Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-06
NEWSPAPER WORK.
WHAT is SAID OF 1T BY A MAN
OF EXPERIENCE.

A Young Man Apt to BE Disappointed
In Editorial work-The Duties of a
Reporter-Hours of Labor-Behind the
Scenes.
William Schachtel whose connection with
the press of Utica has been long and honor
able, made an address before the Y. NJ. G. A.
in that city last week on Newspaper Work. "
Mr. Schachtel said: 'The young man
about entering journalism as an editorial
writer is apt TO be greatly disappointed when
he finds that the rule by which he must
Judge is the broad, liberal and impartial one
of the world, rather than his own narrow
and sometimes biased opinion. But, you
say, an editor should surely have the courage
to express his convictions. Granted, and
there is not an editor living who will say
that he does not hold the opinions expressed
in his editorials: but if the truth were known
it would be found that his individual and
private opinion is far in advance Of that
which he expresses in print. Many edi-
torials are as remarkable for what they omit
as for what they actually do say. Journal
ism Is not the only field, however, whose
toilers are often wise as serpents and harm
less as doves and who temper principle with
policy.
THE duties of a reporter are simply cler-
ical. He is TO make clear, true statement
Of what facts he finds, and in nine cases out
of ten IL is as devoid of comment as a frog is
of hair. Comment and the editorial "wen
are the prerogatives of an editor, and it is
better so, as reporters have responsibilities
enough without il.
"Another fact which is not pleasing rev.
citation to young reporter is that his time is
never his own. He does not work given
number of hours, or regular hours, as is the
case in almost every other branch of indus
try. II occasion requires it, he work
twenty four hours out of the tv four,
and be ready TO repeat it the mex The
work Of reporting is regular only in its irreg-
ularity, Regular hours for meals or for sleep
must be discarded, and often TO suit the
merest whims of individuals. Many can not
stand the physical strain, while many others
give up and seek work in other fields On
the morning papers, a rule, the reporters
rise at noon, go to work at 1870 or 2 p. m,
work until dinner time which is any time
before s p. M, returning to work imme-
diately afterward, and continuing until 2:3O
or a. m, when the paper goes to press,
then writing letters to correspondents and
laying out work for the next day Supper
consists of a cold lunch intended to be eaten
at midnight, but oftener never touched until
the days work is done If lucky, the re-
porter gets to bed at a, m, to sleep till
noon, then repeat the same programme.
"If he is called to go out of town to report
atrial in court or morning sermon in church,
he must rise at 3 a. M, and thereby lose three
hours of sleep On an afternoon paper the
hours are no shorter. At work from a. m.
to 10 and II p. M, afternoon newspaper re-
porters fare no better, and as their busiest
hour is at noon, they often do not get their
dinner until p. m, after the paper has gone
to press. If you should find this mass of de-
tail uninteresting, the apology must be that
this sketch was written in hours which right
fully belong to sleep. The great diversity of
the work is another feature which is apt to
prove a stumbling block in the path of a
young reporter. That it is necessary for him
to know what he is writing about is self evt-
dent. Neither his education nor his brief ex-
perienoe in the practical affairs of life can
have been sufficient to make him familiar
with the many subjects on which he is called
to write
'In regard to what appears the most
attractive in reporters position-the
loaves and fishes-lct me say, once for all,
there is not a single, honest, self-respecting
reporter who does not wish from the bottom
of his heart they were abolished altogether.
To be freely admitted TO dramatic enter
tainment in consideration Of the fact that
you write a notice for it, may seem high
privilege to some yet even such Sordid
natures can understand that in Il case where
the reporter knows beforehand that tho en-
tertainment will be inferior or not suited to
his tastes, the duty of attending becomes
punishment. He attends and does his work,
but with no more enjoyment than the hired
singers at funeral the musicians at the ball
or the walters at the banquet. 1t is a matter
of business; that is all. As a means of earn
ing a livelihood newspaper work is far less
remunerative than is generally believed 1t
is very Calling to many newspaper writers,
editors we'll as reporters, to know that
they are working for loss money than the
compositors who put their articles in type.
'From the facts thus given in regard to
newspaper work it would appear anything
but attractive or remunerative, yet that it
has substantial charms cannot be denied,
knowledge is power, and there is great
satisfaction in newspaper work, because ono
adds to his stock of knowledge every day.
From continued experience and habits Of
things as they are from the inside, from be-
hind the scenes, and not as they appear to
the world outside. Lies tragedy and COM
edy he sees mingled about him every day,
and his work is made interesting by its con-
trasts, which are often startling. Many
things which he prints may be interesting,
but the things he does not print would often
be more So."-Auburn (N " Dispatch.