The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-05-08
THE COLLEGE or 5ouanaLlsm.

IL THE North American Review for
May is an article contributed by
Joseph Pulitzer Of New York in when
he explains ana defends the college of
journalism he has decided 10 estab-
lish in connection with Columbia uni
versity. 1t must be said that Mr. Pull
itzer makes out very dne case Tor his
college. If il IS conducted along lines
laid down by him we hardly think il
can fail To be Of great value 10 the
newspaper profession Mr. Pulitzer
4 believes young men should be trained
for newspaper work just as they are
trained for the law. for medicine. for
the ministry.
Answering the argument that the
only proper school for the newspaper
man IS the school Of experience, MF,
Pulitzer makes the point that a man
is not a good lawyer the moment he
receives his diploma, a good doctor
when De walks out Of the college with
his sheepskin under his arm or a first
class preacher when he has learned all
that can De taught him about theolo-
sly, These young men must an have
experience before they attain stand
/ ing in their professions, but every one
of them must spend years ia prepara-
tory work.
Compare The harm an ili-trained law
yer or doctor or preacher can 90 With
the harm am iT-tramed, wrongly di-
rected newspaper writer can do. The
lawyer. the doctor, the preacher work
in crsmped quarters Al most they
have power for gaod or eVn over only
a few. The newspaper MANS field is
country wide He gives information
or transformation to thousands and
hundreds Of thousands; he plays upon
the passions and preiudices; he de-
braves or nc elevatea. according TO his
training, and his influence IS felt IN
every part of the mechanism OF that
great, throbbing engine We call the pub
lie.
is MIR. Pulltzers College of Journal
ism practicablee We believe it IS. II
is necessary for a student TO have
natural aptitude for newspaper work,
but that much is necessary pfereq-
ufsite TO entrance lin any profession
A college of Journalism can no more
make a newspaper man out of a man
who ought 10 be a carpenter than a
college Of medicine can make a doctor
out of a man who ought to be cob
bier. But it is possible for a well con-
Quoted college of journalism to train
intending newspaper men in the way
they should so, From Mr. Pulitzer S
many good suggestions we select one
/ because il seems entirely practical He
/ says:
/ suppose the managing or chief ed
( itor of a great daily, moved by gen
erous zeal Tor his profession, should
! give several hours to a thorough study
/ of the newspapers of the current day.
Then Ter us imagine him saying TO a
I class. Here is the best and here is the
worst story of the day'-and telling
why. Here is the wrong of the day;
here is the injustice that needs TO be
/ righted; here is the best editorial;
/ here is a brilliant paragraph; here is
a bit of sentimental trash here Is a
I superb beat" here is a scandalous
/ fake" for which the perpeJratOr
ought to go to Sing Sing; here is a
/ grossly inaccurate and misleading
headline; here is an example or Grass
/ ignorance of foreign politics. here is
/ something ''CTammed' from an alma
nae by man who does not know the
meaning of figures when he sees
/ them. 90
( ar. Pulitzer's argument is entitled
to the thoughtful consideration, not
only Of newspaper men, but of the pub
! lie generally.