Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-06-03

knowledge, culture at the eX-
penSe of business if need be. 1t Is TO
set up ideals. TO keep the counting room
in its proper place and to make the
soul of the editor the soul of the paper.
incidentally | may say that | have
never spent an hour in any publication
office, eithGr 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 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
very decided. | am sure that, if my
wishes are to be considered. business
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 commune
ton with the authorities of the univer-
sity.
What is a college of journalism? 1t
is an institution to train journalists.
What is journalist? Not any business
manager or publisher or even 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
lie 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 owners. 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 Jour.
nalst. 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
or by the pens of others. But it is
quite conceivable that some proprie.
tors are deficient in these points.
My hope is that this college of jour.
nalism will raise the standard of the
editorial profession, but to do this II
must mark the distinction between reaI
journalists and men who do kind of
newspaper work that requires neither
culture nor conviction, but merely bust
ness training. wish to begin move
ment that will raise journalism to the
rank of learned profession, growing
in the respect of the community as 9th
er professions far less important to tn,
public interests have grown.
There is an obvious difference be
tween business and a profession. Al
editor, an editorial writer or cor
respondent is not in business. Nor i
even a capable reporter. These mel
are already in a profession, though
they may not admit it or even realiz
it, as many of them unhappily do not
Ill or well, they represent authorship
and authorship is a profession.
The man in the counting room of
newspaper is in the newspaper Dus
ness. He concentrates his brain quit
|: legitimately, upon the commercif
aspects of things, upon the margin Q
profit, upon the reduction of expenses
upon buying white paper and selling
printed, and that is business. But
man who has the advantage, honor an
pleasure of addressing the public ever
day as writer or thinker is a pre-
fessional man. SO, of course, is he VIII
directs these writers and reporters
who tells them what to say and how
say it, who shows them how to thinl
who inspires them, though he ma
never write line himself, and decide
what the principles of the paper sha
be- For example, the greatest editC