The Penn's Grove record., 1883-12-22

good mOfnlnGl"
We followed HIM through the vari.
Gus rooms of the editors, managers
and reporters. All were handsomely
furnished and fitted, and their arrange
ments seemed to be perfect for their
business. We went through the ele-
giant library, with its store of intel
lectual food, finally landing in what
was called the general room,n where
chars were offered us, and the city
editor excused himself by saying, ''the
book is not out yet, and / cannot keep
the nen waiting longer" The gene
raj room was large and spacious; there
was a long row Of desks reaching en-
tirely around it and two broad tables in
the centre. About twenty reporters
lounged- about, having apparently moth
ing to do. Some read contemporary
papers, some talked of how certain
journals ''got beat" or SCOT left" by
Others upon certain matters of more or
less interest to the public, others played
with pennies upon two long tables SCI
end to end. The one who could slide
a penny from one end to the other and
stop nearest the crack between the two
claimed the pile. They were an intelli-
gent, wide-awake lot Of men. Most
of them were young, all except n or
two were college graduates.
A tall, dark man of dignifed pres
9nee entered the room. He was a lieu
tenant in the navy, retired o. half pay
and ''doing" the shipping department
of the Tribune. Following him came
a decided CONTRAST short, stout,
light-haired man of some 30 years.
"Hello, friendl what's the tip in Wall
~streets.n cried one of the men. "He is
the financial reporter" l thought.
'He is the financial correspondent of
the London News" said a reporter to
me, ''and knows as much as Jay Gould
about stocks and bonds.n Suddenly
there was a sound of heavy feet, a
young man came from the city editors
room with a book-the assignment
book-and dashing it on the table was
Immediately surrounded by a pressing
throng of eager reporters. He squeezed
his way ont and retired. One by one
the reporters marched off to the city
editor to ask for any instructions in
regard to the assignments, and soon
the room was empty. l arose, and ran
nay eve oyer ssthe book.n Every item
of interest in the city was written down
in order, and in IL column to the left
were the names assigned to work"
such items. Some received assign
ments, some three, some one, while
those who received none were said to
be on the ''anxious BENCH Attached
to certain matters of more than ordinary
interest was .'See Mr.. b." meaning
the city editor.
"Who is the city editor?" asked my
friend.
"a. +. BIZ
"What has he to dor"
Everything. His is the most re-
sponsible position on the paper. He is
expected to know everything a reporter
can ask about. He knows every nook
and corner of the city and surrounding
country. He knows every politician i'll
New York, every gambler, every slug
ger, every sporting man, every"
That will do. L suppose he IS an
encyclopedia"
"Actually he is"
"How did he learn SO much?n
she was a reporter. They learn
everything that people won't tell, and
a good deal besides. 1t takes a good
reporter to make a city editor"
Show does he get up SO much news
every day?"
s.He has two assistants who come to
the office early every morning aud read
all the other. papers and make notes
of ali the items. They write these
down in the book and when he gets
to the office at Il .30~P. NJ, all he has
to do is to assignthe right men to the
right things, and put it out for the re-
porters. The book comes out twice a
day, at 1913 and $50 p. M, and all
men are expected to be on hand at
those hours. The city editor is on duty
from 1873 to- midnight. Reporters
generally get home by 2 A. M"
"The city editor is responsible for
the biggest part of the paper every day,
and if any other paper has a better
report of a matter than his, there is a
row; he calls up the delinquent reporter
and 'hauls him over the Goals, some
times ~discharging him on the spot.'
"Are reporters paid salariesl"
"a few of them only. They are
generally paid 50 much per column and
SO much per hour. Their bills go in
once a week. They make an average
Of from SIS to 500 per week, but they
earn every cent of it. Theirs is a hard
life. and any young man who goes into
the business with the intention to stick
to it must nerve himself against thous-
ands of temptations. No one wants to
he a reporter for life, though there are
old men who have never risen higher.
All reporters expect or hope to be
editors, and they make the best of that
class"
"What makes the Sun su"1 a good
paper2n
"The city editor"
"What makes the Tribune so good a
sheet.n
1.-The city editor"
"The city editor must be the whole
paper"
"He is the largest part of it."