The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-10-30
HOW NEWS is GATHERED.
A Letter of Instruction Regarding Prac-
teal journalism.

|
teal journalism.
| Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Oct. 16-The gathering
of the news of the day in the smaller cite:
by the newspapers is not an extremely
complicated matter. But in New York
the task assumes mammoth proportions,
and few people know how it is done. Nc
newspaper ever published employed
enough reporters of itself to cover the
events of the great city. The unimpor
tant routine-police courts, small fires
petty accidents, etc.-is handled by the
news associations, which are run on the
same plan as is the well regulated city
department Of a newspaper There are
several Of these associations in New York
and each one employs fifty or sixty men
who scour the city for items.
AS soon as one of these men obtains
his facts he takes them to the office and
writes them up, preparing as many
| duplicate copies as there are newspapers
| served by his association. This explains
the fact that one sometimes sees accounts
of some small happening told in three OF
four different newspapers in exactly the
same words When the item is an i'm
portant one, however, the city editor, if
there is time, generally turns the story
received from the news association over
to one of his own reporters, who re-
writes it and, if possible, obtains some
new facts
The heads of these associations are ex-
pert newspaper men and are thoroughly
responsible. The consequence is that
when an article is received from one of
them the city editor has but to see from
the heading if it be advisable; if so, and
if it is not important enough to be re-
written, it is sent at once to the printer
without the careful scrutiny and editing
required in most cases. In this way the
city editor is relieved of many onorous
duties and petty responsibilities, and
considerable time is gained.
1t is dull day when twice as much
news matteras can be printed is not SUBJ
mitted to the city editor. In most of the
offices the motto, "Get news; honestly
if thou canst. but get it," is an exponent
of the principles practiced therein.
"Malle every man, woman and child a
news gatherer," is another motto. This
is accomplished by treating every one
who either brings important Informal
ton, Or gives pointer" as to where it
can be gotten, literally. Such persons
are always remembered on pay day, and
come in for sums large or small, in the
ratio of the prominence given the matter
furnished and space occupied.
All the large papers have from sixty
to a hundred men on the reportorial
staff of the city department. Some of
the papers pay all the men regular sal
aries, some all space, some salaries and
space both, while others guarantee Il
certain sum to each man, and in case
the material he turns in measures in ex-
cess Of the guaranteed amount he re-
ceives the benefit of such excess. Many
of the reporters write also special
matter-"stories" on all sorts of general
subjects, which are published in the big
Sunday editions, and for which they re-
ceive extra pay.
Each prominent channel of commerce
is covered, or attended to, by the most
accomplished man in that special field
on the staff. For instance: The railroad
news is gathered by man who has
through years of experience learned the
technique of this branch. He is &C
quainted, even familiar, with all the
prominent railroad managers, superin-
tendents and ticket agents. Some of the
papers send regular men through the
dry goods districts twice a day. These
men know everybody in the trade, and
are given many pointers. The custom
house matters are seen to after similar
fashion, while Wall street is covered by
a man who is known to every prominent
banker down town.
The civil and federal courts are re.
ported accurately by men whom long
practice has made as familiar with the
"docket" as the court clerks themselves
These men are veritable encyclopedias
in everything of a historically legal
character. They have considerable in.
huence, not so much with the judges.
whom they dare not treat with anything
but respect, but with the court officers
who are looking for political preferment,
and particularly the ambitious young
members of the bar, many of whom owe
their starts in life to the puffs given
them by friendly court journalists.
HENRY IRVING DODGE