Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-11

idea that news flows into the editorial
rooms Of paper as water flows down
hill Is not correct Every scrap OF news
means iaDoF-iSoor 10 gather the inst
fact. labor 10 verify il and md other
facts necessary 10 make the story com
piete. and labor 10 write. edit aud print
the story An article on some timely
subject, and not strictly news. afro
means labor. For instance. q reporter Is
told % write story Gu rapid transit
tie does not sit al ms desk and draw ON
his memory and imagination. no matter
how excellent both may 10. Tie goes
out and hustles.
He calls Oh the commissioners having
the matter IN charge. tie obtains their
views lie goes 10 the engineers and
obtains expert opinioas ON the feasibility
of the proposed plans He goes 10 the
railroad men aud asks their views on
the practicabihty OF the project he
goes 10 lawyers and takes advice on tho
legal obstacles to 10 overcome. He visits
Wall street TO learn il capital Is ready
He consults the travelling public and
business men as To their needs When
be 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 mp his case IN court. 30
that clear idea of the whole matter il
conveyed to the publc-his jury
In gathering his information he 70
ceives much assistance. The lawyer ad-
vises him on the legal points without
fec and without even q mention Of his
name in the article unless il is necessary
TO back up an important opinion. II the
article has o medical bearing the views
OF specialist or leading physician are
obtained without expense. The ply
stefan 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 hight upon financial problem
WHEN HE INTERVIEWS
The importer rushed with business
pauses to discuss subject from the COM
mercil standpoint Experts ON every
branch Of the subject are ready to give
their views to the papers, but the colleo-
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 an 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 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 YER
batim- Many Of these men talk 80 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 hike southern darky's
Grafton. After the note book is closed
these people unbend and talk nationally.
II 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 I'M
earths many things that are news to the
police. He reports to them and keeps
the public waiting q 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 NiSits TIC OduhS duo uOubCS balu
to be involved He talks with their off,
GERS, he sees the bank examiner, he in
terviews leading bankers. and from q
mass Of conflicting statements he gives
the public a clear idea Of the situation
Confidence is restored or a panic precipi-
tated by his pen.
All our big daily papers have report
ers who are experts in different lines OF
work. Each man knows how to get In
formation quickly and accurately. as
well rs how TO write under the direction
Of editors, who marshal them as q gen
eral marshals his troopa They 20 out
gather every item OF information that Is
obtainsble. write their articles and hand
Ia their copy.
Careful copy readers edit the matter
and write the head lines--an art in itself
When in type the proof Is submitted to
the editor and the paper IL made up
All this work requiring care. accuracy
and thought il done with a rush. The
great American public reads it's bulky
newspaper in the morning with com
plscency. oblivioas OF the great amount
Of work that the closely printed pages
representatives, York Recorder