Article #407-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Reporter Who Made Himself King, by Richard Harding Davis

The Old Time Journalist will tell you that the best reporter is the one
who works his way up. He holds that the only way to start is as a
printer's devil or as an office boy, to learn in time to set type, to
graduate from a compositor into a stenographer, and as a stenographer
take down speeches at public meetings, and so finally grow into a real
reporter, with a fire badge on your left suspender, and a speaking
acquaintance with all the greatest men in the city, not even excepting
Police Captains.

That is the old time journalist's idea of it. That is the way he was
trained, and that is why at the age of sixty he is still a reporter.
If you train up a youth in this way, he will go into reporting with too
full a knowledge of the newspaper business, with no illusions
concerning it, and with no ignorant enthusiasms, but with a keen and
justifiable impression that he is not paid enough for what he does.
And he will only do what he is paid to do.

Now, you cannot pay a good reporter for what he does, because he does
not work for pay. He works for his paper. He gives his time, his
health, his brains, his sleeping hours, and his eating hours, and
sometimes his life, to get news for it. He thinks the sun rises only
that men may have light by which to read it. But if he has been in a
newspaper office from his youth up, he finds out before he becomes a
reporter that this is not so, and loses his real value. He should come
right out of the University where he has been doing "campus notes" for
the college weekly, and be pitchforked out into city work without
knowing whether the Battery is at Harlem or Hunter's Point, and with
the idea that he is a Moulder of Public Opinion and that the Power of
the Press is greater than the Power of Money, and that the few lines he
writes are of more value in the Editor's eyes than is the column of
advertising on the last page, which they are not.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Reporter Who Made Himself King by Richard Harding Davis**

Context of the Source

Richard Harding Davis (1864–1916) was a prominent American journalist, war correspondent, and novelist known for his adventurous reporting style. His essay "The Reporter Who Made Himself King" (1894) reflects on the nature of journalism, the ideal qualities of a reporter, and the romanticized vs. practical realities of the profession. The excerpt critiques two contrasting approaches to becoming a journalist: the traditional, hands-on method and the more idealistic, academic path.

Themes in the Excerpt

The Ideal Reporter: Passion vs. Practicality
- The passage contrasts two types of reporters:
  - The "Old Time Journalist"—a seasoned professional who believes in gradual, technical training (starting as a printer’s devil, learning typesetting, stenography, etc.).
  - The idealistic young reporter—fresh from university, full of enthusiasm, and driven by a sense of mission rather than mere pay.
- Davis argues that the best reporter is not the one who knows the mechanics of journalism too well (and thus becomes cynical) but the one who believes in the romanticized power of the press—even if that belief is naive.
The Loss of Illusion vs. The Power of Enthusiasm
- The "Old Time Journalist" has no illusions—he knows the business side of journalism, understands he’s underpaid, and does only what he’s paid for.
- The young, university-trained reporter, however, is driven by passion—he sees himself as a "Moulder of Public Opinion" and believes his work has greater value than advertising (which, in reality, it does not).
- Davis suggests that naivety is an asset—a reporter who doesn’t yet know the limits of his influence will work harder, take more risks, and be more dedicated than a jaded veteran.
The Sacrifices of Journalism
- The passage emphasizes that a true reporter does not work for money but for the sake of the newspaper itself—giving up "time, health, brains, sleeping hours, eating hours, and sometimes life" to get the story.
- This reflects the romanticized (and somewhat exploitative) view of journalism in the late 19th century, where reporters were expected to be relentless, self-sacrificing, and almost fanatical in their dedication.
The Power of the Press (Real vs. Perceived)
- The young reporter believes "the Power of the Press is greater than the Power of Money"—a noble but exaggerated idea.
- Davis acknowledges that this belief is false (advertising, not journalism, drives revenue), but he argues that the illusion is necessary to produce great reporters.
- This critiques both media idealism and media capitalism—journalism is both a noble calling and a business, and the tension between the two defines the profession.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Juxtaposition & Contrast
- Davis contrasts the old and new models of journalism to highlight their strengths and weaknesses.
  - The Old Time Journalist is practical but cynical ("he will only do what he is paid to do").
  - The young reporter is idealistic but effective ("he works for his paper," not just pay).
- The Battery vs. Harlem/Hunter’s Point reference humorously illustrates the young reporter’s ignorance of basic geography, reinforcing his naivety.
Irony & Satire
- The passage is ironic in praising ignorance—Davis suggests that not knowing how journalism really works makes someone a better reporter.
- There’s satire in the idea that a reporter should believe his "few lines" are more valuable than "a column of advertising"—when, in reality, advertising funds journalism.
Hyperbole & Exaggeration
- The claim that a reporter gives up "his life" for the news is hyperbolic, but it underscores the extreme dedication expected in the profession.
- The idea that the young reporter thinks "the sun rises only that men may have light by which to read [the newspaper]" is an exaggerated, almost religious devotion to journalism.
Metaphor & Symbolism
- The "fire badge on your left suspender" symbolizes experience and insider status—a reporter who has earned his place.
- Being "pitchforked out into city work" suggests a sudden, harsh initiation into real journalism, contrasting with the gradual training of the old model.
Direct Address & Persuasive Tone
- Davis uses second-person ("you") to engage the reader, making the argument feel personal and immediate.
- The rhetorical structure builds to a conclusion: the best reporter is not the most technically skilled but the most passionately deluded.

Significance of the Excerpt

Critique of Journalistic Professionalization
- Davis challenges the idea that journalism should be a purely technical trade (like typesetting or stenography).
- Instead, he argues for journalism as a calling, requiring idealism and zeal—even if that idealism is misplaced.
The Myth of the "Great Reporter"
- The excerpt romanticizes the reporter as a heroic figure, willing to sacrifice everything for the story.
- This aligns with the late 19th-century "yellow journalism" era, where reporters like Davis himself were celebrated for their daring and sensationalism.
The Tension Between Commerce and Idealism
- Davis acknowledges that journalism is a business (driven by advertising), but he values the illusion of its higher purpose.
- This tension remains relevant today, as media outlets balance profit motives with public service.
A Defense of Naivety in Creative Fields
- The passage suggests that some professions require a degree of self-deception to excel.
- Similar ideas appear in discussions of art, entrepreneurship, and activism—where unrealistic optimism can drive success.

Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

Davis’s excerpt is a witty, paradoxical defense of ignorance and idealism in journalism. He argues that the best reporters are not those who know too much (and thus become cynical) but those who believe in the myth of their own importance—even if that myth is false. The passage captures the romantic spirit of 19th-century journalism, where reporters were seen as adventurers and truth-seekers, even as the industry was increasingly commercialized.

In modern terms, Davis’s idea resonates with debates about media ethics, the role of passion in work, and whether journalism should be a "calling" or just a job. His praise of naive enthusiasm over jaded professionalism remains a provocative take on what makes a truly great reporter.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s portrayal of the "Old Time Journalist" primarily serves to:

A. celebrate the virtues of methodical, hands-on training in journalism.
B. illustrate how technical expertise inevitably leads to professional success.
C. contrast the ethical rigor of traditional reporters with the recklessness of modern ones.
D. expose the exploitative labor practices inherent in 19th-century newspaper offices.
E. underscore the ways in which premature disillusionment undermines journalistic zeal.

Question 2

The author’s claim that a reporter should believe "the Power of the Press is greater than the Power of Money" is best understood as:

A. a sincere endorsement of journalism’s capacity to effect social change.
B. an indictment of the corrupting influence of advertising on editorial integrity.
C. a nostalgic lament for an era when newspapers were not beholden to commercial interests.
D. a strategic exaggeration meant to cultivate the psychological conditions for exceptional work.
E. an ironic jab at the self-importance of young, inexperienced journalists.

Question 3

The phrase "pitchforked out into city work" (line 15) is most effectively interpreted as a metaphor for:

A. the violent rejection of academic theory in favor of practical experience.
B. the abrupt and unprepared transition from idealism to professional reality.
C. the forced initiation into a system that demands total, unquestioning devotion.
D. the physical relocation from rural college campuses to urban newsrooms.
E. the symbolic expulsion from the protective bubble of university life.

Question 4

Which of the following best captures the logical relationship between the two models of journalistic training described in the passage?

A. The old model produces competent technicians, while the new model produces fanatical idealists; the author privileges the latter as more effective despite its factual inaccuracies.
B. The old model is grounded in reality, while the new model is delusional; the author rejects both in favor of a hybrid approach.
C. The old model fosters cynicism, while the new model encourages blind obedience; the author argues that neither is sustainable.
D. The old model prioritizes craft, while the new model prioritizes speed; the author suggests that modern journalism has no use for either.
E. The old model is a relic of the past, while the new model is the future; the author laments the loss of traditional values.

Question 5

The passage’s central argument relies most heavily on which of the following assumptions about human motivation?

A. People are primarily driven by the desire to master complex technical skills.
B. Financial compensation is the most reliable predictor of professional dedication.
C. Institutional loyalty is only possible when employees are shielded from harsh realities.
D. The most productive workers are those who have never experienced failure.
E. Illusions of grandeur can be instrumentally valuable, even if they are not factually true.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: E

Why E is most correct: The passage’s depiction of the "Old Time Journalist" is not a celebration but a critique of how his early exposure to the mechanical and economic realities of journalism strips him of the illusions that drive exceptional reporting. The author argues that this reporter "loses his real value" because he becomes cynical and transactional ("he will only do what he is paid to do"). Thus, the portrayal serves to highlight how disillusionment undermines the zeal that makes a great reporter.