What Makes The Newspaper Writer

( Originally Published 1913 )

IT is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to present 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.

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 effort 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 news-paper 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 can-not, 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 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 en-joy 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 newspaper machine, which sometimes grinds out lives as rapidly as it turns out newspapers.