Newspaper Publicity by E. L. Cardey

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Aug 21, 1913

Newspaper Publicity

By E. L. Cardey

I HAVE had the privilege of demonstrating to some extent this summer the value of the newspaper as a means of publicity in connection with our work in city efforts. This is the second summer that I have held tent-meetings in the city of Albany, N. Y. Last year we did not use the papers, but depended on the use of handbills. We had quite a successful effort, but were able to draw the people from only a short distance from the tent. This year we decided to obtain the help of the big daily papers if possible.

While I have published sermons now and then heretofore, our intention this year was to get them published every day if possible. Consequently, we decided to select the leading morning paper of the city, and center all our efforts on this paper to get the sermons published. I first went to see the business manager, and through him got in touch with the editor-in-chief. I stated just what we were going to do. We received the promise of fair play, and they said they would send a man to the tent every day to get the copy, which they have faithfully done.

We have now been holding the meetings nearly four weeks, and without a failure the paper has published the sermon each morning after it was delivered. Only a few have been cut down, and nearly all have appeared with big head-lines on a prominent page in the paper. So far about one million copies of these papers containing these short sermons have been scattered all over this part of the State. This week we are dealing with the Sabbath question, and to our satisfaction the papers came out Monday morning, with a four-inch heading, setting forth our position on that subject. This morning the change of the Sabbath was published.

The results of this newspaper work are many. We have people coming from

all parts of the city. I have received letters from prominent men who say they have been reading the articles in the papers, and write asking questions. We know of a number who attended the first part of the meetings, then went away on their vacation, but are having the paper follow them so they can keep up with the subjects.

A gentleman came to the tent last evening for the first time, he told me. Yet he has read every sermon, and when he saw the sermon on the Sabbath question he could not stay away longer, and the first thing he said was, "I believe all that you have been saying, the Sabbath truth the same as the rest." He is a railroad engineer, and possibly he will take his stand for the truth.

Surely the Lord has given us a wonderful means of reaching the people through the daily papers, and he will give us favor with the editors if we take him with us and approach the men in the right way. At the end of the summer's work we shall no doubt have much more to say of the final results of this newspaper campaign. E. L. CARDEY.