The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-10-31
ENGLISH JOURNALISTS.
Retained Editorial Writers--Uren-
terprisiug Reporters--War
Correspondents


TIL lot of the English journalist is agreea-
BILE or disagreeable, according to his position
upon the paper. II a reporter, he is looked
upon very much as q day laborer, and is paid
a very small salary. There is not that i'm
p~ortance that attaches to OF the
pres" in the United States. With very few
exceptions reporters do simply what they are
told, report meetings, speeches, etc; but
they are never on the lookout for news indie
pendent of instructions from the editor, aud,
in fact, they are not encouraged to do 50 If
they were so disposed.
The position OF the editorial writers is diff
ferent. They are gentlemen of distinction,
and. though the public is supposed never to
know who is the author Of any editorial, the
authorship of important articles is usually
noised abroad, as was the case when Tho
Times published IN editorial written by
Queen Victoria. The editorial writers have
what printers would call ''phntn positions.
Some OF them are paid retainers, the same as
lawyers are, and are expected to keep them
selves so well informed upon their specialties
as to be able to write a leader uIon short no
tice. For the article itself they are also paid,
according to its position in the paper. The
Times is said to pay a few of its staff a re-
tainer OF S5,0O0 n year. and $50 when the
article is published rs the leading editorial
and S25 when following. While John De-
lane was editor OF The Times, it is said that
he, on important occasions, would have two
or three persons write upon a single subject,
and then combine the several articles, taking
the best Of each. Each writer was then paid
$50, the same as though he had written the
entire article.
Delane was not much OF a writer-that is,
he wrote very little; he had not ths time
but he was one OF the best editors. Every
editorial that trau. into fla nonar horn tho
impress of his active brain. Ho cut and
carved articles until they suited him, re-
gardless of the wishes or feelings OF the
writers but when he was through with them
they were as near perfect as human power
could make them. Though Tho Times was
given the title of Tn 1hunderer before
Delane's time, 1t was at the height of its
political power during his connection with
1t The title OF %Thunderer was originally
bestowed upon the paper in ridicule, and
grew out OF the publication of an editorial
written by Capt. Sterling, the then editor.
which began: when we Numbered the day
before yesterday"
The most highly appreciated mon on tho
English papers are the war correspondents
and tue resident correspondents. The latter
are stationed at various political and news
centres, and are selected on account OF their
opportunity-eithcr from birth or ncquaint-
ance with public men-to obtain political in
formation. Tho former are not required to
do much during times Of peace further than
to keep thoroughly Informed upon tho course
of political events in all parts of the world.
After a war correspondent has once shown
his value to the paper employing hin his
future Is assured, and hs is given unlimited
latitude. News from the scat OF war has
been the making Of several papers. During
the Franco russian war tho circulation OF
The News rose from $1,000 to $50, mo-, and
any one Of the London dnilies would be will
ing TO spend a small fortune to get tho news
Of an important battle three hours ahead OF
Its rivals.