University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-02-23

illogical institute. To a considerable
degree YOU know what is before you.
In journalism as in other professions
Fortune is tickle and variable. Some
of YOU will have the advantage OF an
easy start through chance or favor;
Others will experience all the discOur-
agements that so calamitously beset
the unlucky. But you must all bear
in mind that your chances of passing
Immediately from this course to the ed
itorship of a great metropolitan news
paper are not brilliant. You will en-
counter city editors, and Sunday edi-
tors. and news editors, who will block
your way-nOt with malice perhaps,
but for reasons that YOU will soon
comprehend. In other words you are in
the position of the law student, the
medical student, the theological stu
dent. and like them you go out to your
chosen career in the world, begin where
| spu YAH tdNc Noul WIN
those struggling with YOU.
After this somewhat discouraging
paragraph I wish to amend little, to
soften the blow as it were. to assure
You that after all there is pressing and
constant need of bright young men and
women in the newspaper offices. He or
she must be stupid or unfortunate in
deed who cannot secure fair trial
As theatrical managers are always
looking out for good plays as book
publishers are constantly fearful of
overlooking best seller, so the en-
plOying editors are keenly alert to the
prize that may present itself in search
of newspaper work. Your chance or
opportunity is as good as that of any
body who has not made a name in the
journalistic or literary world, though it
may be that your employer will not be
profoundly affected by the announce
ment that your experience has been
limited to your college magazine.
College Training.
And this brings me to the matter
of preliminary college work. l have
said that the editor, will not be visibly
stirred, blowled over, so to speak, by
these evidences of your journalistic ca
reer. But do not understand that they
will initiate against you as formerly.
The college man is becoming more and
more a factor in active civic life. 1t
is recognized by us newspaper people
as well as by others in professional and
business careers that the advantages of
4 college training are inestimable when
wisely applied. invaluable to those who
have profited by them. There are still
those and there will be always those
who begin as Office boys and reach the
highest position in the newspaper shop.
but the fast growing tendency is to-
ward the employment of college bred
men who are presumed to be the more
Adequately equipped by education, by
environment. by graces of mind and
person for the dignified discharge of du-
| ties that bring you constantly in con-
tact with the outside world. Your col
| lege training then may be the open
sesame to the opportunity you are
seeking.
But of far more Importance is the
moral effect your college course and
preliminary college journalistic work
will have on, yourselves. You have ac-
quired measurable familiarity with
the details of newspaper office which
gives YOU the confidence and quiet as
surance YOU otherwise would not pos
sess. You have learned. as a wrathv
old editor once expressed it, to dis
tinguish between fire and Sem
dash. If YOU had been sent to report
Belshazzar's feast YOU would not have
overlooked the handwriting on the
wall. Will yOu pardon ME if l bring
the matter little closer home by citing
my own experience when l timidlv
sought newspaper work! I had no
part of the practical equipment YOU are
acquiring. young gentlemen and ladies.
and when the editor. to whom I applied.
questioned me as to my experience. I
shook with apprehension and was for
ced to admit my utter lack of training.
He said shortly that he had no special
use for an inexperienced man. but that
the office happened Just then to be
short of a musical and dramatic editor.
and if I cared to begin with that |
might work up. Remember that in
those days. with the exception of two
or three of the great cities. the Jour
nalistic chair of music and the drama
was invariably presented to the cub re-
porter who could not be intrusted with
really serious journalistic duties.
The question that has been put to
me the most frequently by young men
desirous of taking up newspaper work
has been: What shall do to prepare
myself for a journalistic career." Such