The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-01
WHAT CUB MUST FACE.

The American Press has an article
on the experiences of cub reporter
that will be of interest to the public
1t says:
WANTED-A youngster to help on
local work. Good chance to learn the
newspaper business. Address -,
American Press.
This advertisement appeared in a
recent issue of The American Press.
BY this time, no doubt, another young
ster has been launched on the sea of
Journalism.
We wonder what the boy has found
what his instructors are doing to
give him the good chance.
Think of the jolts before this youth!
Think of the beating heart, the damp
ed brow, as he hurries into the office
with his first story and with trenb-
ling hands tackles a virgin piece of
white paper.
He writes with all the fire Of youth,
and his heart at last sweIls with pride
as the tale unfolds. He walks to the
city editors desk, lays down his copy,
and, being cub, he hangs around the
editors desk.
Suddenly there is an explosion The
city editor pounds his desk. and the
air takes on the odor of birthstone as
he gives vent to his feelings over the
idiot who failed to get proper names,
addresses time or to play the story in
the first line.
We are not writing essays." shouts
the city editor. This is a newspaper.
Here you, Blank, take this rot and re-
write it," And he beams fiercely at
the hapless cub.
With tagging footsteps the cub
Wanders back to his desk, sinks into
his chair. his face crimson with
shame. How he hates the brute at
the city editors desk! How he would
like to STAY him, and how he would like
to escape from this den of tyrants!
Suddenly he hears his name shout
ed: Come on, you cub! Get busy on
this story! Hurry Telephone the
facts! We go to press in forty min
utes! Get the yarn, Scoot, now!"
And he finds himself tumbling down
the stairs as he makes a wild dash for
the scene of the story.
He forgets the late roasting and
dives into the midst of his work.
There are long days of reporting
sermons, attending meetings. writing
of social affairs, and then some day he
will get real story, a story filed with
mystery, and if he has the newspaper
'kink' In his brain he will work early
and late to beat his rivals he will
demonstrate that the police theory is
false, he will become Sherlock
Holmes. One day he will Write a |
financial story, and perhaps he will |
branch off into the writing of the stor-
les of dollars and bonds and trading. |
1t may be the political end that will |
oeckon the youth, and he will learn the |
value Of acquaintances-the value of
knowing men and being trusted with |
facts that if made public at the hour
would make or unmake men of ma |
-ional prominence.
He will go through the desire to |
color story and viii learn i'm the end |
mat facts plainly told will make him |
newspaper man of power. He will |
ADVANCE with greater strides by stick
ng to the facts than by adding a
.ouch of fiction. The public wants
acts, not fiction, in it's news
He may push on until he tackles
ne newspapers in the larger cities.
he may even reach he goal most re-
'orters desire--New York city. And
here he viii find that he is lost in
he shuttle unless he has power be-
-ond the ordinary.
He will learn new things in the
newspaper business. He will find
powerful political machines within the
newspaper circles. He viii find hun
Ireds of must nots" and do nots"
lie will find executives who are clean.
Ugh minded, capable men, and he will
ind executives who are petty grafters.
'igoted, offensive in their dictatorial
'olicy.
Yea, this youth will find many a
eartache; many times he will long
or the power to lay bricks instead of
he ability to get a piece of news and
write it.
He will be tempted with money. He
VII be patted on the back and invited
0 the bar by men who hope to gain
favor-men who would fight il their
ons were being tempted in the same
ray. /;
May you learn, youngster, early In
our career that 1t win pay you to be
n the square. Tell the truth, and tell
plainly. Pass UP the gang that after
he davis work drops in on Clarity
or round of drinks. You lessen
our advancement. you put milestone
round your neck, you are damning J
our career. Preaching? All, yes: no
oubt IL is preaching, but it's good
dvice. youngster Maybe you will
AXE it--maybe not Take it, boy!
'ollow it-stick to it. You will be the !
amer. Ii
Practice simple style In writing.
iain reputation for being accurate {
'e known as a plugger rather than s