Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1898-03-03
THE CHAIR OF JOURNALISM
Richmond Dispatch.

Richmond Dispatch.
The establishment by the Uni
versity of Missouri of a "chair Of
journalism is the subject of NUNS
erous and varying remraks from
the witty photographers of the
press. The trend of these obser-
vations is Encouraging to the
terprise, and somewhat contemp-
tuous of the high sounding title
the toilers of the press, whether
they be editors, reporters, or cor
respondents, usually calling them
selves "newspaper-men, not
journalists" 1t is remembered,
too, that time and again such
chairs have been established, only
to die Cor want of patronage.
With newspaper-men, elderly
ones certainly, the belief is strong
that the only thorough school for
journalists is the newspaper office.
1t is a fact that nearly all of the
members of our calling who have
risen to eminence have been men
who entered newspaper offices
early and climbed, rung by rung,
the slippery ladder Of fortune. It
is a fact, also, hat before the
West Point Military Academy
was established, all Of our army Of
fcers we're men who were trained
in the school of practical exper-
fence. The same was true, tco,
Of our naval officers, before
the Annapolis Academy was put
into operation. And We doubt
not that in the older time officers
Of our army and navy were very
contemptuous of the youths who
we're graduated from the two
academies-not believing that
that sort of preparation wascom-
parable in efficiency with that OF
actual apprenticeship in the art
OF war. But experience has
shown the great value Of these
training schools. So, toe. hes
the value of the schools for law
yers and physicians been proved
We dare say that the West Point
or Annapolis cadet, when gradu-
ated, is more nearly ready for
his professional duties than the
young lawyer Or doctor is; but in
each and all CT these cases the
professional training that the
young man has received puts
him a long way ahead Of his rival
who has not had these a1vant-
ages. Green" the graduates
may he in many particulars, but
this ''greenness" rapidly wears
off.
Despite the traditions and
preiudices Of the waJority Of our
brethren upon this subject, we
believe q newspaper training
school might be established with
great capacity for good. Itshouid
be a school Of preparation mere
~. Its graduate would Ca as he4r-
less without practical experience
as is the young lawyer who steps
from tbs classroom into the
courtroom; but after be had ac~
quired practical experienco--af-
ter he had shown that be pos
sesse the newspaper instinct
he would possess great advanta-
ges over his rivals.
All men whose business it is tc
edit the copy" sent into news
paper offices by correspondents,
reporters. and others know what
dreadful stuff often comes tc
them. Sometimes the writer's ara
college-bred mes; oftel they tel
their stories wei, but there is il
their MSS. 3 tangle OF ideas aaG
a lack Of flush mat impose upor
the careful and conscientious ed.
itor a degree Of difficult work
that taxes his patience aud en-
durauce ia the highest degree
The most thoroughly we'll edited
daily newspaper III the worEt
abouuds 10 errors, and must ever
continue to-such are the bur.
ried conditions under which mos
of the matter is prepared. traas-
mitted. edited, set in typ, att
read in pro0f-but it would be
startling revelation, to the publ;
if some day a. daily newspape.
BLADDER TROUBLES.
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