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What Is Journalism?“The practice of journalism is two-fold. On the editorial side, it is an applied art; on the publishing side, an economic or business enterprise. Newspapermen, as a rule, seek to avoid dignifying themselves or the vocation with the term, ‘profession,’ but of this we are certain: the equipment of a well-qualified journalist consists of character, native ability, acquired technical skills and a liberal education. His tasks are never easy or simple. The manner in which he bears his public responsibilities, either as publisher or editor, is socially of great importance. If he lives up to the demands put upon him, we should be willing to admit him to professional standing, regardless of how lightly he refers to his job as a craft or even as a ‘game.’”
—Ralph D. Casey, chairman, Department of Journalism, University of Minnesota, 1940
As a child I knew Ralph Casey; he was a sort of giant to our household. My father was lucky (and bright) enough to do graduate work and teach journalism in Casey's department at Minnesota, 1937-1940. It was a yeasty place, full of talent and ideas, with the New Deal and the war clouds in Europe as backdrop. Max Shulman published the then-shocking, wildly funny "Barefoot Boy with Cheek" then, about his Minnesota years. Eric Sevareid was still at Minnesota or had just left. When my parents entertained the Caseys and the Ralph Nafzigers at dinner a time or two, I thought the gods had come down from Olympus.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good time.