The sun., 1908-03-19
THE ASENnsENT or JOURNAL"
Recent Contributions 10 en- Interesting
Discussion Of Theory.

fret Of 4 series OF lectures on Journalism
which Col George Harvey editor Of HdrPsrA
Weekly. delivered at New Haven on March II,
In pursuance Of the Bromley beantst, be con-
fined himself 10 pointing out the actual rea-
ton Of newspapers 10 politics. ~ oontfasted
N,tn the ideal relations, and secondly 10 The
possible and desirable relation Of universities
10 newspapers he made no attempt 20
defne journalism, and expressed & doubt
a. to whether q precise definition is attain
able. unauestlonSbly, newspaper men have
formed aud are eEempllfyinG widely didsr-
ent conceptions OF their oGlllngs function
and purpose, That for many pertona news
paper writing Ia their sole means Of earning
a livelihood does not mako the calling trade,
for lawyers and physicians also act upon
the principle that the laboTer Ia worthy Of his
hire On the other hand, the fact that In
spite Of Greetys we'll known diotum the
sevUrest intellectual training. the Widest
culture and the highest ethical standard are
BY no means BuperhuouS In an editor, but
on the contrary are conducive 70 bis en-
ceDcy. does not make journalism profession
In any exact sense Of the word The profes-
sions OF law and medicine are regulated by
statute, and the profession OF the theological
teecher OF preacher used 10 be- even In this
country. In most Of our States II 10 impos-
sibe for a man to practise law or medicine
merely because he wants TO and imsglnss
himsaf dtted. Specific qualifications ard
conditions are prescribed by law, The Of
course is not the case with Journalism, Any
body who possesses the faculty Of vivid
perception and that Of clear narration can
enter IT, and usually. II he Is naU OF good
character, can stay In IT, No other crsden-
tials will be exacted By persons In authority
neither ia there any legal barrier 10 be sur
mounted
OF journalism, then being a. yet uuoTEAB.
ized unreguated. amoTphous, those who
would define II are reduced to saying that Il
Is fact, u force, A formidable fact A
stupendOus force, As not only the mouth
piece and reflector but also ~ the shipper Of
public opinion Journalism has become q
force 80 mighty that II now exercises more
influence on ststecTaft and legislation, and
consequently on the nations progress and
welfare, than was possessed during the frst
half century Of our federaiive life BY mem-
bers Of the legal profession. Journalism is
also facl tIFught with llmitess possibilities
Of helpfulness It harm, seeing that Il has
come 10 exercise on private conduct and per-
sonal character an influence ncomparably
greater than once vas eIerted from the pull
pii Looking then 10 the interest Of the
American community. can we deem II pru-
dent or even safe TO leave the manipulation
Of an engine so tremendous as journalism
has become TO blind chance. individual
ldlosyncrasy or base purpose? Some means
OF organizing and regulating journalism
must be found, unless We are TO be inoreas-
lngly at the mercy Of the resstless mechsD-
ism Of hypnotic repetition and publicity
which the inventors Of the printing press
and Of cheap paper, those modern Frsnken-
stems have produced In view then OF the
extent 10 which We are now in the power OF
Journalists We NAV well echo what Mr. Love
lafterward Lord Sherbrookel said OF British
vorkmen when the second reform Sct be-
came operative In 1895 Come, then We must
educate our masters
II is one thing. Of course. to feel that news
papers should be subject 10 some sort Of CON
troll more efficient than the law OF libel and
quits another thing TO point out in what par
tiCulsr way such control might be e. erclsed,
II IA doubtful whether We should desire 10
see journalism erected by statute into a
regular profession like that Of the bar or
that OF medicine the conditions OF entering
which and the methods Of practice within
which are prescribed by Law II obviously
would be dangerous 10 sntrust so potent an
engine OF coercion and seduction a. would
he a laN regulating journalism to admins.
traitors that might and often would represent
q particular code of principles or Q particular
political party The sole influence which n
would be eIldent 10 invoke for the puri.
ticstion snd elevation Of journalism must
evidently be indirect and extra legal. We
npIts hnn tsr "A 81 =
journalism themselves to devise and grad
ually 10 apply process Of Sef.improvement
and selfdlscpline, a process which. a.
matter of TACT not always recognized, the
daily newspaper press OF the United States
has been undergoing during the last hfty
wears he most potent instrumentality for
the stimulation and extension OF such persuA
siou would be, as COL Harvey said In 4
lecture. the university, ltisa truth capabls
Of demonstration that not only the ideals NJ
Journalism and the Fundamental qualifications
for II, but also a knowledge Of he technical
methods might be taught by a university, In
spite Of The fact that both Greeley and Dana,
who a. regards culture and academic training
were as vide apart a. the poles. coueurrtd
In asserting that the only successful school
Of Journalism Is . newspaper ONCE
Col Harvey showed a. New Haven that
although an acquaintance with the mechau.
iCal construction Of q newspaper Is useful
70 newspaper writer, the knowledge can
he obtained as we'll outside Of a newspaper
once as inside Of II, provided the needfu
facilities for observation aud practice are
supplied Aftsr all. too proficiency In the
technique OF newspaper construction 10 on
element OF but small comparative value IN
the equipment Of an editor, The para
mount aud indispensable Qualification Is
10 know how TO perceive, to foFSSSe. 10
think, to write and TO edit Nowhere oan
this qualification be evolved so quickly and
effectively as In a university. We mean =
university US II miEht be. II not university
as It t. The lecturer VI New Haven iustly
said that " IL be still true In these days that
a printers devil who works his way up 70
au editorship Ia better PREPARED for the
practice Of Journalism than would he a
college man having like aspirations. there
must have been and must now be on the
part Of the directors OF the higher educa-
ton Il woful deficiency In comprehension
Of universty'S duty to the pupil and the
State. Where else so speedily eau one
acquire the immense breadth OF knowledge
which is now imperstiyely needed by those
who are charged with the daily teaching
OF the millions Of American readersS what.
ever may have been the fact ffty years
ago. is II not the truth that a close Spproaoh
TO universal knowledge Is now aeooun ted
desirable, II not absolutely requisite for
editorial writer's? Who're can u close sp-
prosch 10 universal knowledge or TO the
right methods Of attaining It he made II
not In a university? Col Harvey for his
part believed II 10 be = universitys duty
to supply not only the liberal education which
is tho key 70 the whole clrcln nf knnMlahr.