Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-28
YOUNG MEN IN JOURNALISM.
Much More Common Than Journai-
ism In NOnng Men.


In his address before the recent con-
vention of the Wisconsin Press associa-
tion, Murat Halsted said
Once we did not have journalists. We
were editors and reporters. Journalist
is n word that came into use in New
York city along with the managing,
and assistant managing, night, and
and local, aud chief, and other editors,
and the elaborate organization of th
press that exalts machinery and re
duces individuality. We had able ed
itors long ago, but not great journalists
until in modern days. The journal
means the daily newspaper, and VIC
shouldn't I in discussing the press leave
out of consideration the tens of thous-
ands who are occupied on the weekly
and semi-weekly, and monthly issues
Of the newspapers of this country.
Hence the propriety of the larger
phrase-the newspaper man.
We need to guard against ways OF eX-
lusivcness-against the assumption
that for some mysterious reason the
press has rights that the people have
not; that there are privileges of the
press in which the masses and the
classes do not participate. The claim
of privilege is a serious error. One
neither gains nor loses rights in a pro-
fession. We have the same authority
to speak as editors as we have as citi-
zens. If we use II longer pole toltnock
the persimmons, because we have
larger constituency for our conversa-
tional ability, that doesn't affect rig hts.
1t simply increases responsibility. One
can say of a meritorious man or enter
prise or of rascally schcmer or scheme
as an editor the same that he could say
as a citizen, taxpayer, a lawyer, min
lister, farmer or blacksmith. 1t con-
duces to the better understanding OF
our business to know that we are like
other folks, and not set apart, baptized,
annointed or otherwise sanctified for an
appointed and exclusive and unique
service.
Communications from young gentle
men in or fresh from college or active
in otner shops who propose to so into
journalism or newspaperdom and want
to know how to do it are common eX-
periehce, for there is a popular fascina-
nation about our employment. There
is nothing one could know--neither fac
ulty to perform nor ability to endure
perfection of recollection, thoroughness
in history, capacity to apply the les
sons of philosophy. comprehension of
the law, or cultivated intuition OF the
gospel-that would not be of service
going inty newspaperdom. But it is
beyond me to prescribe a course of study.
1t is easir, when you have the knack, to
do than to tell.
Who can tell the young man how to
grasp the magic clew of the globe spins
with us? There is no turnpike or rail
road that leads into journalism. There
are no vacancies for didactic amatures.
Nobody is wanted. And yet we are al
ways looking out for Somebody, and
once in awhile he comes. He does not
ask for Il place, but takes that which is
his. DO not say to the young man
there are no possibilities. There GER
tainly are more than ever before.
Young, if you want to get into Journal
ism break in. Don't ask how. 1t is
the finding of it out that will educate
you to do the essential thing. The
young man must enter the newspaper
Office by main strength and awkward
ness ana make place for himself.
The machines upon which we impress
the sheets we produce for the market
and we all know how costly they are in
their infinite variety of improvements,
for the earnings of the editor are swept
away by the inccssant, Unsuitable re-
quirements of the pressmaker - this
facile mechanism is not more change
able than tho Press itself, in its larger
the one thing ncedful, first
and last, is man. With ali the changes,
the intelligence of the printer and the
personal force of the editor are indis-
pensible. Each accomplishment, every
achievement, whether rude or refined,
wrought in clay, copper, or gold must
bear the inc lfaceable stamp OF manhood.
Brains will tell, and aspiring, enduring
labor construct and command.
How far shall Il journal be IA newspaper
rather than the organ of IL party or the
oxpynent of principle? What is the
great thin to do, advocrate policy or
print the raw truth as it is in history?