McClure’s goal for the magazine was “to deal with important social, economic, and political questions, to present the new and great inventions and discoveries, to give the best in literature,” and to become “a power in the land–a power for good.”
To do this, McClure planned to hire the best writers and pay them a regular salary.
Most magazines and newspapers of the time paid their writers by the word or column inch. This meant reporters could not take a lot of time researching their articles. To get paid, they had to keep churning out copy. With a regular salary, “McClure’s” writers could spend weeks, months, or even years researching an article without going broke.
McClure’s goal for the magazine was to address significant social, economic, and political issues, highlight new inventions and literature, and play a constructive role in society. To achieve this, he hired top writers with a regular salary, allowing them to invest time in thorough research, unlike the industry standard of pay-per-word, which pressured writers to produce content quickly.
This approach not only enhanced the quality of journalism but also contributed to the magazine’s goal of being a “power for good” in society by promoting informed discussions on important topics. If you have more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!