The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-29
BOOK REPORTING.

There exists in the world as at present conStl-
tuted person called the reporter. He is, mostly,
adjunct of the daily newspaper; III small places,
of the weekly newspaper. II is, however, in the
cities of America that he is brought to his pcrfec
ton, and in this connection it is worth while point
ing out what IRWIN CoRB has already nOtcd-the
dnfe+eucc hciwccu the New York reporter and the
reporter of almost any other city in America.
The New York reporter works with his rival
on another sheet: the reporter outside New York
almost never docs this Conn attributed the differ
ence TO the impossible tasks that confront reporters
in New York-impoSSibc. that is, for single handed
accomplishment. \ man who should attempt TO
cover alone some New York assignments, TO beat
his fellow, would be lost. OF course where New
York paper details half dozen men TO a job real
competition between rival outfits is feasible and
sometimes
But the point here is this: The New York re
porter, by generally working with his fellow
from another daily, has made of his work pro
fession, business with professional ideals and
standards, governed by code, nwrittcn but deli
cate, and made up of decidedly high rules of
what is honorable and what is not Elsewhere re
porting remains a business, decently conducted TO
be sure, open in many instances TO manifestations
of chivalry hut essentially keen, sharp edged, cut
throat competition
Now il is Of the reporter in his best and highest
estate that we would speak here-the reporter who
is not only keen and honest observer but happy
recorder of what he secs and hears and profess
sional person with ethical ideals in no respect in
ferior 10 those Of any recognized professional man
on earth.
There are many things which such reporter will
not do under any pressure of circumstances or at
the beck of any promise of reward. He will not
Al Al,
not put in peoples mouths words that they did not
say, and he will not let the reader take their words
at face value it. in the reporters own knowledge,
the uttcrancc should he pcrceptibly discounted. No
reporter can see and hear everything and no re
porters story can record even everything that the
observer contrivcd 20 see and hear Ii must record
such things as will arouse in the reader mind
correct image and just impression. ..
Evolution of Good Workman.
How is this TO be doncH Why, there is no form
MA. There's no set of rules. There S nothing but
purpose anmating every word the man writes
purpose served and only half consciously served,
by a hundred turns of expression a thousand
choices of words Like all honest cndeavorS 10 effect
a purpose, the thing is spoiled annulled, made
empty Of result by deliberate art
Good reporters are neither born nor made; they
evolve themselves and without much help from any
outside agency, either They can he hindered but
not prevented helped hut not hurt.
You may remember saying that Con helps
those who help themselves The common intcrprc-
tation of this is that when gets up and does
something of his own initiative Providence is pretty
likely 10 play into his hands little. Not at all;
that ism what the provcrh means. What it does
mean is Just this: That those who help them
selves, who really do lift themselves by their boot
straps, helped by Con; that it ism they who do
the lifting but somebody bigger than themselves
Now there is no doubt whatever that good re-
porters good reporters because Con helps them
become SO. They aren't good reporters at three
years Of age; they get TO he. Does this seem dis
couragingf II ought 10 be immensely encouraging,
heartcning actually uplifting in the finest sense
of tormcntcd word.
For if we believed that good reporters were born
and not made there would be no hope for any
cept the gifted few. endowed from the start and
if we believed that good reporters were made and
not born there would he absolutely no excuse for
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