University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-05-19

must accompany natural aptitude 10
bring about the highest success. The
journalist is born and made. To the
natural bent toward journalism must
be added education. training. The only
position in this age which can he sue
cessfully filled by the simple accident
of birth is that OF idiot. Self -educa-
tion, the hardest and most difflclpt.
fits some for their life work, while the
education of the schools trans
Others. Shakespeare-th myriad mind
ed-wrote Hamlet. his greatest play,
after he had written eighteen others.
If the mere accident of birth makes
great. why did he not write Hamlet
first?
The schools of journalism will. l
trust. prevent newspaper offices from
being. as some unfortunately are. hos
pitals where the unframed novice prac-
tees with the weapons of the press up
nn the body polite. They will raise the
standard of journalism. make it indeed
IL learned profession. a. schools "f law.
and schools of medicine. and schools of
theology have done for these profes-
sionS.
What They Will Teach.
They will coniinc commercalism to
the business ciiice. its proper place.
Every editor can not be the proprietor
of his newspaper. but every editor can
be the proprietor OF himself. They will
teach English. The journalist must
plan to write as the painter must learn
to draw. He will learn To select his
words with loving care as the painter
learns to pick his colorS. Accuracy.
clcarneSs. tcrsenc>S and fOrcefulneSS
will sum up his EngliSl, style. The
schools will teach law. not merely the
libel law. teachin. how the newspaper
publisher may escape punishment for
mis,lccdS real or fancied-but the prin
riple> of law fundamental in society.
They will teach ethics. which after all
constitute the very heart of the matter,
above news and business. type and press
work. I'm the last analysis. the ethics
of iournaliSm--llnd as journals
tie ethics may yet be-detcrminc the
character of journalism by determining
the character of journalists. The
schools will teach literature give
breadth of vision. the Use of reference
books. history which is the background
today-thc tlledgelin" science of soci
olO"y--the relations of man with man
economies. languages and. for exact
ness. science. Newspapers will he
studied. The master general of modern
times learned the art of war i'm the
College of Brienne and by the study of
the greatest battles and battlaiicltS.
The production of each issue of news
paper is in itself Il battle Great news
papers viii! be studied-newSpapcr
great and small-the conditions of their
production. The principles of Journal
ism will he taught. As the successful
teacher must know the principles of
education. so must be studied the prin
ciples of journalism. The values of
news will he emphasized-t gathering.
H., s. :&l
comment thereupon. which is the frame
work of the newspaper and into which
the journalist. who is creator of the
journal. brcathes the breath of life.
And why the schools of journalism?
That young men and young women may
be better prepared for their vocation
in life. Certainly this is reason suffi-
cicnt. If the State is to train teachers
and farmers and engineers and physi-
clans and lawyers. should it not train
journalists. who teach through the pub
lie press teachers and lawyers and farm
er> and engineers and physicians! A
7'''Hi iCdS'ii 'NiStS anu Il greater one
for the maintenance by the State of
schools of journalism. They systema-
tie the work and raise the standard of
the profession of iournaIsm-the pro-
fcssiOn which touches humanity at all
points and every way. The State bv
education and legislation aims to raise
the standard of the medical profession
IN order to protect the life and property
rights of its citizens. and the standards
ut the legal profession in order to pro-
tcct the property rights of its citizens.
How much more in the new civilization
Is it necessary for the state to assist
iii raising the standard of the Journal
istic profession which promotes and pro-
tects the morals of its citjzenS-mor
ais. which are more important than
health or property rights or life itself
For Service of the State.
Yet third and greater reason for
the states maintenance of schools of