As literature designed specifically to help young adults make appropriate career decisions, vocational guidance books explain what background, experiences, and personal traits are necessary to succeed in various careers. They are of interest to researchers because of the attitudes they reveal about journalism as a field. A review of 30 journalism guidebooks written during the first half of this century shows that the activities, needs, status, rewards, and environment of journalism were described in fairly consistent ways through mid-century. "A nose for news" appeared in Julian Ralph's 1903 highly autobiographical books as a necessary trait for journalists and thereafter in every major guidebook by both journalists and vocational advisers. Given the profession's chronically long, irregular hours and physical discomfort, and sometimes even danger, journalism demanded physical strength and good health (and sometimes sheer youth), persistence, and emotional stamina or "thick skin." On the other hand, those who persevered won thrills and excitement, although not high pay. Ralph criticized yellow journalism as corrupting and demoralizing, and he repudiated the view of journalism as a business. But he seemed more interested in using his own considerable experience to discourage those for whom journalism was not absolutely their forte than in attracting those who might be interested in its powerful public service mission. The message was also highly gendered. Women were steered toward the lighter tasks such as society news or more often steered out of the field altogether. (Contains a 58-item bibliography.) (TB)