Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-10
Mr.. PuIitxer's Proposed School.


In the North American Review Jo-
seph Pulitzer of New York has an arti-
Gle upon the college of journalism which
he proposes to establish, and so great
is the enthusiasm and SO high the
ideals of the writer that the most
cynical and conservative newspaper
man cannot read it without catching
something of its spirit. 1t is remark
able that man like Mr.. Pulitzer after
SO many years of labor and now with
eyesight so impaired that he cannot
have such undated fire and zeal in his
work. The most phlegmatic and
| wearied journalist must have his vital
ity renewed by such an example.
| His love for and devotion to what
he calls the noblest of all professions
| actually pervade the article to such an
extent that to understand them is to
understand the college, broadly speak
| ing. The noblest of professions, we are
told, is as far removed as possible from
| business and commercialism. Not that
good business sense is not required in a
newspaper Office, for that is the. lndls-
pensable condition of independence. But
IAN editor, an editorial writer, or
correspondent is not in business. Nor
is even a capable reporter. These men
70 oh 1yr in, v,rnfncGinn
they may not admit it, or even realize
it. as many of unhappily do not. Ill or
well, they represent authorship, ana
authorship is profession And lol-
lowing is description of the Journal
list:
"He is not any business manager or
publisher or even proprietor. A jour
nalist is the lookout on the bridge q
the ship of state. lie notes the p;tSsMS
sail, the little things of interest mat
dot the horizon in fine weather. lie re-
pOrIs the drifting castaWay whom the
ship can save. lie peers through fog
and storm to Civ. warning of dangers
ahead He is not thinking of his
wages, or of the profits of his owners.
He is there to watch over the safety
and welfare of the people who trust
him."
These lines have Il very direct con-
nectiOn with the thought of the school
as Il training place for journalists. Mr..
Pulitzer wants the right kind Of llen
developed for the profession. More
than that, he has an ultimate Offices
beyond the development of the profess
sion. He says:
In all my planning the chief end
had in view was the welfare of the re-
public. 1t will be the object of the col
lcge to make better journalists, who
will make better newspapers, which
will better serve the public. 1t will inn
Part knowledge not for its own SAKE.
hut to be used for the public service. 1t
will try to develop character, but even
that will be only means to the one
supreme end-the public good
But this, the reader may say, is
vague, and Mr.. Pulitzers scheme has
been called visionary and Impractical.
He answers his critics by arguing not
only that the profession requires
special training like other professions.
but by describing the kind of training.
After referring to the broad scope of
newspaper work, he states the inn
mediate object of the college of jour-
nalism as follows: 1T will be to dig
through this general scheme intended
a. ,nccibla on work
in life, every profession, TO select and
concentrate only upon the things which
the journalist wants. and not waste
time on things that he does not want"
The idea which is applicable to eco
Monies, sociology, government and
many other branches of study is thus
worked out with reference to the law:
ITO attempt the mastery of all phases
of the law as taught in u law school
would be impossible for n student OF
Journalism. Nor is it necessary. Here
again the fundamental idea underly-
, ing the entire scheme of this college, OF
specializing the instruction, is seen to
be essential. The regular student of
law must learn not merely the princi-
pies. but the practice and precedcnts.
of his profession. But the journalist
needs to know only the principles and
theories of law and SO much of their
application as relates to the rights and
welfare of the public. The art of Sc
lection must be employed in separating
| the essential and the practical from the
non-essential and the impractical
The rejoinder to those who have
maintained that existing schools and
universities are sufficient for the jour
nalist is exceedingly skillful and per-
suasive. Mr.. Pulitzer has strengthened
the foundation of his college by his
article, while he has at the same time
sounded a note of inspiration for the
members Of his profession and revealed
a very noble ideal.
/