Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/315

 A LABORATORY EXPERIMENT IN JOURNALISM 299

vivid, and to give some idea of make-up, typography, and illus- trations. Next follows a brief outline of the development of the printing and illustrating processes. The students become familiar with the different fonts or " points " of type, and are given prac- tice in correcting unrevised galley proofs supplied by the office of the college daily. The evolution of the printing-press from the Washington press to the contemporary web perfecting machine is suggested, and the nature and significance of stereotyping are pointed out. The various kinds of illustrations from early wood- cuts to "tooled" half-tones are described, and examples of each are shown. Lectures and assigned reading on these topics are supplemented by visits to the plants of the leading Chicago dailies. Then comes an analysis of the organization, mechanical, business, and editorial, of a modern paper. The general functions of the departments are indicated, and the duties of each worker espe- cially on the editorial staff are outlined.

All this should make one more intelligent concerning news- paper work. Every journalist of course must know something of the history of his profession, and he should conceive in a large way all aspects of his chosen field. But it is perfectly true that such knowledge may not tell immediately upon his efficiency in doing his daily work. There must be more than information about the profession; there must be practice in doing the kind of things which it demands of its members. How far this prac- tice is attempted, by what methods and with what results, are after all the vital questions. Throughout the course, in addition to the lectures and reading, students are given daily exercises designed to test them on many sides. One day editorials are handed in on a topic assigned in advance. Often three different editorials will be required on the same subject, but treated in harmony with the editorial policies of three different papers. Again each member of the class will be given, at the opening of the hour, an unheaded "story" clipped from some prominent daily. Three or five minutes will be allowed for the writing of a suitable heading. Sometimes the size and character of -the " head " will be indi- cated ; sometimes the student will be left to use his own judgment. At another period the chief facts of a current " story " in color-