The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-07-29
OUR COUNTRY EXCHANGES.

| kettle, before the Tennessee Press Associa.
ton at Chattanooga, June Is, 1881,
The mute inglorious journalists who
lack only the opportunity of startling
the world, appear 10 be numberless. In
every community there are scores of
people who, having no conception of the
scope and aim Of journalism, and hay-
| ing no proper notion of the duties, re-
sponsibiities and labors Of the Journal
ist, seem profoundly impressed with the
belief that they could step at once into
| the editorial harness and conduct news
paper with notable ability and success.
| Certainly there are not few in every
town, city and country who, however
modest they may be in estimating their
own abilities, are ready to tell YOU ex,
actly how paper should be managed.
Indeed, it is often the case that men
whose self-conceit and assurance are
only exceeded by their ignorance, are
instant aud active in 0btruding their
| crude and unwelcome suggestions upon
the attention of the painstaking editor
who is endeavoring to supply the de-
mands OF the news-mongers and cater to
the intellectual wants of the community.
The opinion seems to prevail among d
certain class, that all that is necessary
for the making of a newspaper is a print
ing press and suitable material, suf-
ficient number of intelligent compost
tors, and for an editor-any man who
can handle pair of scissors and write
a passable paragraph. Too many forget,
or do not know, that in the profession
Of journalism, as in other professions 4
special talent and special preparation
are required. II is generally conceded,
that, to become lawyer Of worth, one
must not only possess certain mental
endowments, but must also understand
the principles and be familiar, to de
gree, with the myriad precedents Of the
law. 1t is agreed that to be n physician,
able to heal diseases, and to invest
death with a scientific interest, one must
by diligent study acquire knowledge
of the several sciences which make up
the science of medicine, to which
knowledge must be added the wisdom
gained by the intelligent application Of
these principles in the practice Of the
healing art 1t is generally admitted
that the clergyman, whose methods and
labors, like those of the editor, are con
stantly subjected to captious and carp
ing criticisms, is, if he be worthy of his
high office, better prepared than the
majority of his critics to address him
self to the difficulties Of his position
and deal with the many ponderous and
undemonstrable theorems of his theolo-
gy. Yet, strangely enough, it is hard
TO convince some people that the com
petent journalist knows more about his
own business than the average reader Of
u newspaper, They cannot understand
that the editor must not only have a
peculiar talent and aptitude for his
work, but he must also undergo a spec
ial training if not in a college Of jour
nalism, in the dearer and harder and
better school Of experience. There may
be rare geniuses that have stepped into
journalistic distinction without having
served q severe apprenticeship, but it
must be borne in mind that many q
brilliant editorial writer is simply a
writer, and not properly an editor, and
is only journalist in so far as he writes
for journal. There be men who well
deserved reputation as writers upon
leading metropolitan dailies, who il
given charge of country newspaper
would, in all probability, make an utter
and inglorious failure. Itmust be noted,
however, and emphasized, that many Of
the ablest and brilliantest journalists Of
our day have been first educated in the
school of country journalism. Upon
the other hand, it is also true that many
a capable and promising country editor
has been hidden out of sight under the
veil Of impersonality, and lost TO the
world, and forgot, by being merged into
the editorial corps of the city daily.
am prepared to assert that the man
who ably and properly conducts coun-
try newspaper, keeping it at its truest
and highest standard of excellency, must
possess rarer combination and versa
tility of talents, and have more varied
fund Of resources at his command, than
is required in any other position he may
hold in the field of journalism. The
country weekly should be in every whit
, the equal Of the best city paper, so fan
az the quality of the work is concerned
can admit Of no lower standard. III
this competition the daily paper has q
! decided advantage. By well regulated
and necessary system of division ano
subdivision of labor each separate de
partment of daily paper is entrusted
To special workers, who have been Sc
! lected with regard to their peculiar fit
e ness and qualification for the worl
' assigned, and who are responsible opl,
within their particular spheres. Th'
country journal, with all Of its depart
: ments, is generally in charge of on
e editor. who must perform a distractinl
4 variety of work, which does not Otter
admit Of well sustained efforts in an,
Y civen direction. We often find maj
Who is proprietor, editor, reporter, busi
e ness manager, solicitor and compositor
Il is not unfrequently the case that +
!. this manifold function are added th
Offices of printers devil and Office boy
rs Indeed, instances might be cited, where
p in addition to this curious conglomeratt
:, the able editor constitutes large par