Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-13

graduated the intelligent youth on his re-
markable precocity. The new attache
lasted on that paper less than month, his
entire unfitness being demonstrated within
month. 1t has come to be recognized by
the public that news gathering is an art,
and reporting matter calling for the exer-
else of a high order of talent of varied
characteristics. Not SO many years ago
the social and journalistic position OF the
reporter was of an Indifferent character,
but it has been advanced by recognition of
the art of the calling and the culture of
the class, despite the fact that very many
grossly abuse the profession, and by their
personal habits and manners disgrace it.
| The consideration of the natural and ac-
CURED qualifications for the model reporter
is by no means uninteresting. He must be
versatile and OF good address. His per-
ceptive faculties must be almost abnor-
mally developed in their keenness his
caution must be large, his courage unques.
toned, his activity and promptness adj
mitted his endurance great; his adapta-
bility proven, his subordination perfect I'M
der discipline, while his independence in
hisown sphere must be pronounced. He
must realize his dual character of reporter
and individual, and in no case confound
them or permit one to trench upon the do
main of the other. He must have a keen
sense of "news quality" and be thorough.
ly impressed with the Importance OF little
things. He must be every inch gentleman,
capable of listening, of concentration of
thought, and of reception. He must have
something of a judicial cast OF mind, and
be able to hear and record facts with per-
feet impartiality and irrespective of his own
theories, prejudiGes or beliefs. He must
be secretive, atfable, capable of ready ex-
preston, and be able to think faster than
he can write. He must possess that rare
ability of condensing the expressions of
others, without losing the point or spirit
of the address or essay, and be able to
photograph in words the activities Of
scenes and events, without either over
color on the one hand or loss of vivaoity on
the other. He must not be afflicted with
poverty of language, nor with slow NOV
ing thought. He must be able to say
what he has to say IN strong, clear Ian
guage, without ambiguity or repetition.
He must realize that he records history
every day, and that ne must be truthful
before all other things. He must realize
and that his is vocation presenting ever
changing phases and new features for his
study. If he respects himself he will re-,
spect his vocation, and will not debase it
by Islander, falsehood or bribery. He
need not necessarily be wit, but he
should have a fair sense of humor. The
critical quality should characterize him
without csptiousness, but he should EN-.
ploy it only when it is positively demanded
for the enlightenment of the reader,
or when called especially to that work, and
then must realize that criticism is fine
art, and that it is not to be entered upon
by those who have a false conception of it's
purpose, and fancy it to consist of fault
finding. He is better qualified for his
vocation if he is of an open nature, look
ing for all he can find Of good in al! things,
instead of being of a suspicious disposition
and inclined to doubt that there is any
virtue in the world. He must be able to
rise to conception of the truth that the
news of the world does not consist of Grim
inal records alone-that these last contrib
ute to the very lowest order of news. If his
publisher is high minded the reporter will
be enabled by the art of his profession to
demonstrate the superiority of healthy
over disgusting news, and his own love for
cleanliness in preference to filth.
These and other qualities are indispensa-
BILE to the American reporter. Perhaps the
most important we have not mentioned,
and that is the ability to place himself in
the attitude of the reader, and foresee the
effect of each line upon the man who Pc
ruses the morning paper over his coffee.
Now, this combination of qualities in one
person is a rarity, and hence it is that the
thoroughly good reporter is rare. He is
the product of American journalism and
civilization, and in his highest development
is the outgrowth of long apprenticeship.
He is seldom evolved from collegiate halls,
and rarely born of university course.
The recent idea" of establishing chairs
of journalism in colleges, if carried out,
will not produce the model reporter. He
is born, and to be trained in harness, but
he is not to be made to order by any known
process The American publishers know
this, if no others do. It is because of
all these facts that more men fail
in this branch of journalism than in any
other vocation in proportion to tie extent
of the business. 1t is safe to say that in
almost any large city hundreds of men can
be found who have tried their hand at re-
porting and failed, for every one who has
successfully attained the highest de-
velopment. The American publisher
has this to boast, that he discovered,
utilized and developed the model reporter,
and that the Old World has been driven
by the march of the age to come to him for
and to model its news depart
ments after those of the journals of the
New World. As result it will be noted
that within ten years next to succeea re-
porting in European journals will be revo
lutionized completely, and the class now
employed in news. gathering will be driven
out by the incoming of the better class,
and which is represented at present on the