The Daily Telegraph in 1900: The Leading Article

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Arthur H. Beavan made a brief survey of the journalism in Imperial London, published in 1901, here describing how a leading article is produced:

People have rather vague ideas about a leading article.

They imagine it can be run off as easily as a very long letter of, say, some 1500 to 2000 words; but I think they would be hard put to it if called upon, without previous notice, to sit down and compose in faultless English, a leader upon some incident, political or otherwise, to which they had not given any special attention or study.

This is what frequently happens.

At a late hour, perhaps, a telegram arrives of national importance, and an article is forthwith evolved, hissing hot from the brain of the best writer the journal possesses. In a word, a successful leader-writer requires experience which only years can give, besides great powers of concentration, a most retentive memory, and the facility, the knack, of writing eloquently and interestingly, so as to be understood of all.

He now summons a messenger, who returns in a wonderfully short time with the proofs.

These are corrected, a revise is sent up by the printer, is looked over, found to be "clean," and Sir Edwin Arnold's toil for the night is over.

Next: Journalims in 1900 London: The Daily Telegraph: Correspondents