suggest, we suppose, that the dimensions of our report of a recent ecclesiastical event were directly affected by commercial considerations. Conclusions based on transitions from the general to the particular ai’e liable to be very far astray in relation to newspaper practice. When our correspondent asks if the news that is published is not the news that will make the newspaper sell, the answer is of course in the affirmative. The newspapers necessarily seek to publish matter that interests the public. That consideration is never out of their sight. And as regards what is of interest to the public, journalistic experience is much more likely to be a reliable guide than the opinion of persons who lack such experience. A newspaper is a business enterprise, and if it disregarded the. tastes and wishes of its readers it might expect very soon to have to go out of existence. For these obvious reasons, newspapers make their columns as varied and interesting as possible, and, which is a very important matter, allot space with impartiality precisely as their experience guides them. But any suggestion that everything which the newspapers publish is weighed in the commercial balance is palpably ridiculous. Contributors to our coitgspondence columns should themselves be particularly well able to appreciate that fact.