Criticism of Salient's new policy

Two statements of policy published in the last issue of Salient have been the subject of strong criticism by the Socialist Club and individual students during the past week. (See report, page 1; Correspondence, page 2.)

The first of the two controversial statements says that Salient's editorial policy "provides initially for concentration on strictly student news to the exclusion of international affairs commentary and general articles."

The Socialist Club apparently misinterpreted this by overlooking the operative word "initially". Salient agrees that international affairs and general articles Should be included in a student newspaper, and certainly intends to publish such items later.

The most urgent problem facing Salient, however, is to gain the confidence of students. Unlike Craccum, which the Socialist Club mentions, Salient is not distributed "free" to students. The financial position of the paper, and its reputation during the past few years, made reorganization of its business and editorial policy essential.

It might be pointed out that not the least important factor in Salient's low circulation and inability to sell advertising is its "red" reputation—a hangover from the days when Salient and Socialist Club were synonymous and extra-university affairs took priority in the paper.

That eminent authority on the University, Bruce Truscott. says in his "Red Brick University" that "the cardinal function of a University newspaper is to raise the mental and moral tone of the community. This it will only do if, on the one hand it is in the charge of the right people, and, on the other, it is widely read." To make Salient widely read is, then, the problem.

To print sensational and controversial articles would not seem to be the answer. Until Salient proves itself capable of performing the basic function of a newspaper—reporting—with some adequacy and competence, it should not launch into an ambitious crusading campaign or indulge in political controversy. It should be beyond suspicion of political partiality.

The present policy of Salient which results from consideration of all these factors is admittedly a negative and expedient one. But it is a temporary one.

Mr. Wood in his letter to the Editor on this page mentions the staff salaries question, which has been in the limelight recently.

This is a matter with considerable implications, but Salient's present policy would not exclude discussion of it, because it is unquestionably of vital concern to all students. Care should be exercised in dealing with such questions, however; they should be treated with some coolness and objectivity rather than become overweighted with emotional diatribes on political personages.

The comment by a member of Salient's Editorial Committee that Craccum's recent article on staff salaries was "ill judged and ill written" meant this: that the article would have made a far more effective case for increased salaries (and probably made Mr. Algie look far more ridiculous) had the subjective comments sandwiched between the cold, impressive facts been omitted. If emotionalism has a place in a newspaper it is in an editorial.