New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-02
THE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

AS law school does not turn out
finished lawyers ready to lead the BAR
so the Pulitzer School Of Journalism,
which has just opened It's doors, VIII
not be expected to turn out experts
ready to take direction OF the press
The most Il can do is 20 give men
such a degree OF familiarity with the
methods and tools Of their craft as VIII
enable them to turn themselves quick
ly to practical usefulness, and such
foundation of knowledge and culture
as will serve as q working basis for
Immediately intelligent application to
whatever problem they may face In Il
newspaper office.
DR.. Williams in outlining the courses
of the school has laid great emphasis
Oh laboratory practice and Is endea-
yoring TO train the students to write
good and accurate English under con-
ditions for acquiring information ana
under limitations of time approximate
Ing those imposed In a newspaper
office. But that training In facility Is
to be superimposed on a rigid course
In history, economics and literature
and is not directed to giving shallow
men a superficial facility. His aim Is
not merely to make graduates more
acceptable as "cub reporters" because
they know enough Of newspaper tech
nique to furnish passable stories al
most from the beginning, but rather
to turn ont men who. being equipped
Ia adapt themselves readily to appren'
tice work, will have the capacity and
the breadth to develop to mastery
along whatever line their tastes or
their opportunities may dictate.
Every experienced editor knows the
difficulty Of finding men and women
for important places. Passable work
ers are common enough. Facile WRIT
ers are numberless. But those VINO
combine facility and technical expert
ness with breadth Of knowledge anu
sound Judgment are rare either for
writing or executive work. That the
School Of Journalism Will furnish these
paragOns in a steady stream Is not TO
be expected. That its graduates VIII
60 into the offices Of newspapers SET
tied In their traditions, and do away
with al the sins Of omission and COIN
mission popularity attributed to them
IS as little to be hoped as that class
Of law students with high Ideals VII!
reform the abuses Of the law Instead
Of adapting themselves 10 the condl-
tions OF getting a living with whlch
they are confronted. Yet nobody VIII
deny that tie more men Of broad train
Ing and high ideals 60 into the law the
higher becomes the standard OF the
profession. and We may look to see IN
newspapers an improvement In taste
and truth jLst In proportion as strength
Of chara eter. trained accuracy anu
good taste are iuculcated in the COM
ING generation ci journalists.
II bar beer TIE fashion to laugh al
the idea Of teaching Journalism In n
school. The oldtime physician laughed
at the medical college. and the oldtime
lawyer thought his office all the school
student needed. Both the law office
and the doctors office are still lnyalua-
bic for practical training. The profess
sional school only fits a man to make
the best use Of them. So the school OF
Journalism may be expected To III
students to mike the best use for
themselves and their employers Of the
chances which come to them In actual
newspaper making. They will still be
cubs" when they enter the editorial
rcoms-woe for them If they dare to
think otherwise! But they should be
"cubs" with u capacity for more than
ordinary development In one OF the
most difficult and trying Of professions
and one for which no strength OF
character and no breadth Of training
can be too great.