The newspaper., 1910-01-21
Extracts from Address Delivered by
Walter Williams Before Ministers
Alliance on Faith of a Jour-
naIst''-Is Interpreters
Profession
Profession


Moses was the first editor-and a
yellow journalist, too-and Luke was
the first star reporter, according to
Walter Williams, dean Of the school
oijournalism of the Missouri univer-
sity. In an address before the Minis
ters' alliance OF Kansas City, Mr..
Williams spoke of the similarity OF
the Bible to modern journalism.
.The best journalist with whose
work am acquainted" )" said Mr.. VIII
hams, "was Moses. He was the first
great editor. You plead for the pub
lication of the good only and the
beautiful in your favorfte daily
Journal
1T was an earlier people, not
wiser one. who cried, 'prophesy unto
us smooth things.
''In a single slight book OF the five
which Moses edited, book, the con-
tents OF which would not occupy a
half page in today's newspaper,
Moses, the first great editor, gave
more criminal news and that more
graphically than today's newspaper
would dare report-the disobedience
of Adam: the drunkenness of Noah;
the falsehood of Abraham; the in
iquity of the whole City of Sodom;
the vileness OF Shechem. the son of
Hamori; the wickedness of judah,
with lamar, the woman in black,
who sat by the roadside.
1.-The best reporter with who's
work | am acquainted was Luke.
His story has the characteristics of
the best reporting-clearness vivid
ness, truthfulness, facts IL due pro-
portions. human interest. His
Christmas story has just now been
read the world around.
1.-The whole Bible is indeed a model
OF good journalism. 1t interprets
the facts Of everyday life. How full
it is of details of biography, the per-
sonal gossip, If you please, confess
to a fascination for the details of
biography, the news about people.
''The successful journalist every
where has faith in man and faith in
God. He is the interpreter of the
facts OF daily life. Tomake the right
Interpret tion he must have faith in
man. Perhaps no other profession
has such large temptation to cyni-
cism. Certainly, no other profession
more successfully resists this tempta-
tion. The journalist sees the worst
side of ofhumankind. Constant appeal
is made TO him for the promotion of
pocrisy of mankind are continually
before him lie must remember al
ways that he is the attorney for the
people, that he holds a brief for hu-
Inanity. Ii il not strange that oc-
casionally lie loses iaith in man.
When he does lose faith I'm man, how
ever, he loses power as n journalist. |
The cynic I'm journalism is ever a
weaklng, He must have strong
faith in man II as IA journalist he sue
ceeds 1t Is the man who believes
who accomplishes.
"Belief I'm man Is despite their hy-
pocrisy and greed and selfishness. |
He must remain the attorney for the |
people whatever individuals here and |
there speak against him or however
selfshness or ingratitude dim his en-
thusiasm and weaken his faith.
Journalism IL the interpreter
Other men do great
deeds or little deeds, full of glory or
rneanness; the journalist interprets
these deeds to the multitude. He Is
the clerk of the day, the recording
angel. and his work is the production
of commentaries upon the gospel of
human life. II there be more mean
deeds then deeds of heroism, more
gray days than days OF glory, not
he who records and interprets is
therefore responsible.
"Journalism is the Interpreters
Droiession in the largest sense. The
interpreter first assemblies that which
he would interpret. The journalist,
like Wesley, has the world for his
Darish, His couriers are In every
country. The facts which he inter-
prets are flashed the world around.
He must needs hold the mirror up to
all life. 1t is an unflattering picture
.on,atimes Human life is not every