Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/395

 THE PRESS AND PUBLIC OPINION jSl

the other hand, it need not, and ought not, to distort life and represent it worse than it is. The beautiful, healthy, heroic, noble, and good should be given a prominence commensurate with that in which we find them in real life.

It is right and socially advantageous that the members of every liberal profession should magnify their ofifice in society. Ideals cannot be too high, provided the effort is to approach and realize them. The legal and medical and teaching profes- sions dwell with legitimate pride upon the social utility and value of their respective services to humanity. But it will be universally conceded that the most exalted, fascinating, engross- ing, and responsible profession is that of journalism when prac- ticed in accordance with the right principles. When it is degraded into a trade, the effects are morally disastrous, and this degradation all men of light of leading, all ethical teachers, all respected and distinguished guides of the public should strive to resist. There ought to be more cooperation between these elements and the press. The worthy editors should receive more encouragement and appreciation, and the unworthy should be made to feel the scorn and indignation of the influential citizens. Editors ought to be watched and held to a strict accountability. They ought to hear from their constituency whenever they are guilty of a lapse, injustice, or blunder. "Flops," self-stultifications, and violations of fairness and decency would be far less frequent if editors knew that hundreds of denunciatory letters would pour into their offices. The fear of exposure, ridicule, and anger on the part of scores of intelli- gent readers would act as a deterrent. When self-contradiction, sophistry, lying, and misrepresentation are safe, because unchal- lenged, the editors who lack logic or conviction, or both, resort to those weapons without hesitation. They would seriously consider contemplated sins of commission or omission if a vigilant and sharp-sighted constituency were certain promptly to call them to task. Public bodies should not hesitate to adopt resolutions of censure when a newspaper has been guilty of a flagrant wrong. Even the humblest reader should be quick to resent in a " letter to the editor" any meanness or offense which outrages his moral