BOOKS.
FIFTY YEARS A JOURNALIST.*
MR. STONE'S book is from many points of view attractive. By its nature, however, it is likely to prove of more interest to American than to English readers. The greater part of the book deals either with life as it was lived fifty years ago in the Middle West or with recent politics and political situations of which the ordinary English reader knows little. All the same, the bookie areal importance to us because it describes 112e• Fifty Years a Journalist. By Melville E. Stone. London : Heinemann. . net4
the nature and operations of the greatest news collecting organization in the world—the Associated Press of America. The story of how the Association came to be formed, and re-formed, and finally placed on its present basis is of deep significance to all who study the theory and practice of publicity —a matter far better understood and far more closely followed in America than in this country. Indeed, it is hardly too much to say that of what might be called the metaphysics of publicity we know nothing here. In America, on the other hand, Publicity is understood and studied almost as if it were a science—certainly as if it were an art. Here is Mr. Stone's account of the mighty Organization with which he was so honourably connected for many years, and which he did so much to place and keep on right lines :—
"The Associated Press is an organization of newspapers for the purpose of gathering news on joint account. It is purely mutual in its character, and in this respect is unique. The other news-supplying agencies of the world are proprietary concerns. It issues no stock, makes no profit, and declares no dividends. It does not sell any news to any one. It is a clearing- house for the interchange of news among its members only. Each of the newspapers whose proprietors are members of the Association is obliged to give the representative of the Associated Press free access to its news as soon as received. Many times a day the Associated Press man calls at every newspaper office in the large cities and is given the latest local news. If it is suffi- ciently important, he instantly puts it upon the leased wires, and in a few seconds it is in the hands of hundreds of telegraph editors throughout the country. For the purpose of adminis- tration the country is divided into four grand divisions, each controlled by a superintendent acting under the direction of the general manager. The Association leases over sixty thousand miles of telegraph wire, and expends over fifteen thousand dollars a day on its work. These leased wires, which are worked by its own operators, stretch by way of Halifax, by way of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver and Salt Lake City, to San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle ; they radiate from New York through Albany, Syracuse and Rochester to Buffalo ; from Washington through the leading Southern cities to Atlanta ; from Chicago south, by way of Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville, to Nashville, Atlanta and New Orleans, as well as to Memphis, San Antonio and the City of Mexico ; and from Chicago north, by way of Milwaukee, to St. Paul and Duluth. They also extend from Philadelphia through the interior of Pennsylvania, and touch, by an extension from Kansas City, the interior cities of Nebraska and Iowa on the north, and Kansas and Oklahoma on the south. Thus every city of consequence is reached by the wire system of the Associated Press."
In another passage Mr. Stone tells us what was the ideal which he and the other founders of the Association set before themselves :-
" A national co-operative news-gathering organization, owned by the newspapers and by them alone, soiling no news, making no profits, paying no dividends, simply the agent and servant of the newspapers, was the thing. Those participating should be journalists of every conceivable partisan, religious, economic and social affiliation, but all equally zealous that in the business of news gathering for their supply there should be strict accuracy, impartiality and integrity. This was the dream we dreamed."
The methods pursued to obtain what one might call an antiseptic treatment are very important. No doubt, if the men who direct the Associated Press could be "got at," which they can not be, a tremendous power for evil would rest in their hands. But there is no danger of this. Since the body is a federation and is not out to make a profit, it is put out of the way of tempta- tion. Besides, it is inspired by the Publicity which it organizes. Any attempt to colour the news would be sure to be found out.
The Foreign News Service of the Associated Press is particu- larly good. Its agents give the American newspapers, federated to the Associated Press a real report upon the facts. They have no fish to fry of their own or of anybody else's. They have, however, a great duty and responsibility in sending through what they hear. In fact, one might almost say that they snapshot the news of Europe from hour to hour and put it on the wires— largely, of course, by quoting from the organs of opinion in the various countries in which they collect their news. Taking it altogether, the Associated Press is of very great benefit to America and maintains a position of real independence.
Mr. Stone, as its founder, must have the chief credit for the organization. He was the first manager of this original develop. ment of the Press. After his retirement, he was succeeded by a very able journalist, well known in this country, since he repre- sented the Associated Press in London during the War. We mean Mr. Roy Martin. He first acted as Assistant General Manager of the Associated Press under Mr. Stone, but was sent to take charge in London at the beginning of the War. Well and wisely
has Mr. Roy Martin maintained and is maintaining the traditions of the Associated Press as laid down by Mr. Stone. He has as cool a head and as wise a mind as any person connected with the newspaper business, not only in the -English-speaking world, but in the whole world. Yet he has managed—a difficult task for a journalist--never to let his coolness and good temper degenerate into cynicism or indifference, or to deprive him of his humanity and of his desire to support " the good cause." Like Mr. Stone, ho does not slop over ; but neither of them is a machine with nerves of steel instead of flesh and blood.
J. ST. Lox STRACHEY.
Previous page
