The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-11
NEWSPAPER WORK IN ENGLAND.
Active Reporters In tho Small Places
Make Pretty Fair Wages.

Active Reporters In tho Small Places
Make Pretty Fair Wages.
The most important perQuisite for re-
porters is that known as Lineage"
Daily newspapers, for example, have
recognized correspondents in nearly ev-
cry town of any importance throughout
the country. A reporter living in one of
these places, and connected with local
newspaper, may be appointed CORES
pendent for dozen or even more jour
mails. All events of Importance have, of
course, to be attended for his own paper,
and should anything occur of sufficient
interest to justify notice in the papers
he represents, he writes report and for
wards it by telegraph or by train.
From each paper he receives the cost
of the telegram and is paid for his re-
port at so much per line, varying in diff
ferent towns between one penny and
twopence per line. Some of the London
papers pay as much as threepence per
line, and in the case of matters of I'M
usual importance or value the leading
provincial newspapers will sometimes
pay like amount. By this means it is
no unusual thing for a smart man to
make as much as five pounds in single
night.
In a good district reporter looks for
ward to doubling his weekly income by
Lineage" alone. Even when not the rec
ognized correspondent of any paper, he
makes a considerable addition to his
earnings by Lineage" Take, for ex-
ample. an interesting event coming to
the knowledge of the reporter some
morning. He writes out a Geographic
message and wires a paragraph to the
principal evening papers. A special re-
duced charge is made for press messages.
Up to 6 o'clock in the evening seventy
five words can be sent over the wires for
one shilling, and one hundred words
after o'clock for the same amount
Every repetition of the message costs
twopence.
From each paper which inserts his
paragraph the enterprising scribe re-
ceives half crown or three shillings
and sixpence, usually the latter sum.
So, taking it that he sends his news to
twelve newspapers, the cost of the tele-
grams would be three shillings and ten
pence, and if the report were used by
nine out of the twelve papers he would
receive taking rs a moderate estimate
that he would be paid half crown by
EACH 81 Is. Cd. Deducting the cost of
the kilograms it will be seen that he
clears nearly a sovereign by the trans
action. The risk is small, for any spicy
item of news told in an interesting way
is always welcome, to the evening pa
pers especially. If only two papers were
to insert and pay for his report he would
still be a gamer.
In the large cities and towns there are
men known as 'penny-a-liners," uncon-
nected with any particular newspaper,
who make a decent income by keeping
watchful eye for items of news which
may escape the observation of the ordi-
nary reporter. Any terrible calamity in
q district is a golden harvest to the
scribes. A railway accident, colliery
explosion or startling murder means
pounds, shillings and pence to the re-
porter.
Another source of profit to the
"Knights of the PENCIL is shorthand |
writing in the local law courts. In many |
towns the reporters are the only compe- |
tent shorthand writers, and to their lot |
fall the shorthand notes which from time |
to time are required by solicitors and |
other people.-London Tit-Bits.