Date of Award

5-1931

Degree Type

Bachelors Essay

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Communication

First Advisor

Maynard W. Brown

Abstract

This thesis is intended to point out the effect which business conditions have exerted upon the typical country weekly newspaper.in point of editorial policy, treatment of the news, and the handling of advertising. Particular emphasis is laid on the effects of the current business depression, although some of the practices enumerated are undoubtedly of long standing and have no direct connection with present conditions.

Although some of the points to be discussed are to be classified among the faults of newspapers, this is not intended as a wholesale condemnation of the country news­ paper. In editorial optimism and overdisplay of better business predictions the country press has been in complete accord with metropolitan newspapers. If this policy re­sults in an earlier return to normalcy, the means taken can certainly be justified.

In the handling of advertising the individual editor has little voice against the prevailing practice of the majority of papers. Especially in these times of financial stringency it would take a courageous editor to risk the loss of revenue for the sake of a little more regularity in his advertising columns.

No attempt at reform is to be made here. The aim is merely to classify the prevailing practices, point out the extent of each as far as the limitations of the survey will permit, and to try to distinguish their good and bad points and possible effects.

Comments

A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the College of Journalism, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science.

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