The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-18
MR., PULITZER'S SCHOOL,

MR., PULlIZEkS SC7OOL,
Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer, owner Of the New
York World, has given one million dol
lars Tor the establishment In Columbia
University OF a school Of journalism, with
the understanding that II the school be In
existence at the end of three years ne
will give one million more. Columbia VIII
thus be enabled to experiment upon a
large and promising scale, and possibly
may succeed in field where many 9TH
ers have inglorlously failed.
While no amount OF mere scholastic
drilling and training can be made to take
the place OF actual apprenticeship In the
work Of Journalism, such school as MIR,
Pulitzer proposes, If controlled by prac-
teal men, may do considerable good
Much. however, depends upon tho instruc-
tors employed and the curriculum pre-
rcrihed. Mere pedantry cannot supply the
place OF newspaper instinct" and while
information Of every character whatso-
ever ie, useful and desirable to the news
paper man, the graduate will have much
yes. very much-to learn after he has
gotten his degree But so has the West
Point graduate, the young M. D. and B.
L., before they can succeed In their pro-
fessions. Certainly the youth who has
studied grammar, history, political sell
views In concise and precise English. has
a far better chance OF advancement in
Journalism than one who has never had
any such instruction.
We hope the trustees of the Pulitzer
fund will not attempt too much. but will
satisfy themselves, In the beginning at
least. with teaching few necessary
things and teaching them we'll and tho
roughly. All the professors In the world
cannot give man "a nose for news"
1t must be born with him. but person
SO gifted will be able to use his natural
talents all the more advantageously II
he can turn In Clean clear cut. read
able ''copy'-copy which will be fit to
print without having to be laboriously
< corrected and polished up by an editor.
The outside world-the folk who have no
newspaper experience-little imagine the
correcting tho manuscripts OF correspond
ents, reporters, casual letter-wrlters, pro-
fessional men-and of statesmen even. The
Columbia graduate should be man
whose copy Will need no such overhaulng.
He should know TOO much about the his
tory OF his country and State-about pub
lie men and political parties; he should
also know enough about millinery, medl-
cine surgery and law to make him be-,
ware OF using their technical terms with.
out first consulting an authority In per-
son or in print
Indeed. the newspaper men ought to
know something about everything, but
since that Is impossible, we trust the
Pulitzer professors will teach the student
to know his mitations-that Is the next
best thing to universal knowledge! If
any other course whatsoever be adopted,
the school of journalism will be dIsap-
pointment to the public and more espe-
cially to Its graduates, and most Of these
young men will go to the newspaper Of
fees with their sheepsklns In their hands
only 10 find II there Is any vacancy at
all that It Is at the foot OF the ladder,
not at the top.
At Columbia there will be, we take tor
granted, lectures on journalism as a sci
cree. 30 to speak. II so. We hope the
teachers will adopt lofty ideals and un-
cea.4ngly endeavor to direct the hearts
and minds OF students TO them. yellow
Journalism young men should be taught
to abhor as disgrace to their profess
sion. bane to public morality and as
degradation OF talents and enterprise,
The late Rev. DR.. M. D. Hoge used to
Say that high ideals are necessary II we
would accomplish anything Of value. for
he argued, mans best performances sc
frequently fall short OF his ideals allow.
ance must be made TOR the difference
Certainly that is true OF journalism. Per
lection We may never hope to attain
Nor need we fiatter ourselves that we
shall ever see single issue OF news.
paper wholly free from errors or short,
ccmings; but VIC can always be honest
and decent, and can always try TO do our
best. and conscientious, careful work Evil
,ell'' and win be appreciated by the PEG
pie.
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