TRUTH AND JOURNALISM.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sza,—I suppose most people cherish ideals. May I present one, arising out of the review of Sir Charles Walston's book in your issue last week ? Could not a sort of Council be formed in connexion -with journalism on the lines of the Bar Council or British Medical Association ? What strikes me about things is this. If a man desires to be either a clergyman or lawyer, barrister or doctor, lie has, besides his general educa- tion, to spend from two to four years in a special training in special subjects before he qualifies. Not only that; he is for the remainder of his days subject to discipline, to be deprived, disbarred, or unfrocked. Now it seems to me in the case of journalism—which is I think as great (if not greater) a power for good or the opposite as the other professions—some system of this kind would be an ideal. When all is said and done, a good, loyal, and true-hearted democracy are very much like children. Is it fair to exploit this childlikeness by sensa- tionalism or extravagance ? I merely put this forward as an academic conception of what might be; and when one considers the high honour which attaches to the other three professions, am I advocating anything out of the way in desiring to see a good and responsible system of this sort ? Of course I am referring to daily journalism, not to the weeklies.—I am, Sir,
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