The handbook of journalism; all about newspaper work.--Facts and information of vital moment to the journalist and to all who would enter this calling

Front matter

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0\^\\ tes TN 4175

Book .F-T

Preface

The little I know, and the much I know of what others know, are presented to those who are, or would be, members of the journalist crew, without which the Boat of Trade and the Ship of State would remain at anchor forever.

CHAPTER I By Way of Intkoduction

THIS book is not, and does not claim to be, a cyclopedia of journalism. Nor does it pretend to be a guide to newspaper work.

There are several reasons why the author refuses to attempt to tell the reader how he may become a journalist or newspaper writer, or how he may do better work if he is already a member of the craft.

Nowhere in this book will be found definite rules or regulations, which would be of no use to the intelligent reader, and which would not be understood by the ignorant one.

Journalism cannot be taught by book or lesson.

It is not like the concrete arts of book-keeping, stenography, typewriting, and a few others, a knowledge of which may be imparted by book or pen.

Instead of attempting to teach, the author has given facts and information, which he hopes will be of benefit, not only to journalists in general, but of special moment to those who would enter what he considers Progression's Greatest Vocation.

The author has presented both the professional and commercial aspects of the newspaper business, and has dwelt at length upon the latter, because it is obvious that the financial or remunerative side is of vital consequence, and will be, so long as comparatively few can afford to devote their time to any vocation which does not offer them a livelihood.

The author has not allowed his own personal experience as a journalist to bias the advice and suggestions which he has attempted to present. He has endeavored to present honestly, conscientiously, vividly, and plainly both sides of the journalistic shield, — the strong and the weak side

BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION 3

of it, — as well as typographically to paint technical and professional pictures.

He offers this book as a series of moving pictures of newspaper life, taken by the unprejudiced camera; and he has attempted to print from uncolored and unchanged negatives, as well as to present optimistic aflSrmatives,

CHAPTER II Newspapers and Periodicals

IN the United States and Canada there are published regularly, a total of exceeding twenty-four thousand newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. Of these about two thousand six hundred are published daily, approximately seventy-five triweekly, not far from six hundred and fifty semiweekly, over seventeen thousand weekly, about sixty every two weeks, over two hundred and eighty semimonthly, somewhat more than three thousand monthly, about seventy-five bimonthly, and about two hundred and fifty quarterly.

These newspapers and periodicals are published in about eleven thousand, six hundred and fifty towns and cities.

More than half of the great daily newspapers publish Sunday editions, and there are a few Sunday newspapers disconnected from daily newspaper offices.

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS 5

Comparatively few daily newspapers issue both morning and evening editions. The large morning newspapers publish two editions: one for out of town, the other for city circulation. The small evening newspapers issue but one edition; those of moderate size, two editions ; and the great city evening newspapers publish five or six editions.

Many of the large city dailies issue weekly editions other than those published on Sunday, made up largely from what has appeared in the dailies, with preference given to miscellany and other socaUed literary matter.

The Sunday newspapers contain the current news, but in addition large quantities of miscellany, special articles, and stories, including both short and serial stories. Several pages are devoted to the household, to fashions, and to special articles, most of which are profusely illustrated.

A large proportion of the matter, other than news, is supplied by syndicate companies, of which I have spoken in another chapter.

Newspapers published less often than every week-day seldom issue more than one edition.

All daily, Sunday, and weekly newspapers carry considerable miscellany, or matter other than news, and many of them run short or serial stories and matter of special interest to women and the household.

Practically all of the weekly newspapers publish one or more stories in each issue, and devote two or more columns to short articles. But most of this matter was either printed outside of the newspaper office, or is received in the form of plates, an explanation of which has been given in other chapters.

The bulk of all telegraphic and general news, and of news other than that of local character, is furnished the newspaper from associations established for the collecting and distribution of news, although great newspapers frequently run several columns of news written for them exclusively, and coming over special wires, or as exclusive telegrams.

Practically all of the local news matter in a great daily newspaper is written by reporters connected with that paper, most of whom receive salaries, the others being known as space-writers.

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS 7

I have presented the duties of reporters and space-writers in other chapters.

Magazines, and other publications carrying stories, seldom contain any news, except in the form of editorial comment, and none of these periodicals employ reporters. Their editorial staffs are made up of literary men and women, who do very little writing for the periodicals they are connected with, but who are responsible for the contents, almost everything coming from outside writers, and paid for by the word, column, or page.

With few exceptions, practically all of the so-called literary magazines, and those containing stories, are published monthly, most of the quarterly periodicals being reviews or of an educational character.

The periodical having the largest circulation in America, if not in the world, is published weekly, and is devoted largely to illustrated stories and to special articles.

Magazines, and periodicals other than newspapers, carry stories and miscellaneous articles and furnish the principal field for writers of literature and of acceptable material other than news. In later chapters, I have attempted to cover this class of work.

It will be seen, then, that there is very limited opportunity for literary writers to obtain much of an income from any individual newspaper, and that they must resort to the syndicate, to the magazines, and to other periodicals, which do not carry news, all of which I have spoken of in other chapters.

The great newspaper is handled by specialists, and comparatively few of its editors are familiar with more than the work of their department. They are, therefore, unable to shift readily from one line to another. They are merely specialists, ungrounded in the great science and art of journalisni. Because they began as specialists, they remain special writers, or handle the work of only one department.

An intimate knowledge of every phase of newspaper work is necessary, if one would become a managing editor, or an editor-in-chief, or be able to direct the work of a great newspaper ; and this familiarity with journalism, as a whole, is ob-

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS 9

tainable only by learning and experiencing journalism as a whole, by beginning at the bottom as a reporter, and by mastering each round of the ladder as one moves upwards. Conditions, — both in business and in the professions, — favor the growth of the specialist, and thousands of men never meet the full of success because they began too near to the top.

In the olden days, practically every editor began his career as a printer's apprentice, and became familiar, by experience, with every department from the bottom to the top. These men, if they had sufficient ability, were able to handle every phase of newspaper work, and to direct others.

There is an unwritten law, which seems to be infallible, that no one can direct another to do what he cannot do himself.

Most of our older merchant princes began in the country store, and did every class of work, from sweeping out the store itself, to selling goods and keeping books. They were grounded in the fundamentals of business, and were masters of every detail of work. With this working.

practical knowledge, thej were enabled to command the work of others.

I would advise every would-be journalist to begin at the bottom, and to become familiar with the most menial work connected with the newspaper. I would even go so far as to advise him to learn to set type, and to run a printing press.

I believe that education to-day is altogether too highly specialized. Instead of grounding our young men in the fundamentals of business or of a profession, we begin to make them specialists at the start, and they enter life handicapped with the lack of working knowledge of the things which they are supposed to do and direct.

Experience is the world's most proficient schoolmaster. Without it, one may not hope to walk more than slowly through life. With it he may climb the mountains of success and dam up the rivers of disaster.

CHAPTER III The Makers of Newspapees

THE personnel of the editorial and reportorial departments of the great metropolitan newspaper may be described generally and broadly as follows:

The official known as the editor-in-chief is in command of every department outside of the business management and the mechanical production of the paper. He is responsible for everything which appears, and, directly or indirectly, engages the editors or reporters. He is, theoretically, at least, the supreme authority, the court of appeal, and the court of final resort, subject only to the owners of the newspaper, who make the policy. Occasionally he is the principal owner, or one of the owners, or he directly represents the owners, in which case he is, in fact, general in command of the journalistic army under

him.

The editor-in-chief usually writes the majority of the leading editorials, and either he, or his principal assistant, designates the character or subjects of the editorials, which must not be at variance with the newspaper's policy.

He personally engages the assistants, the special editors, and the heads of every department, which have to do with what appears in the newspaper, outside of the advertisements, although he may delegate much of this to subordinates.

Directly under his direction are the editorial writers, of which there are two, three, or more; and besides them there are a number of outside editorial writers, most of them being specialists, who write upon the subjects they are familiar with, and are paid either moderate salaries or by the piece.

The editorial writers, who are on the staff, give their entire time to the paper, and furnish most of the editorials.

Next to the editor-in-chief in importance is the managing editor, who is tlie executive officer, and is under no one except the editor-in-chief. In some newspapers the managing editor is at the

THE MAKERS OF NEWSPAPERS 13

head and occupies the dual position of editor-in-chief and managing editor. He may or may not be an editorial writer, but gives most of his time to the management of the editorial and reportorial departments of the newspaper.

Every large newspaper maintains several departments under the management of the following editors :

(I do not give them in the order of importance, because their positions vary, as some of the papers make a specialty of certain features, and the editors at the head of these special departments outrank those who may occupy higher positions on other papers.)

The dramatic editor, who may or may not have full charge of musical matters. He is responsible for all dramatic criticism and news which appear in his paper, writing the leaders himself, and delegating other work to his assistants, some of whom may be editors of other departments or head- reporters.

The musical editor prepares musical criticisms, and his work is similar to that of the dramatic editor.

U THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM

The political editor, who writes the political editorials.

The financial editor attends to the commercial news and stock reports.

The sporting editor, nowadays, is one of the most important personages, and is responsible for the sporting page and all sporting news. He does the heavy work himself and delegates reporting to special reporters or to the regular reporters.

The literary editor, who may do the greater part of his work outside of the office, superintends the writing of the book reviews, and is responsible for everything of a literary nature which appears in the newspaper.

The great newspaper has several telegraph or news editors, who handle the news which comes by wire. They need not be more than ordinary writers, but many of them are.

There is maintained what is known as a reading desk, which is occupied by from three to half a dozen men, whose duties are to read manuscripts of every kind, to revise and correct them, and to see that nothing at variance with the newspaper's

THE MAKERS OF NEWSPAPERS 15

policy or libelous appears. They need not be writers, but they must be experts at English, spelling, and punctuation, and, besides, rapid readers.

Some newspapers employ what are known as head- or heading-writers, but usually these men have other duties.

The local news is under the direction of the city editor, who probably graduated from the reportorial desk and is familiar with local conditions. He keeps an assignment book, and each day designates the work of the regular reporters. His position is one of great responsibility. He employs several assistants. All of the local news goes through his hands or those of his assistants. It is then passed to the reading desk.

On the regular staiF of the great newspaper there are from a dozen to three or four times that number of reporters, most of them able to handle any kind of news, but some of them are specialists and are proficient in the writing of articles of large consequence.

The young, or " cub," reporter, is an apprentice, and most reporters begin as " cubs."

There are other special editors, but they need not be discussed here, because every great newspaper maintains special departments which cannot be described generally.

I have spoken particularly of each department, including the publishing or business side of journalism, under separate headings.

Life on the great newspaper is strenuous and hard. If a morning edition is published, few of those connected with it are through with their work until midnight or even later, many of the so-called day force working into the evening. They are usually given one day off a week.

The newspaper requires the attendance of all of its principal editors and writers until a short time before going to press, one editorial writer, at least, the city editor, one or more news and telegraph editors and desk men, and several reporters being required to remain late, that emergencies may be met and late news taken care of.

Either the managing editor, or one designated by him, remains until the last, and personally stands over the forms of type, ordering this in

THE MAKERS OF NEWSPAPERS 17

and this out, as conditions and his judgment may suggest.

Let me say in closing this chapter, that many of our best literary writers served apprenticesTiips upon newspapers, and owe much of their success to the strict discipline they received and to the constantly varying conditions. The newspaper is the greatest school for writers. In no other way can one get into as close touch with men and affairs. The successful journalist is brought into the very heart of action. He obtains at first hand an insight into the inner conditions of human life. I do not believe that this experience can be duplicated, or even obtained, in any other calling. I would advise the would-be journalist to begin as a reporter, that he may obtain that information and experience, most of which he cannot help using in after life, even though he may eventually discard journalism and take up literary work or business.

f

CHAPTER IVj

What Makes the Newspaper Writer

IT is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to pre- m

sent psychologically, or any other way, the qualities essential for journalistic success.

Practically every man with a knowledge of English can learn to write for the press, and may become an acceptable reporter, and eventually a fairly good editorial writer. But it is obvious that one with a natural talent will climb the ladder of journalistic proficiency much more rapidly than will he who must force himself to write and to produce under pressure.

For this reason, I would advise no one to take up newspaper work, unless he has in him an unquenchable desire to become a journalist. Bear in mind, however, that this desire, even though it be at burning heat, is, in itself alone, an insufficient reason for entrance into the newspaper field.

WHAT MAKES THE WRITER 19

Many of us sincerely desire to do things which we cannot do, yet I would look upon desire as the first qualification, for without it more than mediocre success is impossible.

The vast majority of proficient newspaper men naturally turned to this calling, and as naturally found themselves able to compose readily and to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Even at the start they can and do produce fairly acceptable copy. They are observant, and without undue efi*ort they keep in touch with things. Everything which concerns the public interests them. Not only do they want to write, but they do not find it difficult to place their impressions or thoughts upon paper, or profitably to chronicle the news of the day.

I think that the majority of successful journalists began to write at the age of even sixteen years. Some of them were editors of amateur papers, and others contributed to the local press. Type and the printing press attracted them. They were involuntarily scribblers, good letter writers, and naturally kept themselves familiar with current events. They were readers, especially of newspapers. They loved to visit the newspaper or printing office, and the clatter of the press was music to their ears, and the smell of printer's ink was pleasanter than the perfumes of Arabia. They never passed near to a printing or newspaper office without going in or wanting to go in. They cultivated the acquaintance of reporters and editors, and many of them voluntarily furnished news items.

Therefore, I say emphatically, do not attempt to become a journalist if you must make strenuous effort to produce acceptable matter. If you cannot, before you are twenty years of age, put your thoughts fairly well in writing, the chances are ten to one that you are unfitted to enter the newspaper field.

I am not depreciating the value of practice, for without experience no result is possible ; and it is not likely that your first efforts will be satisfactory to you or to anybody else, even though you are to become a brilliant journalist. Your early work will be crude, and probably will not be acceptable to the large newspaper. But if you are going to succeed, — if the journalistic germ is in

WHAT MAKES THE WRITER 21

you, — practically everything you write will show, at least, the prospect of eventual proficiency.

If, after many conscientious trials, you find that you cannot write, and if your unbiased friends are of the same opinion, give up all thought of journalism. Remember that nature uncontrolled is a pretty good barometer. If your natural instincts are not permanently grounded, the probabilities are that there is some other calling for which you are far better fitted.

There are exceptions, and some of the great journalists did not seem to take naturally to newspaper work, but the rank and file of them loved the profession before they entered it. They would write, and nothing could stop them. They overcame every obstacle, put their whole heart into their work, and to this natural and voluntary incentive they added experience, and arrived at Success.

If you would be a newspaper writer, and do not live in a large city, I advise you most emphatically to begin on some small newspaper. Even if you are a city resident, it will be well for you to consider country journalism as an entering wedge. At any rate, investigate the possibilities of country journalism before you connect yourself with a great newspaper, and quite likely you may decide to remain in the country and enjoy a local reputation and a name, which may not come to you if you enter the strenuous competition of city journalism.

Many a man has received local country recognition, and would have been far better off, if he had remained a prominent factor in his local town, and had not become a mere part of the great news-* paper machine, which sometimes grinds out lives as rapidly as it turns out newspapers.

CHAPTER V The Editor-in-Chief

EVERYTHING appearing in the great city newspaper, except the advertisements, is under the direction and control of an official known as the editor-in-chief. He may be the principal owner, or be financially interested in his newspaper. If his position is purely a salaried one, he, of course, must follow the policy established by the proprietor.

The editor-in-chief usually writes the leading editorials, the others being prepared by his assistants, who are known as editorial writers, and of whom I have spoken in another chapter.

With hardly an exception, editors-in-chief arose from the ranks, and served apprenticeship in the reportorial department, mastering every detail of newspaper work from the bottom up. Many of them began at the case, and are familiar, from

M THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM

experience, with the mechanical side of newspaper making.

Probably the majority of editors-in-chief, except those who began their careers many years ago, enjoyed a college education, and all of them have passed through liberal and extensive experience.

There are in this country, several great editors, who graduated from the School of the World, and whose academic education is limited to the common school ; but this condition does not depreciate the value of a liberal education.

To succeed, the editor-in-chief must be familiar with every department of newspaper work, and he must keep in the closest touch with local, state, national, and international affairs. He must possess unusual discretion and discrimination, and be a good executive as well as an able writer.

Outside of the business department, the editor-in-chief is virtually a commanding general, in direct and exclusive control of every department, and he should not be ignorant of commercial affairs.

THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 25

The editor-in-chief receives the largest salary paid by the newspaper, except those given to the publisher and business manager, and often he ranks with them, so far as remuneration is concerned. His salary is seldom less than five thousand dollars a year, and from that up to twice that amount, or to even fifteen or twenty thousand dollars, although comparatively few are paid more than seven or eight thousand dollars.

As many editors-in-chief financially control their newspapers, or have interests in them, it Is frequently difficult for the underj ournalist to attain this position, unless he is able to accumulate a sum sufficient to procure a part ownership, or is of unusual brilliancy and possesses tremendous executive ability.

Connection between the business or publishing department and the editorial and reportorial departments is through the editor-in-chief or managing editor, who acts as executive officer, and who communicates the policy of the paper to his subordinates.

On the great metropolitan newspaper, the editor-in-chief, although in actual command, may have little to do with the employment of others than those who come in direct contact with him. With the consent and advice of the proprietor, he appoints the heads of departments, and holds them responsible for their work and that of their subordinates. Every day he presides at a conference attended by the editorial writers, and frequently by the heads of departments, including the publisher or his representative.

Although most of the great newspapers employ a managing editor, as well as an editor-in-chief, occasionally one person occupies both positions.

The office of editor-in-chief of the smaller daily newspaper, and of the country weekly, is usually vested in the proprietors, or in one of them.

CHAPTER VI The Managing Editor

THE newspaper, unless published in a small place, is under the direction of the managing editor, who may or may not be the editor-in-chief, and who is not necessarily a prolific and able writer. He is, in fact, the chief executive oflScer of every department of the newspaper, except those devoted to the business. As a rule, he employs, or is responsible for, the heads of every department outside of the business and mechanical ones ; and the editorial department, as a whole, may be under his direction. He usually engages most of the editors, and theoretically, all of the reporters, although the city editor is likely to control the local department.

To succeed, he must possess unusual executive ability, and be in the closest touch with affairs.

He is under the direction of only the editor-in-chief, and receives his orders from him; but he

§7 usually takes the initiative and attends to most of his duties without consulting any one, providing, of course, that he adheres to the policy of the newspaper.

His position is one of great responsibility, for the circulation of the paper and its standing in the community are largely due to his efforts.

The managing editor should be also familiar with the mechanical side of the newspaper, as well as with the editorial, news, and reportorial requirements. He must keep in close touch with everything which goes on, including news in general, and it is his duty to originate as well as to direct.

His salary is about twenty-five per cent, less than that given to the editor-in-chief.

The position of editor-in-chief and managing editor may be merged into one office.

Some newspapers, however, do not label the editor in control with the title of editor-in-chief or managing editor, in which case the managing or controlling editor is known as the editor, the other officials being called assistant editors or heads of departments.

Chapter VII

The Editoriai. Writer

NEWSPAPERS, other than those located in the smaller places, employ from one to several regular staff editorial writers, who give their entire time to their newspapers, and who write all of the editorial matter, except the leaders, which are usually written by the editors-in-chief. Often these assistants are responsible for the leading editorials, or for some of them.

Every Jay a conference is held, presided over by the editor-in-chief or managing editor. Matters of public mterest are discussed, and subjects assigned to the editorial writers, most of whom are especially proficient in some one line, although editorial writers, as a rule, are able to handle almost any subject^ except that of the actual writing out of news itself.

Editorial writei-s are paid from two to even five thousand dollars a year, the average salary being between three and four thousand dollars. They are usually men of very broad education, and even broader experience, who are in close touch with all human affairs, and are able to place their knowledge and impressions acceptably upon paper.

The large newspapers employ, besides the regular staff of editorial writers, several special editors, who, for the most part, do their work at home. They receive moderate salaries, — from five hundred to two thousand dollars, or are paid at the rate of five to twenty-five dollars per column. The editor-in-chief, or managing editor, assigns subjects for them.

These outside editorial writers are usually specialists, — experts in some particular science or art, — and their work is largely confined to their specialties. For example, the great newspaper would have on its outside staff of editorial writers a leading scientist, an eminent doctor, a prominent clergyman, a political writer of note, a historian, and others. These writers, although they

THE EDITORIAL WRITER 31

work usually under instructions, are allowed at times to choose their subjects, and to send in editorials at will, which will be used, if they are acceptable to the commanding editor.

Many literary writers take up special editorial work.

CHAPTER VIII The News and Telegraph Editor

THE great newspaper employs one or more officials known as news or telegraphic editors, whose duties are to read, edit, and correct the general news, most of which is received over the wire, the copy usually going to the desk readers for final revision; but these desk readers do not do more than make the necessary corrections. Most of the general and telegraphic news, except that which comes by special wire, is received from a news-gathering association, and is written upon thin paper.

News matter is without headings, and the editor mus+. write in the headlines.

It is sometimes necessary to revise, or to pad out, the news, as telegrams are often quite concise, and admit of legitimate enlargement. For example: the paper receives the notice of the

NEWS AND TELEGRAPH EDITOR SB

death of a prominent person. The editor adds to the telegram the life of the deceased and other information concerning him. The telegram itself may give only the date of his death. It is perfectly legitimate to attach to this any amount of matter about the person, even to the extent of several columns.

The paper receives telegraphic news about the dedication of a monument, or the opening of a railroad. The news editor has on file a large amount of information on the subject, and he adds this to the telegraphic report.

News and telegraphic editors must keep in close touch with the affairs of the world, and be able to diagnose instantaneously the value of a telegram.

They are paid from fifteen hundred to three thousand dollars a year.

The smaller papers may not maintain a general news department, the work being handled by one of the editors in connection with his other duties.

CHAPTER IX The Desk Editor

THE great metropolitan newspaper, and some of those published in the smaller cities, employ two or more editors known as desk editors.