The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-08
THE REPORTER.
a More Important Parsonage Than
Many Persons Seem to Think.
From the New York Press

more important PersOnnRe IhAn
Many Persons Seem to Think.
From the New York Press.
One of the features of civil and mill
tary life is the unpreparedness of men
in the presence of the newspapers re-
porter. Without the reporter there
might be papers, but not newspapers.
He is a necessary evil, If he be any
kind of evil. Those who fight hard
est against him and oppose his mission
are the very ones who at some future
day need him most, and 1t is they who
will work most strenuously to use him
for their purposes. 1t gives me pleas
ure to say that we of the Fourth Es-
tate are gradually educating the public
in the art of receiving newspaper men
and treating them with that courtesy
and frankness which the exigencies of
the hour demand We are here to
stay. We are friends of all good and
enemies of all guile.
One of the leading reporters in this
city was introduced to a Wall Street
broker, a man of no considerable conse-
quence, but much puffed up with his
success as an eighths-and-quar go
between. The introducer had neglected
to mention that he was a reporter, and
the converse ton 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 him?"
The situation was slightly strained.
The reporter said quietly: Don't let
that worry you. In the first place, 1
am not here for news, ideas or sug-
gestions. 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, 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 a friend to
the reporter begging him to mention
an affair in which he personally was
deeply interested. He is one of a
numerous class affecting to be holier
than reporters until needing a write
up, then groveling. Successful men
in public life, almost without excep-
ton, rely upon the reporter as a step
ping 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 in
cidentally prosper their own cause. A
combination of reporters could ruin
any man in this country. Owners of
papers editors-in-chi managing edi-
tors and city editors cannot possibly
get in so close touch with the average
man as can the reporter, the office
representative, 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 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 news 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 first
and take chances of being caught or
indicated. On reputable papers, If
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 increase his labors a thou
sandfold? 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?
Many persons look down on reporters
as if they were inferior creatures
They forget that ninety-nine times in
100 the -gatherers are of higher
caste than those from whom they seek
information. Reporters are not look
ing for anything good about people,
for the public would never stop to read
it, They want all the bad about men
and women they can dig out, and 1t is
the bad things about bad people that
makes the newspaper interesting.
Through long mingling with the evil
classes reporters become contaminated.
and it must not be wondered at IL
there should be an occasional fall from
grace. 1 do not know any reporters
who are angels, and I do know some
persons who are devils with painted
wings, but take them all in all they
are the best set of fellows in the
world working like mad for their en-
ployers, spending literally, living mer-
rily and ever eager to do favor and
forget it.