| Show THE ONE TOWN we have heard a great deal in the newspapers during recent years about chain banks banka and chain stores but comparatively little has been said about chain newspaper systems which are becoming more and more in evIde nep an all the time chase S osborne former governor of michigan in an address at the twenty fifth anniversary celebration of national journalists and active newspapermen recently stated that the preta pre Is ia the great ent eat weapon in the world and that he did not believe that too much newspaper power in the hands of a few men was a good thing for the country when we return to the individual ownership of newspapers he continued the weekly and daily journal will again be a real guardian of the peoples rights the protection of the public and the dignity of the press will bo be increased chain ownership ho said encourages cou rages t of belfi selfish bh purposes one where editorial policy might bow to the business office and the other a tendency to enslave large blocs of the press to an individuals purely personal biases and to motives that may be questionable and dangerous the subordination of many newspapers to the desires of a single individual likely made for much ot of me suspicion that attaches to the press today he said too much newspaper power in a few hands is a menace to the country breeds distrust of the press reduces its influence and curtails the honor of being a newspaper man governor osborne has stated the case very succinctly for those who believe in sound old fashioned journalism there is one thing to be said for the weekly and small daily newspapers most of them have up to this time escaped the chain movement they are individually owned owned and reflect the loyal ty and good will of the editor and publisher toward the community in which he lives and in which his newspaper is printed few men work more diligently for the public good and with less leas reward considering the amoun amount t of service rendered than the country editor he is usually in forefront of every movement which has for its purpose the furthering of the best interests of the community if there Is a movement on foot for a new hospital a new playground or any sort of business enterprise which will help the community the local editor Is ia always on hand to contribute his best efforts his time and his newspaper space which is worth money to the good of the cause the me case with the so called chain newspaper owned by outside capital directed by outside interests te with many and varied interests in different communities cannot be th the e same there cannot be the same pride of ownership in the community in which the newspaper is p published published |
