Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-15
Journalism at the University

VIRGINIA is fortunate to have at the head
OF her State university man who adds
to scholarly experience and IRE talents as
All executive the breadth of vision and clear
ness OF perception that distinguish DR. Alder
man. There is something essentially journa-
hsic i'll his apprehension of what the public
needs-even though the public may be un-
conscious of its need-and this mental trait
may doubly explain perhaps, his inclusion
OF a school Of journalism in his program
for the unversity's expansion.
There should, indeed, be such IL school at
the University of Virginia. The merit and
usefulness of such instruction in the prin-
ciDles and practice Of ournalism--the science
and the art as wel--have received abundant
demonst ration In various Western insttu-
tions and more recently and notably at Co
lumbia University where the generosity Of
Joseph Pulitzer provided ample endowment
and full facilities schools of journalism have
proved their worth.
And why not. after all. even though we
who were dragged up by her heels and learned
what we know OF the processes of newspaper
construction in the school of hard knocks
and bitter experience, were so latoly inclined
to doubt it? There is nothing mysterious or
wonderful about making newspaper. For
the attainment of success some form of adc-
quate preparation and some degree of natural
aptitude, of course, are essential, and, like
every other business profession, clinical
experience must be provided. No young
man ever emerged from Il law school fin
iShed lawyer nor from a medical school
skilled physician or expert surgeon. Moot
cases nor cadavers suiced to complete his
education; he learned in the handling Of real
legal controversies and live-at least at the
Start--human beings, and nobody ever
thought TO feel surprised that this must needs
be essential to the perfection Of his training.
II is so with journalism. Even in the
oil lat 1I.l
prejudice and despite our present belief that
the fundamentals OF journalism can be taught
and learned--n Il school we are not willing
TO admit that a real reporter can be turned out
from any other institution than newspaper
Office. But the school, given the skeleton,
can supply Il good part of the body and a
large part of the soul of that cntcrprising
and valuable personality.
long-a very longtime ago. they used
to teach at the university that literature lis
the expression OF human interest in artistic
prose or verse" Eliminate the last two
words and substitute graphic for artistic
and you have pretty good working deHn-
ton of the reporters function and the
porter, by overwhelming odds, is the biggest
part of any newspaper worthy Of the name.
There is such Il thing as "a nose for news"
which means capacity to distinguish be
tween the intrinsically interesting and the
essentially commonplace. This is a God
conferred faculty that can he developed and
trained, but which cannot be created by any
human agency. The school Of journalism
cannot create ill., but neither can the news
paper. The insists and mistakes fit in and
out Of city rooms every day Of every year.
Because II Is necessary TO maintain Il staff
al working strength, il is usually neces-
sary for ovcrburdencd city editors to he con
Quoting d perpetual voyage OF discovery, in
search of new talent. Perhaps the school OF
journalism will undertake part of this task.
We wish IL happiness and joy-and more luck
than has fallen TO the share of most of its
individual precursors on that unchartcd sea