The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-07
JOS. PULITZER'S IDEAS ON
 SUCCESS.
BY FOSTER COATES

'i ipo i@iN CpsA TO
 This is the golden age of journal ism in New York. Never in the his- tory of newspaper making ill the city was so much money made by news papers, and never was so much paid by newspaper proprietors to those who make them. Journalists are bet ter paid now than ever before. Good articles from special contributors are more eagerly sought after and more literally paid for than at any time since journalism became profession. First class editors and reporters com- mand nearly double the pay they did fifteen years ago. The salary of one managing editor of a leading morning newspaper is $12,000 yearly. At least five managing editors in this city are paid over S6,000 each yearly. Good city editors are paid from S3,0O0 to 5000 each. A score at least ot good reporters are in receipt of incomes ranging from $3,000 to 5000. Cor respondents of leading out-ot- town papers are paid from S2,000 to S5 000.
 In fact, all workers, good and bad, ill newspaperdom are better compen- sated now than ever before. More money is spent for news. Expense is not considered in making great New York newspaper these days. It makes no difference how vast the un- dertaking or how distant the field, if 1t only promises good results, money is spent with lavish hand.
 With this condition of affairs, it is not surprising that the newspaper business is being eagerly studied and sought after by young men and wo- men as means of getting liveli- hood. Not day passes that from one to dozen applications are not made to leading managing editors for em- ployment. Letters from all parts of the country are sent to newspaper offices applying for places. Journal ism has finally become well-paid and dignified profession, profession that bringsas many rewards and emol- uments as any other professson in the land. And it needs new recruits. It needs new life and new labor, and men and women with originality and new ideas. How to begin is the great problem. It was with the view of getting the opinion of an expert, a man who has made phenomenal suc- cess in this city, that 1 called upon Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, the editor of the Wof1d, and asked him some pertinent questions. MT. Pulitzer was busy when l called at the World otlice-he is always busy-but he replied frankly and good naturedly to all the ques- tions propounded. The first one was this:
 "What chance has young man, with nothing but brains and pluck, of getting on in journalism?"
 "There never was better chance in journalism for man with brains than just now. Brains are not enough, however. To rise to commanding position it must be accompanied by character and persistent work. Any man of brains and pluck and principle is sure to succeed"
 "What course would you advise beginner to pursuep
 "To work and work, to think and think and think. Ii he will do both, and have some original ideas, he will not have to wait long to become both prominent and prosperous"
 "Is it necessary for a successful jour- nalist to have college education?'
 "The best college is the college of the world-the school of life the university of actual experience. Knowledge is highly desirable, and college education valuable, but it is not indispensable"
 "Which, in your opinion, make the best journalists, college graduates or self-educated men who have risen from the printers case?"
 The history of our country and the history of the most successful men in Ameri a conclusively establish the possibility of self-cultivation and self education. Few of our greatest men, even in politics and in the intellectual pursuits, were college graduates. Self-made men are generally self educated men,"
 "There has been considerable talk of establishing chairs of journalism in some of the colleges. Do you think they will be of any value?"
 "Yes, do. AS I said before, all knowledge is desirable, and there are some technical features of journalism in which young men could be trained. l see no reason, for instance, why a chair of journalism, filled by man of real talent and character, could not be made very beneficial to hundreds of young men who are anxious to ioin the ranks of journalism, and often do without the slightest experience what soever. Of course, the highest order of talent or capacity could no more be