The Organization and Training of a College Newspaper Staff

210 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Vol. 8, No. 7

only for guidance but for the stimulus to ginia college newspapers, requesting infor- high and worthy endeavor. He studies the mation about the organization and training means at hand for providing this stimulus. of the staff. Replies were received from He takes a personal interest in every child the seventeen colleges in the state that have committed to him for guidance and help. He papers. The list of schools appears in feels an especial pride in fully meeting his Table 1. obligations for service to those who can The general scheme of staff organization make no equivalent return. is somewhat the same in the various insti- In the spirit of the greatest of all teach- tutions, but there is a difference in the meth- ers he has come to give his very life, if od of electing the officers. Nominations need be, for the indifferent, the incapable, for the editor and business manager come and even the unworthy. He finds his su- directly from the student body in six of preme satisfaction in the service of others. the seventeen colleges. (See Table 2.) Of His professional service may take the form all the colleges using the system the Univer- of classroom teaching, of educational super- sity of Richmond has the largest number of vision or administration, of research, of students—1200. The plan is satisfactory in textbook preparation, or it may take any of a small student body, where everybody a hundred other less conventional forms of knows everybody else's possibilities, but highly specialized educational service, every with the enrollment as large as that of the one of which constitutes some important University of Virginia a system of nomina- aspect of the human ministry of teaching. tions coming from the retiring staff is un- Ambrose L. Suhrie doubtedly the best plan. The latter method is used in several other colleges. No- where does the faculty play much part in THE ORGANIZATION AND the nominations. Emory and Henry, and TRAINING OF A COLLEGE Washington and Lee are the only two NEWSPAPER STAFF schools which deviate from the usual sys- IN connection with my work on The tems. The White Topper of Emory and Breeze, the weekly newspaper of Har- Henry is sponsored by the Athletic Coun- risonburg Teachers College, I sent cil, from which the nominations come, while questionnaires to the editors of all the Vir- at Washington and Lee the nominations

TABLE 1—LIST OF COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS IN VIRGINIA

Institutions Location Name of Paper Bridgewater College Bridgewater B. C. Bee Emory and Henry College Emory The White Topper Farmville Teachers College Farmville The Rotunda Hampden-Sidney College Hampden-Sidney Hampden-Sidney Tiger Harrisonburg Teachers College ... Harrisonburg The Breeze Lynchburg College Lynchburg The Cryptograph Medical College of Virginia Richmond Skull and Bones Radford Teachers College East Radford The Grapurchat Randolph-Macon Woman's College Lynchburg The Sun-Dial Randolph-Macon College Ashland Yellow Jacket Weekly Roanoke College Salem The Brackety-Ack University of Richmond Richmond Richmond Collegian University of Virginia Charlottesville College Topics Virginia Military Institute Lexington The Cadet Virginia Polytechnic Institute .... Blacksburg The Virginia Tech Washington and Lee University .. Lexington The Ring-Tum-Phi William and Mary College Williamsburg The Flat Hat 211 July, 1927] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER come from the Publication Board of faculty power of appointing the board of editors and students. and five other reporters. A rough estimate Roanoke College and V. P. I. are the only from the figures shown in the questionnaire two schools in which the two major officers indicates that the number of reporters on are appointed. A faculty-and-student the staffs averages about ten. committee appoints the editor and business The various papers agree in that the ed- manager at Roanoke, and the Athletic Coun- itor has several assistant or associate editors cil appoints them at V. P. I. The business —who relieve the editor-in-chief of much managers are appointed at Randolph-Macon actual work. The better organized papers Woman's College and at V. M. I. have news editors, who note all happenings The general tendency, as shown in Table and send out assignments, and copy editors, 3, is to have no scholarship requirement. who read material for correction. If an Hampden-Sidney, Harrisonburg Teachers editor has not systematized his staff, he College, Randolph-Macon Woman's College, finds himself with these jobs. In that case Roanoke, and V. M. I. require that the the general tone of the paper may go down nominees shall have made average grades. and the editorials become haphazard, for There is a division in opinion as to how space must be filled—and not with mistakes. long the nominee shall have been in school It is surprising that all editors do not realize (see Table 4), but the practice of giving the advantages of these two offices. only upper classmen—juniors or seniors— Athletics plays a big part in school life and the offices is fast becoming prevalent. in newspaper columns, and for that reason In thirteen of the seventeen colleges the practically all college papers have athletic rest of the staff members, including report- editors. Society editors are nearly as prev- ers, are appointed by the major officers. At alent, but few papers have exchange, joke, Hampden-Sidney, Medical College, Rad- or alumni editors. The tendency in the lar- ford, and the University of Virginia the ger colleges is to center authority in simple board of editors and the managing board organization and to give reporters regular are elected by the student body, and the re- beats. porters too are elected except at Hampden- Eleven of the seventeen newspapers have Sidney. Two reporters from each of the assistant business managers. Of these only four classes are elected at Harrisonburg two are elected—the ones at Radford Teachers College, but the editor has the Teachers College and at Hampden-Sidney.

TABLE 2—SOURCES OF NOMINATION FOR MAJOR OFFICES

Bridgewater College Student body Emory and Henry College ^ ifa Farmville Teachers College Student body SrriscStefTeaCch"csgecoiiege student body and retiring staff LyncWDUi^ Cohege ^ ... Student and faculty committee Radford(Tellher0sf Colkge* 1!!!!! 1!! - - i ^ ^ "Student andjfaculty committee Randolph-Macon Woman's College e jrin? u j Randolph-Macon College |tud?flt bo?y Roanoke College Faculty and retmng officers University of Richmond Student body University of Virginia |jalJ , Virginia Military Institute Student body Virginia Polytechnic Institute Retmng officer Washington and Lee University Publication board William and Mary College Retiring staff 212 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Vol. 8, No. 7

There are assistant business, circulation, Classes in journalism (see Table 5) are and advertising managers at V. M. I., the offered in seven of the colleges, but in no University of Virginia, and W. and L. Sev- case is such a class a requisite for staff eral schools have assistant business manag- membership. It is surprising that journal- ers and one of the other officers, and in that ism is not a class opportunity in most of case the assistant performs the duties of the the colleges, and that it is not a training for other office. The three schools mentioned newspaper workers in those schools in above are the only ones with complete busi- which it is offered. In answer to the ques- ness organization. tion: "Does the old staff train the new?" Very few college newspapers undergo fourteen affirmative answers were received, faculty censorship. Farmville, Roanoke but a question as to the method, or system, College, V. M. I., and V. P. I. are the only of training reveals the fact that the training four which have even the form of sanction, is of an informal nature—"working with and this does not hinder the freedom of the new members." Most likely the three the press. schools which sent negative answers have

TABLE 3—REQUIREMENTS EDITOR AND BUSINESS MANAGER MEET What College or Univ. How Is In What Class Scholarship Office Secured? Must Officer Be? is Required? Editor Election Senior None Bridgewater Bus. Mgr. Election None Editor Elecion (a) Junior or Senior None Emory and Henry Bus. Mgr. Election Soph, or higher None Editor Election Junior or Senior Average Earmville Bus. Mgr. Election Soph, or higher None Editor Election None Hampden-Sidney Bus. Mgr. Election None Editor Election Junior or Senior Average Harrisonburg Bus, Mgr. Election Soph, or higher Average Editor Election None Lynchburg College Bus. Mgr. Election Soph, or higher None Editor Election None Medical College Bus. Mgr. Election None Editor Election Junior or Senior Av. of B Radford Bus. Mgr. Election Av. of B Randolph-Macon Editor Junior or Senior Av. of 80 Woman's College Bus. Mgr. Appointment Soph, or higher Average Editor Election None Randolph-Macon Bus. Mgr. Election None Editor Appointment Senior Av. of C Roanoke Bus. Mgr. Appointment Junior or Senior Average Editor Election Junior or Senior None Univ. of Richmond Bus. Mgr. Election Senior None Editor Election None Univ. of Virginia Bus. Mgr. Election None Editor Appointment Junior or Senior None Virginia Polytechnic Bus. Mgr. Appointment None Editor Election Junior or Senior Average Virginia Military Bus. Mgr. Appointment Junior or Senior None Editor Election None Washington and Lee Bus. Mgr. Election None Editor Election Senior None William and Mary Bus. Mgr. Election Senior None (a) By Athletic Council July, 1927] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER 213

TABLE 4

No Residence Requirements No Scholarship Requirements Bridgewater College Bridgewater College Emory and Henry College Hampden-Sidney College Farmville Teachers College Hampden-Sidney College Lynchburg College Lynchburg College Medical College of Virginia Medical College of Virginia Randolph-Macon College University of Richmond Randolph-Macon College V. M. I. University of Virginia V. P. I. Washington and Lee University Washington and Lee University William and Mary College the same practice. Getting the hang by ac- 1. Play up the most interesting feature of tually doing the work is a great part of the story in the first phrase of the first sen- learning to do newspaper work, but too of- tence. ten in the general rush to get the next issue 2. Make the remainder of the lead an- to press the new member is left to grope his swer the questions: Who? When? Where? way along as best he can. and Why?—in order of importance. The Virginia Tech, published by the stu- 3. Add the details of the story in order dents of V. P. L, is one of the best organ- of importance, the least important being ized of Virginia college newspapers. The near the end of the story. staff is complete, with definite duties for 4. Use the fewest and the simplest pos- editor-in-chief, news editor, make-up editor, sible words that will convey the desired and proof reader. The school also has the meaning. advantage of a college printing shop. "The 5. Write impersonally; do not express Five Points of News-Story Writing," used your own opinion; use the third person ex- by the Tech staff in instructing new mem- cept when the first or second person is re- bers before try-outs, is printed below: quired in quotations.

TABLE 5—TRAINING OF STAFF Is There Is There a Is Class a Institution Faculty Class in Requisite Censorship? Journalism? for Staff? Bridgewater College .No.. .No.. .No. Emory and Henry College .No.. .No.. Farmville Teachers College .Yes.. .Yes.. .No. Hampden-Sidney College .No.. .No.. Harrisonburg Teachers College .No.. .Yes.. .No. Lynchburg College .No.. .Yes.. .No. Medical College of Virginia .No.. .No.. Radford Teachers College . .No.. .Yes.. .No. Randolph-Macon Woman's College .No., .No.. Randolph-Macon College .No., .No.. Roanoke College .Yes., .No.. University of Richmond .No., .No.. University of Virginia .No. .No., Virginia Military Institute .Yes. .No., Virginia Polytechnic Institute .Yes. .Yes., .No. Washington and Lee University .., .No. .Yes., .No. William and Mary College .No. .Yes. .No. 214 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Vol. 8, No. 7

"Newspapers want college men and wom- from the various English classes, which are en" is heard on every hand. If such is the required weekly to submit poems, short case, colleges—Virginia colleges at least— stories, and essays. As a result, the maga- should be working to train the men and zine gives greater prominence to these forms women on their staffs. It is true that, once of literary work, and very little space is on the staff, a worker is in training; but that given to school news. work-training is usually all he gets, A The Jefferson High School, of Roanoke, mere flair for writing does not make a follows to a certain extent this same plan newspaper man. The publicity game, as —publishing, however, three daily columns well as any other, has a technique that must in the Roanoke World News, in addition to be analyzed to be acquired. The organiza- its magazine, The Acorn, which is of the tion of Virginia college newspaper staffs is same style as The Missile. Two separate on the whole satisfactory, but every school staffs edit each publication—the Acorn staff, falls short in training those who work on chosen by the student body, and the Junior its journal. World News staff, chosen by the faculty. Hilda Page Blue The school news of Petersburg High School is taken care of by the Journalism JOURNALISM AND THE class, which publishes one page in the city Sunday paper. Editorials, news articles, HIGH-SCHOOL feature articles, society news, and all the STUDENT regular departments of a newspaper are THE aim of this study is to discuss represented in this page, and the journalism the various types of journalism student is given a chance to learn at first prevalent in Virginia high schools, hand the real problems of journalism. showing what seem to be the chief values Through these two separate publications the and qualities of each particular type. These good of the majority of high-school stu- results may serve as a basis for determining dents is sought, and at the same time the which type is best suited to the needs of va- talented few who are probably interested rious high schools. enough to go higher in the field of journal- There are three types of journalism which ism are encouraged. will enter into this discussion—the school The Harrisonburg High School combines magazine, the school newspaper, and the its magazine and newspaper in The Taj, a column or department in the city newspaper, magazine published every six weeks by a Each type distinctly differs from the other, staff chosen from the student body and and all are in use in Virginia high schools sponsored by the English department. The today. Examples have been selected from staff divides its duties among various edi- some of the best city high schools of the tors, who concentrate upon special phases state to illustrate these types and to serve and activities. There is a fully developed lit- as a basis for discussion. erary department, contributions to which The Petersburg High School has devel- are received from the student body; but oped and is developing its journalism by definite English work is planned in order to two different types, published by the Eng- provide material for this department. Ath- lish classes and the Journalism class. The letics is taken care of by a representative of literary work is published in The Missile, a the boys' and girls' athletic teams, and like- magazine edited four times a year by the wise the alumni news and exchanges are students in the English classes, but articles provided for by special members. One re- are accepted from the student body at large. markable feature of this magazine is its Most of the material, however, is obtained poetry corner, which is filled with clever