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Show Absentism In The Schools "The influence of the individual indivi-dual newspaper," declares Se-vellon Se-vellon Brown, of the Providence, Rhode Island, Journal and Bulletin, Bulle-tin, "is not to be measured by circulation but by the intellectual intellec-tual capacity of the editors, correspondents cor-respondents and reporters of the individual newspaper." The speaker was talking to newspapermen who were conscious con-scious of the great improvement in American newspapers, but also al-so alert to the need of steady self-improvement. Erwin D. Canaham, editor of The Christian Science Monitor, and W. S. Gilmore, editor of The Detroit News, likewise warned that American newspapers must deepen their areas of penetration penetra-tion and responsibility if they are to meet increasing criticisms of the press in today's world. We call attention to the statement state-ment of these newspaper men for the purpose of making a few observations about The Ro osevelt Standard, We are quite conscious of the . shortcomings that exist and more acutely aware of the difficulties, financial finan-cial and otherwise, that confront con-front the publishers of a newspaper news-paper in areas similar to that which we strive to serve. Considering all the difficul- ties involved in the production of a newspaper in Roosevelt, we do not feel that any apology is necessary for The Roosevelt Standard. This does not mean, however, that we are not very much aware of the possibility of improvement. In fact, just as fast as financial support is available, avail-able, it is our purpose to enlarge the contents of The Roosevelt Standard in an effort to make it more useful than ever to its readers and advertisers. It is necessary, of course, to realize that a newspaper, like a church, a school, or a government, govern-ment, can rarely exceed the intelligent in-telligent demands of its readers and advertisers. While it might be asserted, from a theoretical standpoint, that newspapers should dig more deeply into subjects sub-jects now given hasty or superficial super-ficial treatment, the fact is that a newspaper, like a business corporation, must deliver the goods that the readers desire and, in so doing, attract a following follow-ing which makes it profitable for business houses to advertise in its columns. Unlike many business enterprises, enter-prises, the vast majority of the newspapers in the United States, observe, in the fullest degree, a sense of responsibility to the public. There are very few businesses busi-nesses in the nation which attempt, at-tempt, while depending upon public goodwill for support and success, to publish news and express ex-press opinions which, at times, offend individuals or organizations. organiza-tions. So far as we know, no person connected with The Roosevelt Standard is completely satisfied with it or what it gives to its readers. The idea in mind and the ideal behind it is to publish the best newspaper possible under un-der the circumstances and to make progress toward a better newspaper just as fast as financial finan-cial conditipns permit. These, unfortunately, depend upon others and are without the control con-trol of those who make the newspaper. news-paper. Let no one believe that The Roosevelt Standard finds fault with the people it attempts to serve. Certainly, we make grateful grate-ful acknowledgement of the many kind acts of assistance that come to us regularly and we deeply appreciate the good-j will that has been evident. |
