Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-19
SERFECTTYP
OF REPORTING
FOUND IN BIBLE
Ex-senator Beverage Pays
Fine Tribute to Art of
journalism.


WABASH, Ind, Dec. 1e.-The inpor-
lance OF Journalism and the Bible as an
example Of journalism were discussed by
Albert ]. Beveridge in a talk at union
church service here last night.
More than 800 years passed from the
time Gutenberg of Mainz invented print
ing until the beginning Of modern jour
nalism," Mr. Beverage said.
LAS we now understand that trench
dously influential profession, It is the
growth Of scarcely more than half a cen
fury; yet it has drawn to itself perhaps
the brightest minds and, speaking by and
large the most sensitive consciences Of
the day.
THE basis Of this extraordinary in
tellectual development OF what is called
civilization" is the collecting and report
ing Of news. The task of the reporter
and correspondent is the throbbing heart
Of the twentieth century journalism.
THE art Of reporting requires keen In
tellectuality, incessant energy, and above
ell, high and stern moral steadfastness.
The ethical is necessary in journalism
more than any other phase OF modern
life
THE reason is obvious; the people
necessarily must depend upon the rec
- OF facts as presented in the daily
Press II these facts are not set forth
In proper proportion the people have no
Just or solid foundation for sound and
accurate judgment.
The reporter who wilfully mis-states
facts is a public enemy; and the same is
true, OF course, in a much greater de-
gree Of the managing editor who, for any
hot
leads the public.
"The art of reporting, then, demands
on the part of the reporter a study Of
the best models. As a reader of the pub
lie press. 1 should say that the essentials
OF reporting are accuracy, vividness. brew
1ty and through all the pure and unde-
filed spirit Of truthfulness.
Among the innumerabIe examples Of
the amazing interest and usefulness of
the Bible, none perhaps are more aston
tshing than the wellnigh perfect models
Il contains Of the art Of newspaper re-
porting. In a conversation with one Or
the foremost editors II America. and 1
think Of the world, on the exhaustIess
subject of the Bible as literature. this
great journalist declared that the essen
tials Of reporting are better exempIified
in many Biblical accounts than auv-
where else that he had ever been able
TO find
1T would, Of course, require q Series
Of long and formal lectures to deal ade
quetely with this one subject; and in
a discoursive talk, such as this. can
only refer to one of a great number
Of examples Of reportorial art which the
Bible contains.
For instance, take the ninth chapter
Of II Kings; It is very brief, yet fl en-
bodies a complete account of Johns
amounting, his whirlwind descent on Jez-
rul; the killing of the kings of Israel
and Judah, and the awful fate Of Jeze-
q. Every detail OF many tragic events
t~fully covered. Not a word is wasted.
although each particular is stated fully.
picturesquely and entertainingly. The
mind is not left unsatisfied at a single
point; no gap in narrative of facts re,
mains to be filed up by the readers
Imagination.
Il can think Of no better exercise for
a reporter than to attempt to rewrite
the story CT Jehu as presented in the
ninth chapter Of II Kings, and get the
whole thing in the same space. Take for
example the description OF the death or
Jezebel; this tragedy is recounted with
theatrical picturesqueness; yet the entire
story is told in 21S words.
'Jezebel's dramatic action when from
her window, she reproached Jehu. her
death by being cast down from her
chamber into the street: the burial OF
what remained OF her. which the Biblical
reporter informs US were no more or
her than the skull end the feet ana the
palms Of her hands," and finally Elitah's
prophecy that dogs should eat OF her
flesh "and her carcass should be dung
upon the face Of the field''-au this Is
set forth in ten short sentences notwith
standing that minute particulars are
given by the writer.
There are men in the newspaper pro-
fession, who, as an exercise in both clear
ness and condensation have taken these
verses, so to 81 inclusive of the ninth
chapter OF II Kings, and, by rewriting
tried, in their own words, to state the
facts within the same space; and after
many attempts have failed to accomplish
the feat.
Just as in so-calIed poems of passion
Swinburne and Byron are hectic and dis
gushing when contrasted with the song of
Solomon; just as the finest oratory in
the world is prOlix and clumsy when
cOntrasted with PauPs speech to the
ALhenians on Mars Hill (unless we ex-
c. LincOln's Gettysburg speech: Just
as the creed OF the modern optimist Is
thin and uncertain contrasted with the
noble confidence expressed IN the
Psalms Of David; just as the modern
philosopher is duh contrasted with that
most philosophical conversation Of all
time set down in the book OF Job; Just
as. by inn1mera5le such tests, the purely
literary aspects of the Bible surpass in
strength and beauty anything to be
found in all other Hterature-just so, the
best reporting Of the most accomplished
professional writers Of the present day
does not approach the perfection OF
Biblical accounts in breyity. accuracy. at
sractiyeness of statement and other
essentials of the reporters nahla ART.