![Sample our Arts journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110799/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Arts.jpg"})
Abstract
In the 1930s, the pages of Editor & Publisher were filled with nuanced stories revealing the many ethical challenges facing journalism amid the economic woes of the Great Depression, increased public scrutiny over news, and the influence of New Deal policies on journalistic practices in the US. Industry insiders discussed everything from how to best report criminal activities and sports to how to best write about the nation’s economic plight all while keeping the public’s interest in mind. Analysis of 265 E&P issues, published between 1930 and 1934, found that reporters of the day were highly concerned about ethics in the professional practice of journalism during a time when the newspaper industry faced challenges such as outside scrutiny, governmental critique, and diminished public support. It will be argued that these ethical conversations among journalists promoted functions of a press system outlined by the Social Responsibility Theory of the Press more than a decade before its adoption by the Hutchins Commission in 1947.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Stephen Bates, An Aristocracy of Critics: Luce, Hutchins, Niebuhr and the Committee that Redefined Freedom of the Press (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2020).
2 Margaret A. Blanchard, “The Hutchins Commission, The Press and the Social Responsibility Concept,” Journalism Monographs 49 (May 1977).
3 Sam Lebovic, Free Speech and Unfree News: The Paradox of Press Freedom in America (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2016).
4 Deni Elliott, Responsible Journalism (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1986).
5 Michael Schudson, Discovering the News: A Social History of Newspapers (New York: Basic Books, 1978); David T. Z. Mindich, Just the Facts: How “Objectivity” Came to Define American Journalism (New York: New York University Press, 1998).
6 Stephen J.A. Ward, “Journalism Ethics,” in The Handbook of Journalism Studies (New York: Routledge Press, 2019), 296.
7 Clifford Christians and Kaarle Noordenstreng, “Social responsibility worldwide,” Journal of Mass Media Ethics 19, no. 1 (2004): 4; Fred Siebert, Fred T. Siebert, Theodore Peterson, Theodore Bernard Peterson, and Wilbur Schramm, Four Theories of the Press: The Authoritarian, Libertarian, Social Responsibility, and Soviet Communist Concepts of What the Press Should Be and Do, Vol. 10 (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1956); Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, The Elements of Journalism, Revised and Updated 4th Edition: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect (New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2014).
8 Zechariah Chafee, A Free and Responsible Press: A General Report on Mass Communication: Newspapers, Radio, Motion Pictures, Magazines and Books: Vol. 10 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1947).
9 Hazel Dicken-Garcia, Journalistic Standards in Nineteenth-Century America (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1989), 7.
10 Stephen Ward, The Invention of Journalism Ethics: The Path to Objectivity and Beyond (Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2015), 3.
11 Gerald Baldasty, The Commercialization of News in the Nineteenth-Century (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1992), 4.
12 Mary M. Cronin, “Trade press roles in promoting journalistic professionalism, 1884-1917,” Journal of Mass Media Ethics 8, no. 4 (1993).
13 Michael Schudson, “The Objectivity Norm in American Journalism,” Journalism 2, no. 2 (2001).
14 Richard L. Kaplan, Politics and the American Press: The Rise of Objectivity: 1865-2000 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002); Michael Schudson, Discovering the news: A Social History of American Newspapers (New York: Basic Books, 1981); Gaye Tuchman, “Objectivity as Strategic Ritual: An Examination of Newsmen’s Notions of Objectivity,” American Journal of Sociology 77, no. 4 (1972).
15 Gwyneth Mellinger, “Washington Confidential: A Double-Standard Gives Way to The People’s Right to Know,” Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 92, no. 4 (2015): 858.
16 Jeff Rutenbeck, “The Triumph of News over ideas in American Journalism: The Trade Journal Debate, 1872-1915,” Journal of Communication Inquiry 18, no. 1 (1994): 63.
17 Patrick Plaisance, “A Gang of Pecksniffs Grows Up: The Evolution of Journalism Ethics Discourse in The Journalist and Editor & Publisher,” Journalism Studies 6, no. 4 (2005).
18 Will Mari, The American Newsroom: A History, 1920-1960 (Columbia: The University of Missouri Press, 2021).
19 Richard Streckfuss, “Objectivity in Journalism: A Search and a Reassessment,” Journalism Quarterly 67, no. 4 (1990): 973.
20 Plaisance, “A Gang of Pecksniffs Grows Up,” 3.
21 Ronald R. Rodgers, “‘Journalism is a Loose-Jointed Thing’: A Content Analysis of Editor & Publisher’s Discussion of Journalism Conduct Prior to the Canons of Journalism, 1901-1922,” Journal of Mass Media Ethics 22, no. 1 (2007).
22 Siebert, et al., Four Theories of the Press, 4-5.
23 Siebert, et al., Four Theories of the Press, 74.
24 Sierbert et al., Four Theories of the Press, 74.
25 Bates, An Aristocracy of Critics, 3, 15.
26 “Suggests Press May Be Slighting Crime,” Editor & Publisher, April 19, 1930, 40.
27 “Psychiatrist Sees No Harm In Crime News,” Editor & Publisher, January 23, 1932, 28.
28 “Press Power to Curb Criminals Revealed,” Editor & Publisher, December 3, 1933, 18.
29 “New Crime Standards,” Editor & Publisher, November 29, 1930, 32.
30 “Boy Criminals In the News,” Editor & Publisher, April 20, 1932, 62.
31 “Changes Crime News Policy,” Editor & Publisher, March 21, 1930, 20.
32 “Chicago Dailies Declare War on Gangs,” Editor & Publisher, June 21, 1930, 9.
33 E. Johnson, “Press Redeeming Pledge to End Gangs,” Editor & Publisher, March 1, 1931, 11.
34 “Closer Link Between Press, Police Asked,” Editor & Publisher, February 28, 1931, 52.
35 “Chicago Crime,” Editor & Publisher, May 31, 1930, 30.
36 J.F. Roche, “False Rumors and Demands for Silence Complicate Lindbergh Kidnaping Story,” Editor & Publisher, March 12, 1932, 1.
37 “Press Co-operation With Lindbergh Family Unparalleled In Peace Or War,” Editor & Publisher, April 16, 1932, 1; “Lindbergh And The Press,” Editor & Publisher, April 16, 1932, 28.
38 J.F. Roche, “Sports Copy Requires Careful Editing,” Editor & Publisher, March 28, 1931, 7.
39 G.A. Brandenburg, “Slang Writer In Baseball Strikes Out,” Editor & Publisher, July 25, 1931, 9.
40 R.R. Barlow, “Do ‘Gifts’ Influence Sports Writing?” Editor & Publisher, July 12, 1930, 9.
41 J.W. Perry, “Tunny Charges Stir Sports Writers,” Editor & Publisher, March 5, 1932, 7.
42 “Economic News Holds Readers for Bread And Butter Interests,” Editor & Publisher, May 6, 1933, 28; “Entire Press Is United In Crisis,” Editor & Publisher, March 25, 1933, 1-2, 27-28.
43 “Newspapers Rededicated to Public Trust; Champion ‘Forgotten Man’ In Crisis,” Editor & Publisher, January 7, 1933, 1-2, 12, 14.
44 Allen Eddy, “Terse Statement of Fact Will Build for Future,” Editor & Publisher, January 7, 1933, 1.
45 Henry J. Haskell, “Public Ready to Reconsider Its Preconceived Ideas,” Editor & Publisher, January 7, 1933, 1.
46 “How Newspapers Fought the Fear Foe,” Editor & Publisher, March 11, 1933, 7.
47 “Complete Story of Assault On Roosevelt Marvel of Press Speed And Accuracy,” Editor & Publisher, February 18, 1933, 1-2; G.H. Manning, “Miracle of Public Psychology Due to Roosevelt and Press,” Editor & Publisher, March 18, 1933, 9.
48 G.H. Manning, “Subtle Censorship On Government News Is Arising Steadily In Washington,” Editor & Publisher, September 5, 1931, 1; “The Political Job,” Editor & Publisher, September 17, 1932, 24.
49 “US Officials Use Government Press System for Self Glory, Says Berry,” Editor & Publisher, January 4, 1930, 21.
50 G.H. Manning, “Miracle Of Public Psychology Due to Roosevelt and The Press,” Editor & Publisher, March 18, 1933, 9.
51 Manning, “Miracle Of Public Psychology.”
52 R. Clapper, “All Eyes Are Turned on Washington,” Editor & Publisher, January 13, 1934, 9.
53 Chafee, A Free and Responsible Press, 3.
54 Siebert, et al., Four Theories of the Press.
55 “Closer Link Between Press, Police Asked,” Editor & Publisher, February 28, 1931, 52; “Changes Crime News Policy,” Editor & Publisher, March 21, 1930, 20; J.F. Roche, “False Rumors and Demands For Silence Complicate Lindbergh Kidnaping Story,” Editor & Publisher, March 12, 1932, 1; “Press Co-operation With Lindbergh Family Unparalleled in Peace Or War,” Editor & Publisher, April 16, 1932, 1; “Lindbergh and The Press,” April 16, 1932, 20; “Printed ‘Suppressed’ Bank Story; 7 News Men Cited For Contempt,” Editor & Publisher, April 15, 1933, 10; “Story of Kidnaping Withheld by Dailies,” Editor & Publisher, June 3, 1933, 34.
56 “Newspapers Rededicated To Public Trust; Champion ‘Forgotten Man’ In Crisis,” Editor & Publisher, January 7, 1933, 1-2, 12, 14; “How Newspapers Fought the Fear Foe,” Editor & Publisher, March 11, 1933, 7.
57 F.R. Kent, “Pulling The Covers Off Politicians,” Editor & Publisher, April 28, 1931, 30; G.H. Manning, “Subtle Censorship On Government News Is Arising Steadily In Washington,” Editor & Publisher, September 5, 1931, 1; “The Political Job,” Editor & Publisher, September 17, 1932, 24.
58 “Psychiatrist Sees No Harm In Crime News,” Editor & Publisher, January 23, 1932, 28; “Chicago Crime,” Editor & Publisher, May 31, 1930, 30; J.W. Perry, “Pursue La Guardia Probe, Dailies Say,” Editor & Publisher, May 7, 1932, 11.
59 “Newspapers Rededicated to Public Trust; Champion ‘Forgotten Man’ In Crisis,” Editor & Publisher, January 7, 1933, 1-2, 12, 14; “Editors Interpret ‘New Deal’ Demand,” Editor & Publisher, January 14, 1933, 7, 12, 14.
60 R.V. Oulahan, “Capital Corps Praised For Diligence,” Editor & Publisher, April 25, 1931, 32; F.R. Kent, “Pulling The Covers Off Politicians,” Editor & Publisher, April 28, 1931, 30; G.H. Manning, “White House News Ban On Bank Privacy Upset By Correspondents,” Editor & Publisher, October 10, 1931, 1-2; G.H. Manning, “Miracle Of Public Psychology Due to Roosevelt And Press,” Editor & Publisher, March 18, 1933, 9; “The Political Job,” Editor & Publisher, September 17, 1932, 24.
61 “Continuous Education Through Press, Modern Civilization’s Need,” Editor & Publisher, April 26, 1930: 28; “The Political Job,” Editor & Publisher, September 17, 1932, 24.
62 “Supreme Court Reporting,” Editor & Publisher, May 30, 1931, 32.
63 “Complete Story Of Assault On Roosevelt Marvel Of Press Speed And Accuracy,” Editor & Publisher, February 18, 1933, 1-2.
64 “The Canons of Journalism,” Editor & Publisher, January 27, 1934, 94.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Max Fuller
Max Fuller is a doctoral student in mass communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison researching the normative practice of journalism and the functions of the Wisconsin labor and ethnic press in the New Deal era.