The Universal Journalist Homepage
The Newspaper Business
The newspaper and magazine business is an intellectual brothel
from which there is no escape.
Leo Tolstoy
Owners
James Gordon Bennett Jnr is a low-mouthed, blatant, witless,
brutal scoundrel.
Horace Greeley
We've struck a gold mine!
Alfred Harmsworth
His verdict after the first week
of the Daily Mail's publication
1896
I run the paper purely for the purpose of making propaganda,
and with no other motive.
Lord Beaverbrook
1947
You furnish pictures. I will furnish war
William Randolph Hearst
to Frederic Remington, sent to cover the conflict with
Spain over Cuba that Hearst was determined to stir up.
1898
GLADLY INVEST FIVE THOUSAND AS ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS AND
PROOF MY COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN YOU STOP NAME ANY AMOUNT SHOULD
BE PUBLISHED TOGETHER FACT YOU HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL STOP ONE
MAN CONTROL ESSENTIAL NEWSPAPER BUSINESS CHIEF
Lord Northcliffe
Telegram to Keith Murdoch in response
to his request for backing as he bought
his first newspaper. In doing so, he
passed on the torch that would
eventually be inherited by
Murdoch's son Rupert.
1921
Mr Hearst says that if you boys want private lives, he'll give
you private lives.
Hearst gossip columnist Louella Parsons
conveying a threat to Hollywood bosses as part of
her boss's attempt to intimidate them into withdrawing
"Citizen Kane' , the uncomplimentary film based on his life.
Beaverbrook is so pleased to be in the Government that he is
like the town tart who has finally married the mayor.
Beverley Baxter
He aspired to power instead of influence and as a result forfeited
both.
AJP Taylor
Describing Lord Northcliffe
Truth for him was a moving target: he never aimed for the bull
and rarely pierced the outer ring.
Hugh Cudlipp
Describing W.R.Hearst
1980
Newspaper Management
I carried the Daily Express top greatness with the aid of a
bell-hop and a piano-tuner.
Lord Beaverbrook
Characterising the former occupations of EJ Robertson,
business manager at the Express (and one-time hotel
receptionist in his student days), and editor Beverely
Baxter, former piano salesman.
Advertising
Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a
newspaper.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd US President
(1743-1826)
Advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket.
George Orwell
Does advertising corrupt editors? Yes it does, but fewer editors
than you may suppose. . . . the vast majority of editors are incorruptible.
David Ogilvy
'Confessions of an Advertising Man'
1971.
With no ads, who would pay for the media? The good fairy?
Samuel Thurm
Senior vice-president of the
Association of National Advertisers
The reader of a newspaper does not see the first insertion
of an ordinary advertisement; the second insertion he sees, but
does not read; the third insertion he reads; the fourth insertion
he looks at the price; the fifth insertion, he speaks of it to
his wife; the sixth insertion he is ready to purchase; and the
seventh insertion he purchases.
P.T. Barnum
Showman and prolific advertiser. His words
have since been used by space sellers the
world over in trying to get the client
to take more ads.
c1895