Page:The Washington Newspaper volume 6.djvu/14

 should not be written merely to fill space or " make a showing ” -in inches. To illustrate :

If John Drummer is a traveling man , who spends all his Sundays at home, it is not news to remark that “ John Drummer spent Sunday with his family." But if John Drummer's trips are of long and irregular duration, then his home-coming is a matter of importance as a news item . But it will be better, even then, to say thai " John Drummer will reach home next Tuesday," than to say that “ he was at home for a few days." He may have friends who would like to see him, and who in the one instance can plan to do so, while in the other they only regret that they did not know he was home. This is a point that should be thought of in connection with nearly all personal notes, especially so when the visitor is a former resident. The same principle applies to news items in general. To illustrate : To say it rained Friday would, if that was all there was to it, be trivial. If, though, it rained so hard as to swell the creeks, wash away a bridge or two, render impassable a section of the road, or do other damage, then the rain storm would be important as an item of news. But the full particulars should be given.

Comment is out of place in a news budget. Opinions should come to the editor as separate and signed commun ications. Quoted opinions, however, are often valuable as If some public question of local importance is agi tating your neighborhood, the more opinions you can get concerning it, the better. Tell what Mr. Roberts things, what Mr. McCarthy thinks, what Mr. Ellison thinks, and so on. But be careful to represent each correctly.

The foregoing is not intended to de bar you from using space for matter other than what may be strictly and technically news. Besides telling of the births, deaths and marriages, the accidents, the comings and goings, the social doings and the various other events or happenings of a distinctively news character, you are invited to put in a good word every time you can for your town, your neighborhood, your school, your churches, your local organizations and your people generally.

Descriptions of local matters of interest are always welcome. Friendly or encouraging words for persons in any way contributing to the good of your community — these are more than welcome.

When there is an opportunity for saving a kind word, say it. Resist the temptation to say the unkind one. Send no item that, printed, would make an enemy for yourself or the paper. This is not because the paper is afraid to make enemies, but be cause it is not a correspondent's duty to act as censor. If abuses exist that you think ought to be corrected, send full particulars to the editor, with names of responsible persons possessed of the fullest information concerning them, then leave the responsibility for using or not using the matter with him.

Most honest people like to see their names in print. As a rule, it is only affectedly, not really, modest people who object to a proper publicity, pro vided discrimination and good taste are exercised in the use of their names.

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