Undergraduate Journalism
Sta,—I was interested to read Mr. Philpott's article on Varsity, but as an old member of the staff I feel I must comment on his remark that " several London newspapers arc already recognising Varsity experience as being of more value than the routine, restricted apprenticeship on a provincial paper." I do not think that can be substantiated, and, indeed, any London newspaper which actively voiced such opinions would be very foolish. Varsity certainly provides invaluable experience for those who wish to make journalism a career, and the hard work and enthusiasm which have made the paper a success deserve recognition throughout a profession which is said to appreciate the need for more university entrants. Mr. Philpott would not, I am sure, admit that activity in the Union was a better qualification for a Member of Parliament than political work elsewhere, although it has great value. In my opinion the same applies to Varsity. It is a paper produced by, and for, members of the university, who are hardly representative of the population of this country, and so Varsity is really more restricted than most provincial papers.
Those who have served on Varsity have an added qualification compared with most graduates who enter.journalism, both in the experience gained and in the fact that they have shown that they are not entering the profes- sion " because they can think of nothing else to do," as I have heard one prominent journalist remark. But, apart from possible brief experi- ence as editor or lay-out editor, no person who has worked on Varsity can claim to have had a wider apprenticeship than someone who h is been through the mill on a good provincial paper.—Yours faithfully,
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