THE SMALL WEEKLY AS I HAVE FOUND IT
By UPTON H. GIBBS,
Publisher Eastern Clackamas News of Estacada, Oregon
[Mr. Gibbs, for a quarter of a century an Episcopal clergyman, gives the reaction of a man comparatively new to journalism but vastly interested in it and keenly alive to the opportunities and responsibilities of the small-town field. The paper here given was read by Mr. Gibbs at the Fourth Annual Oregon Newspaper Conference.]
A BETTER title would have been "A Neophyte and a Small Weekly." But the kind invitation to prepare a paper for this occasion was accompanied by a very urgent request to reply by return mail, so I had hardly time to clarify my thoughts concerning what I should write.
It is with extreme trepidation that I address this distinguished asesmblage. I feel like a freshman who is called upon to discuss some educational topic before the faculty. But the thought occurred to me that even a freshman might be able to interest the faculty and hold its attention if he confined himself to his past school experience, what he had acquired therein, the teachers who had influenced him most, the courses from which he had derived the most benefit, and the reasons why. I concluded then I had better give an account of my experience with a small country weekly.
In order to make my situation clear, it is necessary first to relate a little per sonal history. My former profession was that of a clergyman; I had served twenty-three years in the ministry after ordination. Owing to an increasing physical infirmity, the conviction was forced on me that I should before long be obliged 'to give up regular parish work. The question naturally arose, In what occupation should I engage?
Farm or Newspaper
After much thought, it simmered down to two alternatives, to buy either a small ranch or else a newspaper. Before studying for the ministry, I had worked for three years on a country newspaper in Minnesota, where I acquired a slight insight into its management. The editor for whom I worked was a lawyer and knew nothing of the mechanical work. The paper was a side issue with him, for he had bought it evidently for the purpose of lambasting his special enemy, who was then mayor of the town, and roasting him and a few other pet aversions to a brown finish. He was noted for the pithiness and pungency of his editorials and strictures. These, while galling to those at whom they were directed, afforded a good deal of amusement to others.
Whereas during my ministry I had done a good deal of writing not only on sermons but articles and stories, I thought this training would prove effective for editorial work; that there was not much difference between getting up an editorial and a sermon. The style may differ, but both are didactic in aim and purpose. One of the best sermons I have ever read was by Harvey Ingham, the brilliant editor of the Des Moines Register and Tribune, on "Human Forces that Are Dominating." This, while prepared as a paper and read at the meeting of the National Editorial Association in Portland two years ago, might have been delivered in any pulpit in the land. All that would have been necessary to make it conform to usual sermonic requirements would have been to select a suitable text from the Scriptures.
Classified Ad Attracts
It is not surprising that my choice settled on the paper in preference to the ranch. Then I began to study the classified ads of business opportunities in the papers, and one day I chanced upon one
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