英语翻译
OnJournalism
Anewspaperismuchmorethanabusiness;itisaninstitution.Itreflectsandinfluencesthelifeofacommunity;itmayaffectevenwiderdestinies.
Itis,initsway,aninstrumentofgovernment.Itplaysonthemindsandconsciencesofman.Itmayeducate,stimulate,assist,oritmaydotheopposite.Ithas,therefore,amoralaswellasamaterialexistence,anditscharacterandinfluenceareinthemaindeterminedbythebalanceofthesetwoforces.Itmaymakeprofitorpoweritsfirstobject,oritmayconceiveitselfasfulfillingahigherandmoreexactingfunction.
Characterisasubtleaffair,andhasmanyshadesandsidestoit.Itisnotathingtobemuchtalkedabout,butrathertobefelt.Itistheslowdepositofpastactionsandideals.
Attheperilofitssoul,anewspapermustseethatthenewsitsuppliesisnottainted.Neitherinwhatitgives,norinwhatitdoesnotgive,norinthemodeofpresentation,musttheuncloudedfaceoftruthsufferwrong.Commentisfree,butfactsaresacred."Propaganda,"socalled,bythismeansishateful.Thevoiceofopponentsnolessthanthatoffriendshasarighttobeheard.Commentalsoisjustlysubjecttoaself-imposedrestraint.Itiswelltobefrank;itisevenbettertobefair.Thisisanideal.Achievementinsuchmattersishardlygiventoman.Perhapsnoneofuscanattaintoitinthedesirablemeasure.Wecanbuttry,askpardonforshortcomings,andthereleavethematter.
Oneofvirtues,perhapsthechiefvirtue,ofanewspaperisitsindependence.Whateveritsposititionorcharacter,itshouldhaveasoulofitsown.
Thatisthepathofself-respect----itisalsothepathofsuccess.Andwhataworkitis!Howmultiform,howresponsivetoeveryneedandeveryincidentoflife!Whatillimitablepossibilitiesofachievementandofexcellence!
Totheman,whateverhisplaceonthepaper,nothingshouldsatisfyshortofthebest.Itisherethatabilitycountsandthatcharactercounts,anditisonthesethatanewspaper,ifitistobeworthyofitspowerandduty,mustrely.