The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-12-08
REPORTERS c9 AND REPORTERS,

REPORTERS (N AND REfphI Ems
The oreScnian seeks 10 place Its own
correspondent in a false ligh' with ~
erence TO the story sent out concern
ING the experience Of the British ship
Nelson. The Portland paper Is always
anxious that some assurance he given
and among newspapermen has we'll
deserved reputation FOR this sort ot
business The first report received in
Astoria was to the effect that the Nell
son had turned turtle, carving her
e men 10 the bottom. This report
was Immediately sent out ov snee'a'
CORRESPONDENTS for afternoon news
,,arers as we'll as hy the Associated
Press correspondent. II was o'clock
when the rerort came and, as there
seemed no doubt about the loss of ne
vessel the rerort was not then vHri-
sas Indeed the hour was 81 late that
verifcqtio7 was imrossiblH FOR the
evening papers outside Of the city.
The OraCaniau. Asto-iau and "ther
rorninr papers had q very fair a'-
.>,urt 81 the vessels experience. No
one knew that the Nelson was not lost.
though many believed 50. There was
NO attemrt al seusationalism in hand
ling the story. and ct IS surorising that
the fact should not have been reeos-
nired and appreciated
The above item. which appeared IN
the local columns of this paper YES
tsraay morning. merely represents the
vaporincs OF one Of its reporters, and
Is in no sense a criticism BY the As
,orjan on the contrary. the Astorian
approves Of the course of the Oregon
ian and Telegram in throwing down
the correspondents or reporters who
were responsible for the garbled ae-
count Of the Nelson's experience which
went the rounds OF the press, The
Nelson was reported as a wooden ship
Iumber-laden. bound for South Africa,
and the startling announcement was
made that she had turned turtle. The
discrepancies are that the Nelson is
not a wooden ship; she Is not loaded
with lumber: she is not bound for
South Africa, and. lastly she did not
turn turtle. Any shipping Office could
have given the true facts. had they
been applied for
\ newspaper is compelled TO place
reliance on its reporters and coTespon-
dents to a great extent, and when it is
made the vehicle for the dissemination
Of absolutely false and highly oolored
narratives. it is fully justified in pub
rirlv calling 10 account the person OF
persons responsible for the ridicule il
must certainly endure a majority OF
the reporters appear 10 be content with
culline items from other papers ol
picking up news around some obscure
poker table. This is foistered on tn
public without any attempt at verih
cation.
The ordinary reporter looks only fo
his salary and the emoluments Incl
dent to his position in the way o
whiskey. cigars. etc. He appears Il
take no interest in his vocation an
he does not make any attempt TO lcol
into the future with the view of max
ing a reputation for himself He look
upon his position as a weekly job
having but one oasis in the way Of
payday. and that payday is the cen
ter Of all his interests if he IAN foo
his employers and hold his job unit
It comes around. It is nothing NOR
than a mercenary grind for him, an
he does not strive 10 make it any
thing else.
However, there are some good re
porters-men with ambition and rug
ged honesty, who will give facts an
only facts. and will not draw upo
their imagination for the purpose q
working off gone private prudge O
serving their own purposes.