British writer

Chapter 177 Pulitzer Prize

News, is it science?

Pulitzer couldn't believe it.

He felt that this was not something the founder of the Mirror should say.

"You...um...ahem..."

Pulitzer was obviously coughing, but he covered his ears.

He has always been in poor health and has been troubled by neurasthenia for a long time. He often suffers from insomnia and tinnitus. The greater the pressure, the more symptoms there are and the more obvious they become.

After a while,

"Huh~"

He slowly exhaled the tight breath accumulated in his chest, and then he felt better.

Butler on the side couldn't help but frown,

"Professor Lu, it seems that you are not ready to communicate with us properly. In that case, I'm sorry for bothering you so much."

He stood up directly, with a burst of anger, showing the aura of a superior.

This is the temperament that a Yibudu character should have.

In 1941, the Pulitzer Prize Fiction Jury selected Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls", and the Pulitzer Board of Directors also agreed with this decision.

But Butler, the head of the board of directors, was disgusted with the novel and overturned the decision almost directly, so that no novel won the award that year.

As for the reason for Butler's disgust, it is because the novel reveals a trace of wavering in the plot of the public execution of Germans. It is obviously because the author Hemingway cannot bear moral debt for the sake of justice without guilt.

Butler thought this was a sign of weakness, especially at that point in 1941.

It is not difficult to see Butler's iron fist from this incident.

He turned to Pulitzer,

"Joseph, let's go."

Pulitzer took off his glasses, squinted and wiped them for a while, and then said, "I want to hear the reason why Professor Lu asked this."

Lu Shi poured the other party a glass of water and asked: "Regarding the graduates of the journalism school, do you want them to be 'people who record facts as news reports' or 'people who create news when there is no news'?"

Pulitzer: "Ah, this..."

He and Lu Shi,

One is the founder of a yellow newspaper,

One is the founder of a tabloid newspaper.

In such a situation, no one with a bit of shame would be able to answer shamelessly, "Those who record the facts as news reports."

Lu Shi spread his hands,

"If you cannot answer this question head-on, it will be difficult to answer whether journalism is a science. Because any science must cultivate talents, otherwise, how will it succeed?"

"well……"

Pulitzer couldn't help but sigh.

He was very successful in his career, but he became blind at the age of 40.

Even now, looking at people and things is like peering into a tube;

Therefore, he often feels that he is very close to death, always thinking about what he can leave behind, and hopes that journalists can receive the same professional training as doctors and lawyers.

But now, he could only say to Lu Shi: "Professor Lu, your question is too naive."

Butler on the side was curious,

"Professor Lu, what is your answer to the question just now?"

Lu Shi thought for a while and said, "The former is also possible, and the latter is also possible."

Pulitzer:? ? ?

Butler:? ? ?

Wodehouse:? ? ?

Goodman:? ? ?

Everyone present was stunned.

Lu Shi tilted his head and said while thinking: "The development of colleges and universities generally has a process, that is, from a college to a university, from a single subject college to a comprehensive university. For example, Columbia University was even called 'King's College' at the beginning. .”

Butler helplessly spread his hands.

"During the colonial period, it was normal to have such a name."

Lu Shi said: "Of course it's normal. But what I want to talk about is not Columbia, but other colleges. Now Columbia is obviously a comprehensive university, but there are still many colleges in the United States. How can they upgrade? "

This topic was a bit far-fetched, and everyone was a little confused.

Butler is the only one who understands university operations.

Faintly, he could sense the purpose of Delu's question, so he continued the conversation,

"It's very simple to turn a college into a university. It expands based on the existing teachers and creates inter-professional disciplines with a low threshold. Therefore, some medical schools even have majors such as law. Similar ones include management, journalism... Um…news?”

Everyone was lost in thought.

After a long while, Pulitzer spoke up: "Indeed, the threshold for journalism school is not high. It only requires teachers, teaching materials and venues, not even a laboratory."

Butler sighed,

"You're embellishing it."

Pulitzer was speechless for a while, thinking to himself, why are you so hard to get off the stage?

He whispered: "I understand, when you say the threshold is low, you actually mean that the journalism profession is not strong... it needs to be improved, just like every comprehensive university has an English literature major."

Butler's mouth twitched, but finally he couldn't hold it back and corrected him: "Journalism is incomparable with English literature. The latter is extremely professional and involves courses in English linguistics, British and American literature, cultural studies, etc. Its basic courses It’s language.”

Pulitzer: "Ah, this..."

Suddenly, he bent down, held his head, and covered his ears, all in one smooth motion.

It's happening again! ?

Butler was startled,

"Joseph!"

He held Pulitzer's hand and found that his hands were extremely stable and did not even tremble.

The illness was obviously feigned.

Butler: "..."

An eerie silence lay between the two of them.

Lu Shi looked at it and wanted to laugh. He quickly changed the topic and said, "So, if Columbia really wants to set up a journalism school, there must be someone who dares to be the first in the world. You have upgraded journalism to journalism. Learning, the output is "people who record facts as news reports." As a result, when latecomers see that this profession is easy to get into, they directly imitate tigers and cats and create news without learning, and constantly deliver to the society "without news, there is no news" People who create news on their own', it's exciting to think about."

"hiss……"

Pulitzer took a breath;

Why did he develop into a sinner through the ages while just chatting?

However, he could not have imagined that things would actually turn out that way, especially after entering the 21st century, both at home and abroad.

Lu Shi continued: "Of course, we also need to talk about employment issues."

Butler looked puzzled.

"Professor Lu, you have developed tabloids and created a trend of great development in the journalism industry. Judging from this trend, the employment prospects of reporters and editors are unprecedented. There is nothing to worry about. Moreover, 'If there is no news, create news by yourself' The people themselves are also 'people who create their own jobs when there are no jobs', commonly known as liars."

Everyone laughed.

Wodehouse said: "I like Mr. Headmaster's humour."

Butler said: "Thanks Jazz."

He turned to Lu Shi again,

"Professor Lu, let's continue the topic we just talked about."

Lu Shi said: "First of all, news and media will continue to change. For example, the example of radio broadcasting I just gave will definitely have an impact on the newspaper industry in the future. Of course, that is still very far in the future, and it may Thirty years, maybe.”

Butler was surprised: "Is the next thirty years a long time ago?"

Lu Shi said "Uh..." and didn't know how to answer.

As a time traveler, he has adapted to the fast pace of modern times. Media, trends, and communication methods will iterate in a few years or even a few months.

So, for him, thirty years is really a long time.

Lu Shi said: "In short, the media is constantly changing, and people trained in journalism schools must be more sensitive."

Everyone nodded together.

Lu Shi continued: "Secondly, we must consider the employer."

Wodehouse was a little confused;

"Lu, aren't you confused? Graduates from journalism schools will of course go to newspapers. Of course, they may also go to the broadcasting company you mentioned in the future."

Unexpectedly, before Lu Shi could refute, Pulitzer spoke first: "That's not necessarily the case. Newspaper offices... taking the "Le Monde" that I managed before as an example, they don't necessarily like people who study journalism in college."

Wodehouse was puzzled;

"Why?"

Pulitzer did not answer directly, but talked about his own experience: "Sir, you have probably never heard of me. I came to the United States illegally and worked as a mule driver, sailor, construction worker, dock coolie, and restaurant waiter. and coachman, until I became a lawyer later, I was considered decent. These professional experiences were hardships, but they were also accumulation, and they made me the best reporter."

Wodehouse was still confused as to why Pulitzer suddenly introduced himself.

Pulitzer looked at Goodman.

"Are you a lawyer?"

Goodman nodded,

"yes."

Pulitzer asked: "If you were a reporter now and were going to interview Mr. Vice President, what questions would you prepare?"

Goodman touched his thinning hair,

"Maybe it has something to do with the law?"

Pulitzer smiled,

"Bingo! This is what happened to Le Monde. If I need legal news, then I will recruit a law student, because news can't wait, we need people who can get it right away. Because if the interview is missed or done badly, there will be no A chance to do it again.”

Wodehouse nodded slowly,

"Indeed it is."

Lu Shi said: "This is why Mr. Pulitzer was laughed at when he wanted to donate money to build a journalism school. Everyone believes that journalism is a skill rather than a science. Of course, this does not mean that graduates of journalism schools have no career prospects. "

Everyone is puzzled,

"Huh?"×4

Lu Shi smiled and said: "It's very simple. News is ultimately public relations, right? Enterprises have public relations departments, as do governments, and they even have to distinguish between internal and external..."

Pulitzer couldn't help but insert,

"Within the team? Externally? Isn't this just a joke?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

There was silence for a while, no one answered.

But the way everyone looked at Pulitzer was, "You are so right!"

Unfortunately, Pulitzer's eyesight was poor and he couldn't see the subtle changes in expressions on other people's faces. He asked, "What? Is there something wrong with what I said?"

Lu Shi whispered softly,

"Anyway, those are the largest employers of journalism schools. But, Mr. Pulitzer, is this what you want?"

Pulitzer shook his head,

"Of course not! Not to mention the damage this will do to the journalism industry, let's talk about the damage it does to individuals. When graduates from journalism schools enter the industry, how can they compete with people from other schools in the future? In a few years, their abilities and wages will be greatly reduced. of."

Lu Shi chuckled and said,

"But there are advantages. At least the journalism school curriculum is less stressful and you don't have to study advanced mathematics."

Pulitzer: ! ! !

"What kind of benefit is this!?"

He was so emotional that his face turned red.

Butler sighed helplessly and said to Lu Shi, "Professor Lu, please stop irritating him."

In fact, Lu Shi was just telling the truth.

Before he traveled through time, he was a professional translator, a decent liberal arts student, and had no skills at all in subjects such as advanced mathematics and big objects.

Wodehouse glanced at Lu Shi,

"Lu, to be honest, you don't look like a visiting professor, but like a school supervisor. Because the issues you consider are mostly management issues and have little to do with academics."

Lu Shi said: "These are all my ideas about the School of Journalism. If it can be solved, then I also hope to invest in Columbia and sponsor the establishment of a School of Journalism at Columbia. Mr. Pulitzer, I cannot allow you to be the only one who is beautiful. Come forward~"

Everyone was surprised.

Especially Wodehouse, who came forward and whispered: "Lu, if you want to experiment, there are plenty of schools in London University Alliance for you..."

Lu Shi blinked mysteriously,

"Let's not get into the matter of trial and error, right?"

As he spoke, he did not forget to nod majestically in Butler's direction, and then the corners of his mouth raised a sinister arc.

Wodehouse was stunned for a moment, then smiled "I understand".

It is not yet known whether the School of Journalism can succeed, but it is not a bad idea to cross the river by trying to find a way to cross the river. Anyway, Britain is now the center of the world and has the advantage of being a latecomer.

Of course, this was Lu Shi's deception.

There was only one reason why he invested in Columbia——

Investment preservation.

Major countries around the world are now on the gold standard.

Britain's national power is extremely strong, and no one questions its credibility.

This leads to an interesting formula:

Sterling = gold + British government credit.

So the pound is extremely valuable right now.

But as the war broke out, countries had to build guns, buy artillery, and gather troops.

As the saying goes, "When a gun goes off, there are ten thousand taels of gold." However, the country's gold is not enough, and countries have to issue excessive currency and impose political orders to restrict the circulation of gold.

then,

After World War I, severe inflation would break out in Britain;

After World War II, the gold standard collapsed completely.

Although Lu Shi is making a lot of money now, in the First World War, all that money will depreciate rapidly.

So he wants to invest the money.

Butler was lost in thought, and after half a minute, he asked: "Columbia is a private university. So, Professor Lu, do you need a seat on the board of directors?"

Asking this is equivalent to agreeing.

Lu Shi smiled but did not answer.

Butler stared at him for a long moment and repeated, "You need a seat on the board."

This time I used a declarative tone.

Of course, Lu Shi understood the other party's implication, and then said: "If possible, I am willing to donate 100,000 pounds. Donate in installments within three years."

He can't afford so much money at the moment.

But he has so many best-selling books and the "Mirror" is here, so he is not afraid of printing money.

Butler nodded,

"Can."

To Columbia, one hundred thousand pounds is nothing. Calculated at five to one, it is only half a million dollars.

For example, the donation prepared by Pulitzer is as high as two million US dollars.

Butler was willing to accept it because he valued Lu Shi's influence.

Founder of "Mirror\

,"Visiting Professor of London Political Science and Economics,

novelist,

…

This will also facilitate Columbia's deployment in Europe.

Butler said: “Of course, the prerequisite for accepting Professor Lu’s investment is that we must solve the problems of the School of Journalism.”

Lu Shi replied: "Actually, it's very simple. If you want the people trained by the journalism school not to be 'people who create news if there is no news,' you just need to be strict in getting in and out. The grades of the graduates in the journalism school must be excellent enough." Just like other university journalism schools.”

Pulitzer nodded and asked: "What about the issue of employment? I don't want journalists to be unable to go deep into the front line and end up just showing off their words."

Lu Shi said: "It's simple. Just ask for the double-major ratio of journalism school graduates. Let them not only study journalism, but also have an in-depth understanding of a certain major or industry. I think 80% is a good rate." number."

This casual remark caused countless journalism students from Columbia University to curse Lu Shi.

For the next hundred years, journalism at Columbia would be a bit like civil engineering.

In the eyes of parents, it is the most stable, most profitable major with the best career prospects.

In the eyes of students, there is only one "most" -

The hardest.

Butler pondered for a moment,

"Okay, it's settled."

He has decided to hold a professional journalism award when the Columbia University School of Journalism is completed.

Even the name has been thought of:

Pulitzer Prize.