Newspaper Reporting And Correspondence A Manual For Reporters Correspondents And Students Of Newspaper Writing

Author : Grant Milnor Hyde
Publisher : CreateSpace
ISBN 13 : 9781503004870
Total Pages : 378 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (48 download)

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Download or read book Newspaper Editing written by Grant Milnor Hyde and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-10-27 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the PREFACE This book has been prepared as a manual for newspaper desk men and a textbook for editing classes in the schools of journalism. Although a number of good handbooks on journalism have appeared in the past few years, the writers of such books have been so interested ill the needs of the reporter that they have rather generally neglected the copyreader-:— a man of even greater responsibilities. It is to fill this need — a need that has been impressed upon the author by five years' experience as teacher of journalism — that this book was written. And, just as in his "Newspaper Reporting and Correspondence," published three years ago, the author has not tried to cover the entire field of newspaper work, but has confined himself to the particular branch. The intent of the book is not only to present the tools and methods of the copy editor but to show, as well, the interesting possibilities in his work. Too many newspaper men, especially reporters, regard desk work as unimaginative drudgery and feel that to be placed "on the desk" is to be pushed back out of the firing line. To counteract such a feeling is sufficient reason for the writing of a book. Desk work, when done in the proper spirit, is as interesting and constructive as any other branch of newspaper work; in fact, from many points of view, it is the most fascinating. But to realize its full possibilities, the desk man must look beyond mere "copy- reading" and "heading up." To this end, many subjects have been introduced into this book which may seem, at first glance, somewhat "outside the copy editor's line." The discussion of type and printing processes, for instance, may seem irrelevant to some copyreaders, since there is always a composing room foreman to consult. But for a newspaper editor to say that he "is not strong on type" is a confession of incompetence. It means that he lacks the foundation for ideas and initiative in developing the make-up of his paper. He is, in other words, only half a desk man and could not competently fill a more responsible position on the staff. He is like the reporter who can ferret out difficult news but cannot write a readable story. Such men can never hope to grow larger than their jobs — nor as large. For the same reason, the detailed discussion of the physical side of the newspaper is included in the chapter on "Newspaper Make-up." It is safe to say that typography and physical make-up are of greater interest to-day than ever before. The managing editor is rare who does not welcome ideas in this regard. It would be impossible and impracticable, of course, to attempt an exhaustive study of the subject in such a book, but the author has tried to open up the subject and interest young newspaper men in this direction. It is for the small newspaper editor and the student of journalism that the study of "Small Publication Work" is introduced, since its relation to the work of the city desk man is less direct. The subject cannot be treated adequately in so small a space, but it makes possible a discussion of many publication and printing methods that the newspaper man should know. It offers, furthermore, an opportunity to suggest some systematic ways in which the handler of copy, whether in the newspaper or magazine office, may improve and facilitate his work. In response to many requests for style books for classroom use, a condensed style sheet has been bound into this volume. It is one that was compiled from the style books of many newspapers and tested for several years. The use of such a style sheet in the study of copy editing provides one of the few tangible ways of enforcing accuracy in details. Insistence upon accuracy in typographical style, as well as in spelling, punctuation, and grammar, sharpens the copyreader's eyesight and emphasizes the importance of accuracy itself….