Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-04

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. c. A
in that city last week on Newspaper Work !"
Mir. Schachtel said 1.-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 bis 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 win say
that he does not hold the opinions expressed
III his editorials: but if the truth were known
it would DC found that his individual and
private opinion Is far in advance of that
which he expresses in print. Many edi-
uorlals 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 asdoyes, and who temper principle with
policy.
The duties Of a reporter are simply cler-
icai. He is 20 make a clear, true statement
Of what facts he finds, and il nine cases out
Of ten it is as devoid Of comment as frog is
OF hair. Comment and the editorial we
are the prsrogatives Of an editor, and it is
better so, as reporters have responsibilities
enough without it.
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 must work
twenty-four hours out OF the twenty four,
and be ready to repeat it the next day. 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
nlereSt 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, as G rule, the reporters
rise at noon, go to work at 1:30 or p. NJ,
work until dinner time, which is any time
before p. m, returning to work imrne
diately afterward, and continuing until $50
Or 3 a. NJ, when the paper goes to press,
laying out worl: for the next day. Supper
consists of 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 5 a. m, to sleep till
noon, then repeat the same programme.
"If he is called to go out of town to report
a trial IN court or morning sermon in church,
lie must rise at a. m, and thereby lose three
hours Of sleep. On an afternoon paper the
hours are no shorter. ct work from Z &. III.
to 10 and II p. H., 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 III hours which right
fully belong to sleep. The great diversity Of
the work is another feature which is apt to
prove q stumbling block in the path Of a
young reporter That it is necessary for him
to know what he is writing about is self evi-
dent. Neither ais education nor his brief ex-
perience in the practical affairs of life can
have been sufficient to make him familiar
with the many subjects On which ne is called
to write
"ln regard to what appears the most
attractive in a reporters position-the
loaves and fshes-let me say, once for all,
there is not 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
tainnent 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 a case where
the reporter knows beforehand that the en-
tertainmen5 will be inferior or not suited to
his tastes, TIE duty Of attending becomes a
punishment lie 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 It is matter
of business; that is all. AS a means of earn
ing livelihood newspaper work is far less
reTnunerative than is generally believed. 1t
is very CALLING TO many newspaper writers,
editors as we'll as reporters, 10 know that
they are working for less 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 one
adds to his stock of knowledge every day.
From continued experience and habits OF
close observation a reporter comes to see
things as they are from the inside, from be-
hind the scenes, and not as they appear to
the world outside Life's 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 x. " Dispatch.