I stumbled upon this interesting piece while
searching for the origin of the credo ‘Without Fear or Favor’
Exactly 100 years ago today, Adolph S. Ochs, the founding
father of the modern Times, published a declaration of principles in these
pages setting forth his goals for the respectable but failing newspaper he had
just taken over. The 38-year-old publisher, who had already rescued a dying
paper in Chattanooga, Tenn., now found himself pitted in New York against
powerful, sensationalistic competitors in the heyday of yellow journalism. His
statement envisioned a dignified and responsible alternative that would provide
trustworthy news and opinion. One especially elegant and inspirational goal --
''to give the news impartially, without fear or favor, regardless of party,
sect, or interests involved'' -- has held a place of honor at The Times ever
since. Ochs's statement, reprinted below, was widely quoted at the time and
remains a worthy credo for journalists everywhere, however difficult to
fulfill.
To undertake
the management of The New-York Times, with its great history for right doing,
and to attempt to keep bright the lustre which Henry J. Raymond and George
Jones $(the paper's founding publishers$) have given it is an extraordinary task.
But if a sincere desire to conduct a high-standard newspaper, clean, dignified,
and trustworthy, requires honesty, watchfulness, earnestness, industry, and
practical knowledge applied with common sense, I entertain the hope that I can
succeed in maintaining the high estimate that thoughtful, pure-minded people
have ever had of The New-York Times.
It will be my earnest aim that The New-York Times give the news, all
the news, in concise and attractive form, in language that is parliamentary in
good society, and give it as early, if not earlier, than it can be learned
through any other reliable medium; to give the news impartially, without fear
or favor, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved; to make of the
columns of The New-York Times a forum for the consideration of all questions of
public importance, and to that end to invite intelligent discussion from all
shades of opinion.
There will be no radical changes in the personnel of
the present efficient staff. Mr. Charles R. Miller, who has so ably for many
years presided over the editorial pages, will continue to be the editor; nor
will there be a departure from the general tone and character and policies
pursued with relation to public questions that have distinguished The New-York
Times as a non-partisan newspaper -- unless it be, if possible, to intensify
its devotion to the cause of sound money and tariff reform, opposition to
wastefulness and peculation in administering public affairs, and in its
advocacy of the lowest tax consistent with good government, and no more
government than is absolutely necessary to protect society, maintain individual
and vested rights, and assure the free exercise of a sound conscience. ADOLPH
S. OCHS, New-York, Aug. 18, 1896.
Published in The New
York Times, August 19, 1996
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