University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-02-23
Newspaper Work No Longer
Surrounded by "Claptrap
Glamour"

should have no neStltat1On IN suggest
ing the course and the experience that
are here afforded. Then there is an
other question which cannot be SO easi-
ly evaded, and 1 dare say some OF you
may ask it: What do the metropoli-
tan newspapers exact of the student of
journalism and how shall be sure
that my experience and training have
been of a nature to qualify me for the
work that will be demanded?"
This is question that may not be
glibly answered. The evolution OF the
newspaper is startling and bewildering
even to the men who, in the harness
day after day, are compelled to keep
pace with the swiftly changing phases
The newspaper of to-day is unlike the
newspaper of the beginning OF the CEN
tury.. In ten, even five, years the
changes may be still more pronounced.
Furthermore the glory of the newspa-
pers is as widely dissimilar as the glory
of the stars, and the very qualities
that may be exalted in one office are
displeasing in the office of its neighbor
Perhaps it is glory of color in which
yellow is the prevailing streak.
And so it is that when this question
is put to us who have been long in the
newspaper life We make no direct an
swer until we know something more of
the questioner's leanings and ambi-
tions. But in a general way every
managing editor hopes for and would
exact the same qualifications, a decid-
ed advance in the standard of the
newspaper worker over the previous
generation. As l have maintained he
affects the college bred man, the man
who dresses well. who carries himself
well, who is in all appearances a gen.
tleman, and is equal to all the ordi-
nary occasions of social life. 1t is nee
essary that the young man should have
something than an amiable desire to
become a humdrum reporter. should
show something more than the fact
| that he has spent certain amount of
time at college with the view of taking
up newspaper work. The managing ed
itor is not necessarily looking for a
prodigy. for the neophyte who will at
once astOnishingly fill any position to
which he may be experimentally as
signed; there is limit to all reason
able human demands. even i'm the edi-
tOrial office. But what he is seeking is
alertness, energy. shrewd perception.
the nose for news, the ability to handle
news. to act quickly on orders-in short
the easily manifested qualities of
man who has made no mistake in the
choice of his vocation. and who has
become newspaperman because he is
both by temperament and by training
qualified for the life. This is the man
we are looking for, the man we are
hoping the schools of journalism will
produce.
The journalistic Cynic.
On the other hand it is only fair to
the newcomer in journalism to sav that
all his rosy dreams are not likely to
be realized. 1t may be that his ex-
allied idea of journalistic life. even of
the great man who owns the newspaper
or the we'll known man who edits it.
will be subjected to rude shock. We
who have served the apprenticeship of
Years often find much to fret us and
10 run contrary to our own decided
views. If We submit it is either be-
cause we are good soldiers who obey
orders, or because We have grown cvni-
cal In service. 1 am inclined to regard
the journalistic cynic rather as a prod
uct of a bygone system. He has on.
tered upon a new life with no idea of
the duties he must assume. He has
had no fixed rules for guidance. no
training that will put him on a proper
level with his work. His veneration
for the mysterious something that in
varlably impresses the stranger in a
newspaper shop is always in proportion
to his ignorance. As his illusions van
'sh and his knowledge increases he be-
comes uncOnsciously scoffer. You
have often heard and NAV still hear
that newspapermen are cynics because
their opportunities of seeing the weak
nesses of human nature are ever pres-
ent. prefer to believe that this de-
feet is due largely to their own un-
preparedness, to their own mistaken
views of the relation of the press to
the world. to the fostering of ideas
that are absurdly at variance with the
facts. The well balanced. well edu-
Gated young man. whose training at a
school of journalism has been not mere
~ matter of technique. however i'm
portant that may be. but as well SEN
s'ble. practical study of journalism as
rational business in its relation to
plain. everyday life, dealing largely
w'h everyday people. will have fewer