West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-06-02

prlnclple, knowledge. culture ut the OK
pense OF business IL need be. IL Is to
set up ideals. TO keep tine counting room
i'm It's proper place and to make the
soul OF tile editor the soul of the paper.
intellectually I may say that / have
never spent an hour IN any publication
office. either of the St Louis Post-Dis-
patch or the World. though / managed
TO establish both these journals and
still own them.
In the proposed course Of study,
drawn up with admirable quickness by
President Eliot and widely discussed
as If u 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
very decided. I am sure that. II my
wishes are 10 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 VIII be de-
cided by the advisory board which ia
not yet appointed. acting in conjunc-
tion With the authorities OF the uniyer-
sity.
What Is a college OF journalism It
is an institution to train journalists.
What Is journalist? Not any business
manngcs or publisher or even proprI-
etdr. A Journalist Is the lookout on the
bridge Of tie ship Of state He notes the
passing sail. the little things Of interest
that dot the horizon in fine weather.
He reports tho 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 owners. lie IS there TO watch over
the safety aud the welfare OF the peo-
pie who trust him.
Few men I'm the business Office OF
pcwspnpor know anything about the
principles Of journalism. The propri-
etor himself is not necessarily jour
nalist He may be II he Is capable
OF understanding public questions, Of
weighing public interests, OF carrying
Dut public tasks; II he Is in touch with
public feeling. realizes public duties. Is
in sympathy with the public welfare
nnd IS capable OF presenting bis ideas
10 the people either by his own pen
pr by the pens Of others hut It IS
butte conceivable chat some prOprle.
tors are deficient in these points
Ny hope is that this college OF jour
naiisn viii raise the standard Of The
Editorial profession. but 10 do this It
must mark Tie distinction between real
Journalists and mon who do n kind Of
newspaper work that requires neither
Cuiurc nor conviction. but merely busi.
mess training ! wish 10 begin a move
mcnt that viii raise jocrnallsm 10 the
rank OF n learned profession. growing
in the respect Of thc community as 9TH
or professions far less important 10 the
public interests have grown
There rs 90 Obvious difference DO.
tween q business and a profession An
editor an editorial writer or n cor
respondent is not in business Nor ~
oven p capable reporter These men
nre already in profession. though
thcy may not admit 50 or even realize
S. as many 81 them unhnppily do not.
/ lil or we'll, they represent authorship,
and authorship IS a profession.
Tie man 30 the counting room OF a