The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1903-09-24
X


when Mes Afser News.
One Of the sad features OF civil and
military life is the unpreparedness OF
men In the presence OF the newspaper
reporter. Without the reporter there
might be papers. but not newspapers.
Is a necessary evil, II he be any
kind of evil. Those who fight hardest
against him and oppose his mission
are the very ones who at some future
day need him most, and It is they
who will work most strenuously to
use him for their purposes. 1t gives
me pleasure to say that we Of the
Fourth Estate are gradually educating
the public In the art Of receiving news
paper men and treating them with that
courtesy and frankness which the exl-
gencies of the hour demand. We are
here to stay. We are friends Of ell
good and enemies Of all guile.
One OF the leading reporters In this
city was introduced to q Wall Street
broker. a man Of no considerable on
sequence, but much pulled up with his
success as an eighths-and-quarters 60
between. The introducer had neglected
to mention that he was a reporter, and
the conversation was general. Later
on the Identity of the gentleman was
exposed. whereupon the broker threw
up his hands, exclaiming: Good God!
A reporter? I'm ruined. Why didn't
you say so before you introduced himT
The situation vas slightly strained.
The reporter said quietly Don't let
that worry you. In the first place. l
Inn not here for news. ideas or sugges-
lions. In the second, what you know
Is not worth publishing. In the third.
nobody outside Of this office ever heard
Of you. therefore. what you might say
would be of no newspaper interest. In
the fourth, I carry more Wall Street
secrets in my memory than you ever
dreamed of-secrets Of big men and
great institutions. You are perfectly
safe. Good morning"
In less than two months that broker,
frightened so badly. sent O friend to
the reporter begging him to mention an
affair in which he personally was
deeply interested. He is one Of a nu-
merous class affecting to be holier
than reporters until needing a write
up, then groveling. Successful men in
public life, almost without exception,
rely upon the reporter as a stepping
stone to high Office. They will take
him into their confidence, steer him
safely between the devil and the deep
sea, help him to earn his salary by
loading him up with news and Incl
dentally prosper their own cause. A
combination of reporters could ruin
any man in this country. Owners
Of papers. editors-in-chief. managing
editors and city editors cannot pos
sibly get in so close touch with the
average man as can the reporters, the
Office representatives, whom they send
out to hunt for facts in the market
place, the palace, the hovel, the prison,
the church, the wide, wide world.
l should like to propose a high school
for the education Of all men on the
! subject of How to Treat a Reporter"
1t would end all friction. Let the pub
lie first understand that the reporter
Is bound to have the new at all risks.
If he cannot get 1t at first hand he will
take it at second or third or tenth. He
Is not going back to his editor with a
hang-dog look and say he has failed.
Never! He will fake frst-and take
chances Of being caught or vindieated.
On reputable papers, II caught taking
he soon loses his job. No reporter in
his right senses wants to fake. He
wants the truth every time. Then why
hide It? Why insult him? Why In
crease his labors a thousandfold? Why
keep him out on the still hunt all night
when by treating him in a common
sensible manner you could set him
right in a second and have early copy
for the composing room?- Victor
Smith, in the New York Press.