The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1891-11-09
EXPERT IN MANY LINES,
A REPORTER HUSTLeS HARD AND
IN INNUMERkBLE ROLES.

"" . cdtAAU subject
Great Tact Necessary In interviewing.
Must Have "A Good Memory.
OF the many millions Of people who
read the newspapers how few stop to
consider the amount of work that any
article of importance representa-! The
Idea that news flows into the editorial
rooms of a paper as water flows down
bill is not correct. Every scrap Of news
means labor-labor to gather the first
fact, labor to verify it and find other
facts necessary to make the story COM
plete, and labor to write, edit and print
the story. An article On some timely
subject, and not strictly news, also
means labor. For instance, a reporter is
told to write a story on rapid transit.
He does not sit at his desk and draw on
his memory and imagination, no matter
how excellent both may be. He goes
out and hustles.
lie calls on the commissioners having
the matter in charge. He obtains their
views. He goes to the engineers and
obtains expert opinions on the feasibility
Of the proposed plans. He goes to the
railroad men and asks their views on
the practicability Of the project. He
goes to lawyers and takes advice on the
legal obstacles to be overcome. He visits
Wall street to learn if capital is ready.
He consults the travelling public and
business men as to their needs. When
he has done all this and read up on what
other cities have accomplished he writes
his story. He weaves his facts together
systematically, building up his article as
a lawyer builds up his case in court, SO
that a clear idea of the whole matter is
conveyed to the public-his jury.
In gathering his information he re-
ceives much assistance. The lawyer ad-
vises him on the legal points without a
fee and without even a mention of his
name in the article unless it is necessary
to back up an important opinion. If the
article has a medical bearing the views
of a specialist Or a leading physician are
obtained without expense. The ply
sician may have a dozen patients with
fat fees awaiting him, but he stops to
put the newspaper man right on the
medical side Of the question. The bank
throw light upon a financial problem.
WIEN HE INTERVIEWS
The importer rushed with business
pauses to discuss a subject from the com
mercial standpoint. Experts on every
branch of the subject are ready to give
their views to the papers, but the collec-
ton of all this data requires more hus-
Ting than the general public gives the
reporters credit for.
Gathering the material also requires
brains. The mental caliber Of the re-
porter shows in every interview. Men
prefer talking about what interests them
selves. The reporter must draw out
what interests the public. To do this is
no easy task. Ministers talk politics and
politicians talk religion when III inter
view is requested.
To pin these men down to the point at
issue requires more tact, ingenuity, per-
severance and ability to read mems char
acters and to draw ont their thoughts
than can be told in a big book. Some
men decline to talk unless the reporter
takes shorthand and will pledge his word
that the interview will be printed YER
batim. Many of these men talk S slow
that a reporter taking long hand would
be tired waiting for the next word.
Others-and this is particularly the
case with wo1nen-will only give utter
ance to long, involved sentences, treat
ing subjects from an exalted standpoint
if notes are taken in their presence.
Such an interview published verbatim
would sound like a southern darky's
Grafton. After the note book is closed
these people unbend and talk nationally.
If the reporter knows his business he
throws away his notes and writes out
the latter part of the conversation, omit
ting many things that should never nave
been told him.
IN VARIOUS LINES.