Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1901 — What is News? [ARTICLE]

What is News?

The late Charles A, Dana was once asked: "What is news?” The reply: [“Anything the people will read,” was •characteristic of the man. What the venerable editor of the [New York Sun said years ago is quite as true to-day as then. The definition was not meant to be ,taken literally, but for all that, a column might have been written on the subject and little more of value added. ! As a matter of fact this is the general rule that governs the newspaper [world to-day. It is, of course, true jthat all newspapers do not print all that might come under this head, but It is true nevertheless that every item of any possible interest to anybody is sure to get into type somewhere. The newspaper to-day gets up news In the way its readers demand It. If they are more interested in the latest sensational murder than in a Wall street panic, the panic must give way Jn order that the blood-curdling details may be played up to the limit.— Fourth Estate.