Admire Quote by Herb Caen
“A good column is one that sells paper. It doesn't matter how beautifully it is written and how much you admire the author... if it doesn't sell any papers, it's not a good column. It's a terrible yardstick to use, but in the newspaper business, that's the whole thing.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: San Francisco Chronicle, 1970s
A column's value is judged by its ability to attract readers and generate sales, not merely its literary quality.
In simple terms: A column is good if it sells papers.
Key Takeaway
Focus on audience impact.
Themes
journalism
media
sales
writing
audience
Mood
pragmatic
critical
Type
observational
industry
When to use this quote
- newspaper publishing
- content creation
- advertising strategy
Key Concepts
advertising
readership metrics
commercial success
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance quality and profitability?
- What metrics best reflect a column's success?
A Different Perspective
Sales focus may overlook artistic merit.
