The unfortunate occurrence in Charlottesville several weeks ago brought a score of out-of-town news reporters to the scene. Every daily paper close by carried the story in detail and the city was given front page publicity without cost.
A negro reporter came to the city also, he "covered" the affair too, and his story gave several things along with the unpleasant publicity that was without cost.
First, his story gave several new angles; for example, citizens living here and other visiting news reporters did not hear talk of "lynching threats" or see "angry mobs gather" for a manhunt. His story also reveals, we are afraid, his papers thirst for "sensational scandal," and his own integrity in manufacturing the same to order, since the morbid elements necessary were missing.
The tradegy was one the saddest ever known in Charlottesville, and the aforementioned yellow journal's scope was one of the most striking reasons ever exhibited to show to what ends an indiscreet "rag" will go for "news".
Publishers must live, which means of course, that the papers must be sold, but there should be some limit to the methods used, and some consideration for the thousand upon thousand of intelligent readers that depend upon their paper for real facts and not filthy, illshaped brain children of ignorant reporters who would stoop to any method to fill space.
The paper that carried the story preaches progress and pride and has lead several fights against white offenders of Negro decency. What a situation it is! To hear that preached on one hand and see on the other, this same sheet giving space to a lying reporter, unmindful of the first rule of journalism.