My ideal newspaper would be one that mirrored respect. It would be different in many respects from today’s newspapers(which often disappoint us).
It would not print or accept any objectionable ads. In fact it would insist on its ads being of the highest taste, class and creativity that could possibly be mustered. Its news items would be comprehensive, factually correct and to the point. Every article would leave no doubt in the mind of the reader about the nature of events written in the article.
They would be fair to all parties, giving every possible point of view from every possible angle. It would not lean towards any country or individual. Generalizations and assumptions would be a strict no-no. Double standards in comparisons would be unacceptable. Any interviews would follow a logical, systematic path of curiosity and fact-finding. Any sensationalism would be treated as anathema.
The paper and its articles, ads, etc. would be without bias, except towards good. In fact this paper would encourage the celebration of humanitarianism while at the same time being secular. There would be no page 3 in keeping with the papers high standards. I must make a point here with respect to the papers class. In no way possible would the paper market itself as being for a specific set of readers. It would be a paper for ALL people, without inducing a feeling of guilt or shame in any one individual because of his or her status in society. It would reach out to each and every reader, enlightening and nourishing him or her. It would be a paper that bridged societal gaps.
Neither would the paper market itself as being perfect or above the law. It would not hide behind the time worn’we’re only trying to show you the truth’ excuse. In this respect all photographs printed in this paper would be respectable and no photo would be printed that compromised a persons personal freedom or privacy, except in exceptional cases that the editors would find either necessary or unavoidable. In fact every photograph with an individual in it would be printed only after ascertaining to the best possible extent that the individual would like it to be printed.
The paper would be one which furthered the minds of the readers, making them more aware of the world around them and making them gain something after reading it i.e. it should not have been a waste of time to read. The very act of reading it should have made a difference to the readers, their minds and thoughts. Reading this paper would not be a passive act but an influential exercise. I use the word’influential’ because eventually everyone would be influenced by it in one way or another.