ANNIVERSARY OF AN EXPERIMENT

Several days ago the Nieman Fellows received their certificates of achievement from President Conant, thus ending the first year of existence of the Fellowships. If any one thing was shown by the year's experience, it was that the existing method of study has proved valuable in spite of its experimental character.

Doubt as to the value of the program has been expressed in many quarters, and some adverse criticism has been forthcoming even from the Fellows themselves. That the year was of "little value to American newspapers or even to the students" is an overly cynical attitude. There were at least three tangible results. First, the year of study has given some the opportunity to learn a type of reporting often neglected or very poorly done. Thus good reporting of new scientific developments was the aim of one man's study; another dwelt on the difficult field of South American relations. Secondly, the Nieman Fellowships have enabled "small-town" editors to gain a perspective on the larger problems of government and international relations. This year there was but one editor of the "country" type; among next year's there will be three. Finally, the year at Harvard has not only given the men a welcome and probably--in spite of all that is said--profitable vacation, but also has enabled them to supplement their practical experience with an objective, critical survey of all newspaper work--thereby improving their reporting and editing for the future.

The Nieman bequest, so far from having failed, has doubtless already begun to elevate the standards of American journalism." It has sent an important reverberation through the press of the nation, with the effect that today journalism may well become the province of highly educated men. Its effect cannot be measured solely in terms of the personal benefit derived by nine men; the Nieman Fellowships have begun to demonstrate to the American press the importance of education.