Schools Of Journalism

( Originally Published 1913 )

THERE have been established, recently, institutions which claim to impart a theoretical or a working knowledge of journalism. These schools are in their infancy, and their efficiency has not been thoroughly tested.

While it is obvious that the best newspaper school is in the office of the newspaper itself, and while comparatively few money-making or practical arts can be taught academically, or within the walls of a schoolroom, it is probable that a good school of journalism, properly officered and with experienced newspaper men as active instructors, may be of much assistance to the would-be newspaper man.

The eyes of the newspaper world are turned upon these institutions, and time will demonstrate their usefulness, or will pzove them to be failureS.

I am not advising for or against these institutions, because they are all in the experimental stage, and nobody at the present time can correctly diagnose their probable efficiency. Whether they succeed or not, it will be several years before they will take the place of actual experience in newspaper offices.

There have been established several correspondence schools of journalism, which claim to be able to teach this calling. So long as the efficiency of the residential institution remains in doubt, I think that I may assume that journalism cannot be taught by correspondence, except in a theoretical or automatic way.

I do not see how it is possible for any correspondence school to pass, through the mail, material likely to be of much benefit to the pupil in journalism. If these schools depend upon membership fees for their support, it would seem to me to be obvious that they cannot succeed with-out a large enrollment, with a small staff of instructors. It would also appear to me to be evident that a large number of pupils cannot receive much personal attention or working information, if the school is to succeed financially.

Before joining any correspondence or other school of journalism, I would advise the reader to obtain the announcements of all of the schools of journalism, and to show them, or to send them, to several first-class newspaper men. If the majority of these trained journalists recommend any school, the inquirer may seriously consider it ; but I would not advise him to follow the advice of any one journalist, because he may be biased in favor of the school or be connected with it. If, however, three or four able newspaper men speak well of it, the inquirer has good reason to consider it favorably. If the school is doing good work, some one outside of its faculty knows about it, and some of its graduates are engaged in newspaper work. Representative editors-in-chief and city editors are in a position to judge it fairly.

I believe that no one can become proficient. in journalistic work until he has come in contact with it, and I am inclined to feel that, for the present, at least, one is not likely to obtain a working knowledge of journalism, and certainly not the practice of it, unless he serves in the ranks.

Recently there was established a new school of journalism by a large endowment, and I hear that this institution proposes to give its pupils opportunity to practice. The school, I understand, is to be directly connected with several large newspapers, and will not be, therefore, wholly academic. In this, as in many other things, I repeat what I have said : when in doubt, go slow ; when in much doubt, don't.