University Missourian., 1909-09-30

7, the National frlnter r-Jourhals'
~ August appears letter on unlver-
~ Nv training for journalism by Arthur
n.,fed Moody, editor OF the County
for Worcestershire and Stat
.s.b;re Stourbridge. England. Mr..
,,.oar takes as his theme an address
~ Walter Williams, dean of the Mis-
..uri School of journalism. His letter
follows, in full:
-pIToR of the National Printer,
r. Journalist: As British journalist
l. ubo has interested himself rather
,,- in the subject of University
-roiniug for pressmen, | should like to
hoId out my hand over the seas and
-otulate and thank Dean Williams
,,non the address which is printed in the
;.sue of YOUR journal, dated June, 1909.
friend of mine in New York has
CORRECTLY anticipated my interest in the
no,n,s remarks by sending me report
- them. Journalists on this side are
1oororino TO interest their brethren
and the public in the influence OF a
b;Gber educational standard on the part
of those whose business it is to mould
and record public opinion: and among all
.bo, has been said and written upon
tbe matter. Dean Williams inspiring
words must take foremost place and
deservedly So Would that your excel
lent and bright journal had British
wide circulation, But / shall take the
liberty of bringing the speech before the
notice OF the Institute of Journalists
and hope that an opportunity may be
found to give, at any rate, a portion of
il wider publicity in these Isles.
The difference between American and
British journalism are often debated and
criticised. And some of the critics say
verv hard things about Western meth
ods. forgetting that the temperaments
and habits of people in one country
differ from those of another. Just as the
habits of one animal will vary from
those of another species. 1t would be
as reasonable to expect horse to gnaw
bone as to expect an American to
appreciate one of our dry yas-dust jour
mails which up to quite recently stood as
representative of staid British journal
istic reSpectabiity.
America has taught the British press
many things. Some people hate being
taught. but the circulation of our
Americanized' papers shows that the
lessons. when assimilated, are profitable
to the proprietors. Nowadays. con
ductors OF live British papers encourage
all those things which are comprised
in the wonderful phrase Human inter.
est" They develop the nose fol
news" they cultivate the headline
which not only attracts attention but
Indicates the story: in short, they art
learning that the brightly written para
graph. every line of which arouses hui
man interest. is worth columns of mere
reproduction of what someone has sale
upon an occasion of no particular i'm
pOrtance
This is no recital of a catalogue o
ideals. The points which l have men
TONED are being impressed more anr
more upon our rising journalist and thei
acceptance and use may be traced in tn
columns of any British paper which ha
any pretense to success. To the infu
ence OF the American press are they du
and due only. The success which ha
followed their adoption proves them t
be right. There are. of course. othe
features. in connection with American
Journalism which would be quite unfitte
Tor this country. How far the partic
ular features which are in my minG
really represent the best of your jour
naIlsm. | am not in a position to sa!
out | can add this-that there is no
a line i'll Dean Williams address t
which any of my professional brethre
here could not say amen" with tn
greatest cordiality.
happen to be member of the Coun
cli-the ruling body-of the Institute c
journalists, past-president of whicl
Major Gratwick. Y. d.. r. W. O., c
Exeter. paid visit to the states som
months ago May be his name will /
remembered by some of your reader
Well, the Institute of Journalists hay
'fen seriously occupying themselves
uiin@ the ground for a movement sue
a> Missouri has inaugurated with s
nlueh success. This movement commen,