Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-08-11

AN
Newspaper
Reporting
IN Japan


Newspaper reporting in Japan is py
no means an u~nattractive business,
said Masanao Hanihara, third secre-
tary of the Japanese legation, VINO
was himself at one time on the local
staff Of a Toxic newspaper, and VINO
later branched out into special work,
eventually establishing a magazine OF
his own.
ssI remember the time" continued
Mr.. Hanihara, when there were o.
iections to reporting as a profession,
but that was in the days when the
government had a strict supervision
of the newspapers. One couldn't be
too careful then, but we have a Tree
press in Japan now. Our newspapers
are just as independent and enter
prising as the American press, and ev-
| cry printing establishment is equipped
with the most up-to-date apparatus:
The facilities for collecting news are
in line with the best methods of to-
day.
"How are we handling the war
news? Well, in very much the same
fashion, I suppose, as an American
paper would handle it. Nearly every
one of the Japanese journals has a
corps of special correspondents at the
front. and they hurry the news back
to the central Office as fast as they can.
I do not know after what school OF
journalism the japanese newspaper is
fashioned, but l do know that there
is a corps of editors with designations
just like yours, such as managing edi-
tors, news editors, city editors, etc.
sIn Toxic there are about twenty
daily newspapers. These sell on an
average at about one cent a copy. All
classes are omnivorous readers of the
newspapers, and around the tea shops
and in the homes you will find the
sheets in eager demand. With Tokio's
population of over a million souls the
circulation of these newspapers is con-
siderable.
"The duties Of a Japanese news
paper staff are much the same rules
as would be expected Of a newspaper
man in this country. The routes fol-
each reporter and the special assign
ments are just as we'll defined. The
city editor Of a Toxic paper usually
has about thirty smart and alert young
men under him. Police news when il
is important is handled in American
style. There is always a good man al
police headquarters. Our police sys
tenn is one Of the finest in the world
Arrests are made promptly by tht
blue-coated officers who are stationed
ohC11f Tho Cfroof on6 rhon tho nffond
ers are arraigned the next morning
they are given a full measure Of jus
lice.
Several men, of course, are as
signed to the various executive ani
municipal Offices, but Of late the great
est feature has been the political re
porting in which prominent Statesmen
and leaders in the nations affairs ar
interviewed, and their views expressed
in the public prints. At the japanese
diet special seats are assigned for thu
reporters, who take down the proceed
ings from their press gallery and ar
given every consideration.
"The Japanese reporter is provided
with a typewriter, just as the Japanes,
newspaper is provided with the mos
l modern press, and in that way 10 tim
is lost in the mechanical features o
: collecting and printing the newspapers
The typewriters are made with tn
Japanese characters on the keys.
t I'm handling social news, our news
papers are not as prolific as you
!, American press, but in gatherings o
State importance the names of thOs
present are always given, and q spe
cial column is reserved for events O
this kind. Perhaps the greatest socia
event of the year is the grand bal
given by the Secretary Of the State
: at the Imperial Hotel. in Toxic. on Nc