Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-06
EXPERT IN MANY LINES.
A REPORTER HUSTLES HARD AND
IN lNNUMERABLE ROLES.

How He Goes to Work Co Produce .
Special Article on a Leading 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 paper as water flows down
hill 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, 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.
He 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. Hevisits
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
lawyer builds up his case in court, so
that 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 specialist or leading physician are
obtained without expense. The ply
sician may have 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
president cheerfully gives his time to
throw light upon financial problem
WHEN HE INTERVIEWS.
The importer rushed with business
pauses to discuss 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-
tling 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 an inter-
view is requested w ss
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 out their thoughts
than can be told in big book. Some
men decline to talk unless the reporter
takes shorthand and will pledge his word
that the interview will be printed ver-
batim. Many of these men talk so slow
that reporter taking long hand would
be tired waiting for the next word
Others-and this is particularly the
case with women-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 darkys
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 have
been told him.
IN VARIOUS LINES
Thereporter suppresses nearly as much
as he publishes. He goes out to cover a
murder. He plays detective and un-
earths many things that are news to the
police. He reports to them and keeps
the public waiting day or two that the
ends of justice be not defeated. He is
ubiquitous. He works on every clew.
If the victim is unidentified and the
name "John Smith" is found on the
body he runs down every John Smith in
town until he finds which one is missing.
If there are rumors of an impending
financial crash in Wall street the re.
! porter visits the banks and houses said
| to be involved. He talks with their off
GERS, he sees the bank examiner, he in
terviews leading bankers, and from a
mass of conflicting statements he gives
the public clear idea of the situation
| Confidence is restored or panic precipi
tated by his pen.
All our big daily papers have report
ers who are experts in different lines oi
work. Each man knows how to get, in
formation quickly and accurately, al
well as how to write under the direction
Of editors, who marshal them as gen
eral marshals his troops. They 60 out
| gather every item Of information that il
obtainable, write their articles and hani
in their copy.
Caref111 copv raadare adit tho m oatta,