The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-04-08
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
JOURNALISTIC PROFESSION.
Some Suggestions for Young Ladies Who
Wish to Enter This Field.

It is a safe statement to say that
there are at least a hundred women
employed in newspaper work to-day
where there was one twenty years ago,
In fact many of US can remembe
when the sight of woman gathering
news for a paper or reporting lecture
or concert was unusual enough to at
tract considerable attention and re-
mark. and the women who held salar-
led positions as regular correspondents
of the great newspapers were few IN
number, and were usually those who
had attained fame as writers Now
there is hardly any newspaper of stand
ing and prominence which does not en-
ploy some women either as writers on
special topics, news reporters, or salar-
led correspondents. Those who have
proved their ability command higher
salaries than women can earn in almost
any other branch of work. This fact
causes such positions to be much sought
for, and many young women have a
mistaken idea that journalism is an
easy road TO fame and a delightful pro-
fess;on through which to crafty their
work. The truth is leaving out of con-
sideration brilliant special gifts of ex-
ceptioaal geniusl that there is no work
that requires a longer or harder or more
rigid apprenticeship before one can at
tain success
Young women frequently ask what
ere the chief requirements for girl
who wishes to enter upon newspaper
work. As n preliminary. she should
know how TO spell correctly, punctuate
properly and paragraph with good
taste. She should be familiar with the
meanings and correct uses of English
words. and the more wide and general
information she possesses the better
Will be her chances for success. If she
is lacking in these necessary points she
Is not lit to take the first step in jour
nalism- Learn to write and spell and
use the English language tersely and
correctly before thinking CT anything
Csc.
One of the first requisites for
woman who expects 70 do systematic
work is good health. The girl who is
subject to sick headaches or Mysteries
or who can not control her nerves and
temper had better not undertake news
paper work. She must be able to en-
dure the routine OF regular work with
out much interruption and, If emer-
gency arises TO make extra effort and
work longer hours withou: thinking of
i'll feelings or fatigue. There is moth
ing in business life more memorable
than the hour OF press time" and if an
cmploye who is trusted 20 do certain
part of the work IS unable TO fill the
requirement, some busy fellow-worker
must do dOutle duty and supply the
lack. A few such failures during a
critical press OF work would stamp one
with ineticiency or unftness for the
place. One must be so interested in
her work that she can forget her own
personal feelings and interests and pref
-erences and think only OF what she is
dong and how to do it best
A newspaper worker must not be too
sensitive. and must learn TO bear crit
icism with philosophy II you do nine
ty-nine things well you may receive no
apparent credit for them, and II you
fail on the one-hund-edth you may full |
iy expect that the failure viii be no
ticed and criticised; that IS one OF the |
inevitable consequences of work which |
the whole public sees and upon which |
1t is at liberty to pass Judgment II |
-ou write an article which you fully |
believe TO be masterpiece GO not be |
if YOU fail 70 hear il COM
meuded or noticed az all. Very posi- |
bly, you may conclude after a while |
that you were mistaken and that It was |
not masterpiece. But even if it was |
of unusual excellence, remember the |
newspaper world is full OF ambitious |
young people who would rather be COM |
plimented for their own masterpieces 1
than to stop and admire yours Do not |
be discouraged, but keep straight on,
doing every piece of work as faithfully |
and perfectly as you possibly can. and /
in time appreciation will come, very
likely when you least expect Il and 4
perhaps from a quarter whence you |
least looked for it There IS one great |
reward and encouragement in news /
paper work: When you have once OBJ
tanned a good foothold you can always
hold it, If you will Areputation gained |
Tor doing good, honest, capable work in
this line is something that will always |
serve You, and when you have once
proved your ability you will never need /
to go hunting for WORK. Work will |
come to you rs fast as you want it
Il is the first step that is difficult /
The obtaining chance to begin is the /
step that counts There IS scarcely any /
chance for an inexperienced person to
obtain even the humblest situation on |
one OF the grea: newspapers Busy
editors and busy managers can not stop |
20 be troubled with the bluaders of in |
experience and will not take the risks |
OF Incompetence. Almost everyone /
must begin a. fr-t II some small Office 1
and gradually work mis- or her way up
ward After one or two promotions
the way is clear and success depends
only upon yourself
But as long as You may live you will /
never live long enough to know i all. !
You will always De learning. and there /
is hardly any form OF knowledge but |
viii sometime come useful in news
paper work Cultivate attention and |
memory, two OF the best ads and /
friends 10 success. You viii be sure to |
find time when any scrap OF accurate
knowledge o. reliable information will |
serve you J good turn.-Fanny VI. !
Johnson, in Farm and Home.
WOMEN as MnNEN csMEpc