The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-23
Regarding Schools of Journalism

Sheuld not take them to the jail"
 Regarding Schools of Journalism
 Joseph Pulitzer was philanthropist as well as a successful newspaper man and one of his best bequests was s500,000 to be used as an endowment for the New York Philharmonic or chestra,' said an old citizen who saw a good deal of newspaper service in New York and Washington City in the 90s. But MT. Pulitzer's pet scheme intended to uplift young men was the school of journalism he founded at Co., lumbia university. New York To this cause he gave s1,000.OO0. Those of us who have worked in newspaper of | fees appreciate the value of an edu- cation in connection with newspaper work such as high class college gives. But 1t Is not easy to under stand what practical benefit will be derived from study of text book jour- nalism or from pedagogic newspaper education in college class room.
 Everybody remarks the importance of specializing in science and in law. But newspaper work is peculiar and every man who engages in editorial writing should be equipped with a col lege education such as all men should possess, especially those employed in technical branches of industry and in law and in medicine. Every intellec- tual American man or woman, no mat ter what calling he or she may take up, should be well read in history, and should be able to write good English. But when it comes to university spe- cialization in journalism l cannot help thinking the idea foolish. The technic of composition, which is an essential part of good newspaper mans equip ment, should be regarded as equally necessary for the mechanic engineer, the chemist, the lawyer and the min i ister of the gospel. If a technically educated man lacks the facility for ex- pressing himself in convincing English I his specialized training will avail lit- | tie. What the editor should be able I to do in addition to writing is to use judgment and to apply his orderly mind to consideration of problems affecting the public. Ethics? Socicl- ogy? Political science? Yes, the news paper man should study these things. But so should all the men and women who belong to culture clubs and who are taking part in various so called uplift movements.
 | "A few years ago I read an article in one of the well known magazines over the signature of Joseph Pulitzer. It was the only thing that I had ever
 read with his name attached to it. and l I was naturally interested because, in a general way, admired the man. The
 theme of the article was 'Journalism.' MT. Pulitzer was explaining his scheme for endowing a newspaper chair and defending the principle involved in newspaper training from pedagogical point of view. About the only thing
 recall of MT. Pulitzer's discussion was
 that his style was painfully redundant
 He used about 10 printed pages in
 conveying to the public his ideas. which might have been clearly and
 luminously set forth in four or five pages. There are, I believe, two or
 three schools of journalism'-some Of
 them in existence a dozen years. ol
 more As to results, I am not in- formed but the youth who has a diploma from school of journalism
 would find it anything but easy to hold his own on first rate daily.
 "One of the best edited papers in this country is The Wall Street Journal It's editorial articles are meaty,' and i they are written on high ethical plane The editorials contain as a rule, constructive ideas and through ev- cry one of them runs a note of sin.
 cerity. I am told that the Wall Street
 Journals English is scholarly; the ed
 itorial staff is recruited from univer.
 sity graduates. That Is altogether sen , sible, but it is safe to say that moi
 one of these rising editors was evcl
 in school of journalism"