Writers Of Special Articles

( Originally Published 1913 )

THE demand for special articles upon every pertinent subject, and especially for the unusual and sensational, is responsible for a large number of journalists, who devote the better part of their time to the preparation of what may not be considered regular news, and yet has local flavor, and is, or is supposed to be, of interest to the average newspaper reader.

These writers are usually men of considerable education, many of them being college graduates, and most of them possess distinct literary ability. Some of them have made their mark in literature, and are the authors of popular books. They may or may not have had experience on a newspaper, but I think the majority of them have served in the ranks. Their acquaintance is large, and they keep themselves well informed about current events. They can write upon almost any subject, and make a specialty of obtaining interviews with prominent men.

For example, let us suppose that there is much public interest in the spread or cure of tuberculosis. The special writer interviews several leading physicians, and makes up his article from what is told him, or else presents what is said verbatim, with more or less introduction.

A railroad may suffer from frequent disasters, and the occurrence of accidents may seem to be epidemic. The special writer interviews railroad men and others, familiarizes himself with the history of railroad accidents, and makes up an article which covers both the past and the present. He interviews actors and actresses, and presents prominent features of the modern drama, connecting them with the history of the stage.

The pure food agitation gives him material. He takes up the educational side of life, and presents expert opinion culled from the interviews he has with prominent educators. Crime offers a fertile field.

Many of these articles occupy an entire page, and are copiously illustrated, usually from photographs.

While these special writers are paid by the column or page, the majority of them receive more for their work than do the regular space-writers of news. High rates are often paid for articles by leading men, who are not necessarily writers. For example : a new superintendent of schools is engaged. A newspaper, which will not pay its regular space-writer more than five dollars for matter obtained from an interview with the new superintendent, will give the superintendent from twenty-five to even forty dollars for an article over his signature.

A few of these special writers depend upon their articles wholly for a livelihood, but most of them occupy salaried positions or do regular literary work.

A proportion, and, perhaps, a large one, of special articles is sold to the syndicates, and distributed by these companies to a dozen, or to even several hundred, newspapers. The syndicate, as a rule, will pay the writer more than he will receive from any one newspaper.

The special writer, then, may be considered both as a journalist and as a literary man. If he is able to succeed as a story writer, he can add to his income by producing special articles ; and if he is an expert at special-article writing, he can probably succeed along regular literary lines.