The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-28

principle, knowledge, culture at the ex-
pense of business if need be. 1t is to
set up ideals, to keep the counting room
in it's proper place and to make the
soul of the editor the soul of the paper.
incidentally l may say that l have
never spent an hour in any publication
office, either of the st. Louis Post-Dis-
patch or the World, though l managed
to establish both these journals and
still own them.
In the proposed course Of study,
President Eliot and widely discussed
as if it had been definitely adopted,
DR.. Eliot included instruction in the
business administration of a newspa-
per. He mentioned specifically circu-
lation, advertising, manufacture and
finance.
My own ideas upon many parts Of
the course of study are still uncer-
tain, but upon this one point they are
wishes are to be considered, business
instruction of any sort should not,
would not and must not form any part
of the work of the college of journal
ism.
The course Of instruction will be de-
cided by the advisory board, which is
not yet appointed, acting in conjunc-
ton with the authorities of the univer-
sity.
What is a college Of Journalism? 1t
is an institution to train journalists.
What is a journalist? Not any business
manager or publisher Or eve propri-
etor. A Journalist is the lookout on the
bridge Of the ship Of state. He notes the
passing sail, the little things of interest
that dot the horizon in fine weather.
He reports the drifting castaway
whom the ship can save. He peers
through fog and storm to give warn
ing of dangers ahead. He is not think
ing of his wages or of the profits Of
his owner He is there to watch over
the safety and the welfare Of the peo-
pie who trust him.
Few men in the business Office Of a
newspaper know anything about the
principles Of journalism. The propri-
etor himself is not necessarily a jour-
nalist. He may be If he is capable
of understanding public questions, Of
weighing public interests, Of carrying
out public tasks; if he is in touch with
public feeling, realizes public duties, is
in sympathy with the public welfare
and is capable of presenting his ideas
to the people either by his own pen
OF by the pens Of others. But it Is
quite conceivable that some proprie-
tors are deficient in these posats.
My hope is that this college Of jour-
nalism will raise the standard Of the
editorial profession, but to do this 1t
must mark the distinction between real
journalists and men who do a kind of
newspaper work that requires neither
culture nor conviction, but merely bust
ness training. 1 wish to begin a move
ment that will raise journalism to the
rank Of a learned profession, growing
in. the respect of the community as 9th
er professions far less important to the
public interests have grown.
There il an obvious difference be
tween a business and a profession. An
editor, an editorial writer or a cor
respondent is not in business. Nor is
even a capable reporter. These men
are already in a profession, though
they may not admit it or even realize
it, as many of them u%nhappily do not.
Ill or well, they represent authorship,
and authorship is a profession.
The man in the counting room Of a