Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-24
schools for Training Journalists.


Chairs OF journalism have been es-
tablished In n number OF. our state uni
versities. and the subject ia under dis
cussion now in the legislatures Of Kansas
and Missouri. The time will come when
every State will have one or more such
schools.
We don't expect an Annapolis gradu-
ate TO know all about sailing ship nor
West Point man to know all about
manoeuvring an army nor medical
college graduate 10 know all about curing
diseases. nor a law-school graduate TO
know all about bringing and defending
suits, but II these studepts have improved
their opportunities they have acquired the
groundwork CT their professions, and to
this practical training can soon be
added. SO II will be with Journalistic
students.
The great trouble that we see ABOUT
sustaining journalistic schools Is that
the monetary inducements TO journalistic
life are not sufficiently great to encourage
promising young men to qualify them
selves at college for the profession.
The business openings for young jour-
nallsts are not very numerous Inc
voune doctor or lawyer can begin lie
for himself "a soon as he has his diploma
Not so with the graduate from the schooi
OF Journalism. He has TO look Tor en-
ployment; that is to say. unless ne ~
rich enough 10 start a newspaper OF his
own. In the latter case he is likely 70
nay well for such practical experience as
he gains.
The journalistic instinct" is what no
school nor college can give a man. IL
a pupil have this instinct he VIII proht
very rnch from his professors lectures
and IN rapidly improve in style-h
feciH and elegance Of composition anu
ability 10 grasp the facts OF case anu
10 state them clearly. But II ne nave 1t
ro, ou the college learning that can
he crammed into his head Will not aVtli
him when he enters into competition win
mon who have 1.-THE nose for news; VINO
know what is news. how it can be gotten
and how IL should be written up TO the
very best advantage.
We have known many finely-educated
men who were utterly incapable OF learn
ing journalism. Their education aValleu
them neither in the gathering nor IN"
writing ND Of news matter. They dat
know what was news and what not; what
had been and what had not been pup
usbed Nor was their composition IN any
way DISTINGUISHED for force or elegance.
we have known also at least two men
who could not Prepare their copy Tor
the prlnters who were exceedingly VaIu-
ob,e as news gathcrers. The collection
Of news was their forte, but other men
had to rcwrite their copy for the printers
hands. But save men Of eXceptiohai
genius. su.h reporters cannot be tolerated
in newspaper offices, where everything IS
aone I'm a hurry and little time can be
allowed for the preparation of copy.
We have in mind some journalists
nowspapar-me is better term) who
have eucceeded well in their profession.
hut who. we think would have peen
oualifed for better work had they mad
the advantages which good Journalistic
school AFT srds. In the beginning the IDEA
was h0otci at by many that soialeIs
could be made at West Point or sailors
at ANNAPOLIS SO we are not surprised
n know that some @ our fraters Jeer
At the schools Of Journalism; but we
canro. concur in their views. We
think that such schools. properly
organizcd. are capable Of doing
great and good work. and we
believe that in time every State VIII
have one or more. The reason that such
schools are not coming into existence
more rapidly is that it Is known mat
the openings for graduates are Few ana
far between, and that employers do not as
yet fully appreciate the value OF the
preliminary training that these schools
can give young men ambitious of enter
ing upon newspaper work. with the hope
Of reaching the topmost round. we may
safely trust the future to remove or at
least to lessen these objections.