NEWS VALUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21649, 20 May 1932, Page 5

NEWS VALUE

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — In answer to your second article entitled “A Clerical Mentor,” the why and wherefore of newspaper publication can be known only to the editor concerned. I should like to suggest, however, that the reports of ecclesiastical events should not be too brief. If this is a Christian country there must be a large proportion of the people who are interested in things ecclesiastical. The leading daily papers in England are showing much more interest in the religious side of life. A civilisation without religion soon becomes a civilisation that is not civilised. Religion, then, is the most important thing of our civilised life, and, therefore, should be given far greater attention by our daily papers. If we are contented to believe that life begins and ends,with this world then we need not worry about religion, but if we believe, as the large majority does, that we are undying people—citizens of another world —then religion must play'a big part in our lives. Being undying people the one thing which matters is character —shall we call it aristocracy of character?—and character can only be artistocratic if it is great in its morality, and it can only be great in its morality if it is great in its spirituality—in other words, if we believe in a life beyond the grave we must prepare our characters for it (death will not change a sinner into a saint) by living a spiritual and moral life. We cannot live that life without spiritual help. _ This, then, seems to argue that ecclesiastical religious news is good news value.—l am. etc., K. D. Andrews-Baxter. Invercargill, May 18.