Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-03
JOURNALISM.
A Practical Article for Young
Men Who Want 10 BE Edi-
tors and Yield a Moral
Influence.

All the way from the university OF
a far distant state comes to us an APP
plication for a position on the Journal
as an editorial writer. 1t comes from
a young man who says he has been
pursuing a special course of study with
a view Of adopting journalism as a pro-
fession.
He has about finished his course
and desires to Immediately enter upon
his lite work. The young gentleman
writes that from carly youth his am
bition has been to WELD a neral infu-
ence, and he sees no hope of exercis
ing this influence save as a journalist
He has tasted of science, Of language,
of philosophy; has labored to form a
style which be could use with effect,
has sought out new paths, and en-
deavored to make new paths where he
found none. His knowledge of polit
cal history, law and political economy
he thinks would enable him to discuss
the average question of the day intel
ligentiy.
In treating questions of sooial inter
est, his knowledge of social economy
might not prove amiss. As a journal
list he would keep his life purpose ever
before him. In his paper he would
introduce new features-to old ones
he would give the charm Of novelty
In political discussions he would shun
insignificant partyisms or personal re
hection-eyerything save a fair pre-
sentation Of party principles and party
interest. AS manager he would exer-
else judicious economy as editor, un-
firing energy and brain.
The young gentleman is no doubt
honest in his statements, but they
weigh nothing with an experienced
newspaper man. Journalists are not
turned out Of universities ready made.
Journalism lisa profession which can
only be mastered after long years of
active s~ervice-on the same principle
that to be q good lawyer, or a success
full minister, or a competent mechanic,
one must have practical experience,
and can attain prominence only after
long years of patient labor,
Young men on leaving college are
apt to think they could shape the ees-
times Of a nation if they could only
get control of the columns of some
newspaper. Relbaps 2 youth grads
ate does get an opportunity to- write
editorials for some country weekly.
He launches a bolt and th0n a%nxiously
awaits the report. He generally waits
in vain, and is both panied and cha
griped TO and out that his majestic
u~ttersnees have attracted no attention
whatever. Perhaps he gets a position
on one Of the big dailies, and with a
proud heart he hands in to the man
aging editor a long article over which
be has spent several days 10 writing
and rewriting, only to DO mortified
almost to death by the matter of-fact
chief telling him to cut that thing
down to two ~stickfuls, even il he does
not tell him the paper has no room
for such stuff.
He may further tell the young man
whose ambition it is to WELD iufu
ence, that they want no opinions from
him; they only want news, and that in
a condensed, concise form. The con-
ceis may be further taken out of the
young mar by being detailed to write
up the stock yards, or sent to get the
points in a scandal case and told hat
he must get his report into q half col
umn and have bis oopyin by IL o'clock
sharp. This doing uncongenial work,
and doing it on the jump, with no
time to elaborate glowing periods and
eloquent p~erorations, is a new expert
ence, and five to one he makes a fat
failure, and is chagrined beyond
measure by being told that be had no
aptitude fo%rjournalism aud IL advised
to seek some other vocation.
Journalism is drudgery-plodding
unostentatious drudgery. The indi-
vidual work which makes up a com.
plete newspaper attracts no attention
from the public generally. Readers
say this or that paper is a good one.
without once caring who did this OF
that to make it good. And this alone
would be cruel to the ~unfedged writer
who hopes to WELD a moral influence.
If one ofhis articles appears he ex-
poets it to be the feature Of the paper,
aud is disappointed if the people do
not talk about it and insist on know