Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11
A NEWSPAPER LABORATORY
From Which L. N. Flint Turns
Out Journalists.
The Hend OF the University of Knu-
sns's New School Tells of the Al
vantnges OF Preparing Young
Men for Newspaper Work
by Laboratory Methods.

l.. N Flint, head Of the department OF
| Journalism In the University of Kansas
| upholds the laboratory methods In Jour
nalism developed in the last few years.
Occasionally some one is heard 10
boast that he Is not a journalist. Just a
plain, plug newspaper man" he says
Possibly he is right. And he has a right
to be proud Of his business But he errs
| when he boasts that he is not Journal
list. The title is honorable and there
are men who are worthy to bear It, As
name for university department the
term journalism is used for convenience
and because 1t represents the ideal
"A few years ago, when courses in
journalism first appeared in university
curriculums, there was much modest
merriment on the part OF those actually
| Engaged in the making OF newspapers
Even now, to speak OF laboratory meth
DDS In journalism before an assembling
OF editors Is to invite n plying smll. on
the part Of some
Not infrequcntly does one ser in n
paraErapher's column or in n magazine
article on How to Whip the Cub Re
porter into shape some such statement
as After few months he might forget
his special training in journalism and
make n good newspaper man It seems
fair and proper that labora tory work in
journalism should not be condemned by
newspaper men until it is understood"
Mr. Flint is willing to explain the meth
DDS he represents and to show incidental
" precisely what the graduate from n
course in journalism must forget before
he will make a good newspaper man.
There are no schools Of journalism in
the strict sense" he says I'm ten or a
dozen universities there are departments
and courses In journalism Offering work
running through one or moro wears. In
the University of Kansas these courses
run through the three wears Of the college
above the freshman wear
Tho student devotes the greater part
of his time to the courses that are :
regular part Of the college work. MAKING
his selection under the advice Of The dc
partrnent Of Journalism. He studies lit
orature and history and psychology and
English and sociology and logic and
something Of language and science Some
NJ these subjects are directly In line with
his future work; most Of them will he Of
constant service to the man who goes
very far ahead in the newspaper bust
ness, and all Of them contribute to the
making o. a man. The reporter, the city
editor, the telegraph editor. the country
editor, each needs to know everything
and he needs to be man
THE first course in the technical work
offered by the department Of journalism
in the university Is reporting Many
newspaper men seem to think that there
is something quite artificial about this
course. that because theories ne sup
posed to thrive well in colleges this course
must he merely theoretical. Thcy seem
10 picture the instructor appearing be-
fore his class with some such announce
ment MS this:
And now, Young ladies and Young
gentlemen, we will learn how to report
fire. on tho blackboard YOU will perceive
diagram Of tho town ~ L. N-nr the top
YOU VIII see the letter r Til. represents
The reporter asleep in bed IT o'clock in
the evening T. on tho other side of the
diagram, is the dwelling which is IN
process Of CONFEDERATION. G il the Cit
hall. md r is the fire h.ll.
When the reporter hears this hell he
should rise and dre-s His collar and III,
should be left on the chronior His coat
should be donned during tho descent OF
tho stairs. The reporter should proceed
rapidly - r He should ascertain
whether or not the building is in fact
aolaze' he Sh"uid NerlfN this f9"t hr
competent witnesses Always he sure Of
your facts
Next ne should assume his note book
and pencil and tap the fire chief lightly
on inc elbow lie should then ask the
iol'o"'hs questions In order: DO vow
Nho" any news n" SGT TINS IRE. and
why non VIII N"U ave II ont, How
nu'n insurance was thore on III" place.
Nay go INSIDE ''0 YARD and interview
'"' "r"'' Il any WIZ mere ne any
o'le''loh II our paper prints the story
1T must be admitted that In th- Uni
Ver>hy OF Kansas practce on this par
N'".A' "HS's"''''' Is '"hhhoA 10 hNlo-
lH''''"l cases S'n'N me state oar'I-' 20
i'Sur"n'e ana 'He Stuoents nave neHn
l"'n'"''" |" "urh 'he nuildlng. Fut TIE
S'"oeh'H III reporting are put TO WORK the
irS' gay Oh 'helr course writing news for
me hlNerstN harSan and other papers
ana ouhetlns published by the university
IheE e6h'ot all the symptoms that
me green reporter in newspaper offices
eAh'o's' lneS 20 through the sane
stages or progress nave the same re
lapseS' ana ConNalesce under the same
nnes or treatment that ordinary cubs
40 1here IL nothing essentially different
between Soins - the county clerk to -pt
tie commissioners proceedings and -oi0~