UNFAIR JOURNALISM.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2450, 11 February 1882, Page 3

UNFAIR JOURNALISM.

Oue contemporary the “ Star” in a leader the other evening has thought fit to violate all the recognised canons of journalism in referring to two cases which will in due course come before the Supreme Court. Not only is this so, but this offence against good taste and justice is intensified by a kind of shriek for vengeance which permeates the whole article. The guilt or innocence of the men spoken of has yet to be ascertained, and we contend that it is monstrous for any journal whilst this is pending to try to excite the indignation of the public against them in the way the article referred to does. While this is so a show is made of reluctance to speak on cases suh judice, which is palpably contradicted by the evident spirit in which the other part of the article is penned. We feel quite as strongly on the point as our contemporary, but there is such a thing as fair play to meAunder accusation, which the the “ Star” appears entirely to ignore. It may be said that our contemporary argues only on general principles, and we are willing to believe that is so. But the time selected for argument is most inopportune, and the article itself, not only a violation of the first principles of journalism, but of what Englishmen are reputedly more proud of than anything else—justice.