The Project Gutenberg EBook of News Writing, by M. Lyle Spencer

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Title: News Writing
The Gathering , Handling and Writing of News Stories

Author: M. Lyle Spencer

Release Date: December 26, 2009 [EBook #30765]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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NEWS WRITING

THE GATHERING, HANDLING
AND WRITING OF NEWS STORIES

BY

M. LYLE SPENCER, PH.D.

PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH, LAWRENCE COLLEGE
ON THE STAFF OF "THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL"

D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS
BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO

COPYRIGHT, 1917,
BY D. C. HEATH & CO.

TO
THOMAS B. REID
DEAN OF THE WISCONSIN NEWSPAPER MEN

PREFACE

The first week of a reporter's work is generally the most nerve-racking
of his journalistic experience. Unacquainted with his associates,
ignorant of his duties, embarrassed because of his ignorance, he wastes
more time in useless effort, dissipates more energy in worry, and grows
more despondent over his work and his career than during any month of
his later years. Yet most of his depression would be unnecessary if he
knew his duties.

To acquaint the prospective reporter with these duties and their proper
performance is the purpose of this volume, which has been written as a
practical guide for beginners in news writing. Its dominating purpose is
practicalness. If it fails in this, its main purpose will be lost.

Because of this practical aim the attempt has been made to approach the
work of the reporter as he will meet it on beginning his first morning's
duties in the news office. After an introductory division explaining the
organization of a newspaper and acquainting the beginner with his
fellows and superiors in the editorial rooms, the book opens with an
exposition of news. It then takes up sources of news, methods of getting
stories, and the preparation of copy for the city desk.

In discuss