Newspapers / The Waynesville Mountaineer (Waynesville, … / Oct. 2, 1941, edition 1 / Page 10
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Lofts Off Uesmmi&Mv s Wiifli a us uepoirtiii News Writers Dig For Facts Before Writing Article Reporters Cannot Forget Their Job, Must Keep Ear To Ground For Tips. By Hilda Way Gwyn. "It must be so, for I read it in the newspaper," says the reader. Thus with one casual toss, the responsibility of the news is thrown on the shoulders of the reporter or editor, who is ever at the mercy of the public to give him the news, likewise the public has the privi lege to criticize the reporter's ver sion of the story as it is unfolded in the paper, Webster defines news as "fresh tidings," which is a very fine defi nition. The coverage and handling of news may have undergone many changes since Mr. Webster wrote that definition, but it still holds good. For the newspaper, wheth er weekly or daily must contain a "report of recent happenings" to attract and hold the reader inter est.' The average person hot familiar with pitfalls of putting out a paper casually picks it up and after scanning through it, little realizes the effort and time that has gone into either the gathering of the news, the creating of it into read ing material, or the intricate me chanical means by which the copy is turned into the printed word. Newspapering is about as stim ulating a job mentally as can be found. The good reporter can't ever forget his work. He is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anything can happen at any time. His brain must emu late the common sponge when thrown into a liquid. He must form the habit of soaking up every thing he hears, so that when he gets ready to write his story he will have all necessary informa tion. Or an idle remark may be a clue to some spot news. The honest editor and the good reporter are ever conscious of their part in shaping public senti ment, in their part in promoting sound and constructive ideas in a community, of the power and re sponsibility of the press to do a bit of crusading in a worthwhile cause that is slow in gaining enough momentum to get going. The live newspaper must keep one step ahead of the community in its vision. It is doubtful if the public generally speaking realizes or appreciates this type of service as it should. On the big dailies where news is handled according to departments, reporters follow one line, but on the weekly, where the reporting is usually done by two or three persons, the field is wide open to every avenue of news. The reporter on the weekly can't let his mind get on one track. His interests must branch out in all directions. The weekly newspaper editor or reporter must keep his ear to the ground and his hand on the pulse of the area the paper serves. He must carry in his mind a picture of the area, and anticipate what may happen, so that he will be ready when it becomes news. In the case of The Mountaineer, the field of coverage is not confined to this immediate community, but to Haywood county. What hap pens on White Oak is news just as what goes on in town. sometimes because the paper seeks news the public gets an idea that there is little to print or fill up the paper. Nothing could be more erroneous. There flows a steady stream of "free material" into every newspaper in the land. To the lazy editor or reporter it is pie laid in their lap. - But to the live paper, it must be studied carefully before using, for one rarely gets something for nothing, "Propaganda pains" might be hard for a doctor to diagnose, but not for the editor, who is a chronic sufferer. The freedom of the press must : be protected and guarded by him. Take a day's work of the ' av erage reporter on a weekly. It may cover the gamut of human emotions and happenings. From the cradle to the grave he or she literally wends his way, covering the news. He may cover a court session, -He nay be called upon to interview prisoner. . Perhaps a man has committed murder. It is not al- This Is Newspaper Week (Continued from page 1, Section 2) In a world of tyranny, free speech and a free press stand as a first line of defense for our way of life. W. K. Kellogg, Kellogg Company. A free press, in these modern times- nOiida not onlv newspa pers and periodicals, but radio and motion pictures, TOgetner we nave rammnn nroblems and obligations. Sn innv an America has these un fettered mediums of expression ded icated to the public service, so long will democracy be secured Will H. Hayes, Motion ricture rro ducers and Distributors of America. If you would know the value of newspapers, you need only ask This Is The Press This Newspaper Was Printed On WOMEN! speak for SMj ways easy to get that prisoner to talk, vet the conscientious reporter feels he cannot take the other fel low's word for what happened, and that it is only fair to ask the prisoner for his side. A prominent citizen may die on press day. The facts of the man's life and the funeral details muBt come from the family, In a small community where each man knows his neighbor the story must be handled in an understanding man ner. Often it is hard to approach the family in the freshness of their ariof In the, lnnc run it is the better plan, for an untruth in print later will hurt the family far j more than the intrusion at tne time. Take an accident. Often several persons are involved. Such a story takes time. The officers must be interviewed perhaps first. Maybe the doctor will have to be contacted, for no mistake must be made as to the injuries suffered. The persons in the accident must give their ver sion. Maybe two or tnree nours will be given to a story that cov- vers a half column when printed. Yet the paper must have that news. Maybe a couple of men have a fist fight or a more serious encoun ter. Back of that fight may be a story "rich, rare and racy." The big daily would have no compunc tion about airing it out in news style. It would make swell read- ing. ..-It would be the kind of a story that would make people grab a paper the minute it came off the press. ' :: - : - But because everybody knows the parties concerned,' the weekly may have to lay off the real facts, and let gossip publicize it by the grapevine route. Such a case is a tough break for the reporter. Often to ignore a story of this kind, for policy's sake or consid eration of others is positively pain ful to the reporter with a flair for hews, and an instinct for a good story. Then on the other hand he may be greatly relieved that ,he doesn't have to "touch the thing." There may be a big wedding. It deserves a prominent place and a lot of description. The bride is usually excited and apt to leave out the very thing she wanted in the "Write up for her scrap book," but she forgot to tell the reporter, who cannot always be a. mind reader. Maybe between the report er, the linotype operator and the proof reader the wrong colored dress gets on an attendant, it's a serious matter. When a story of an important development breaks, there is keen excitement in the office of the week ly. For the editor and the report ers take great pride in announc ing good news to a community. Maybe the story has been brewing for weeks, perhaps months, but when it appears in print, then it becomes a reality. ,- Then each week there are regu lar coverages that become like clock work to the reporter in rou tine work. Yet they must be in cluded each week. There are agen cies to contact for stories that give a good cross section of the life of the community. They may give out routine stories, yet they are news. ' . 1 "By the way it may be alt rumor, but I can give you a tip about some thing, but of course don't mention my name." What a familiar and welcomed greeting to the reporter. For that is the way he gets lot of news. Then the fascinating task of unraveling the story gets in action. Following that clue may lead to a story with a "streamer' or it may end in a waste of time for the reporter, but he mast take the story on and follow to the end. There are many requirements for the reporter on the weekly news paper besides an ability to write and an instinct for news.' Above all it is necessary to develop an even philosophy of life that can steer one through mazes of criti cism and the surging tides of pub lic opinion. One must keep a level head with a clear outlook, swept clean of personal prejudice. Take it week in and week out editing the Weekly newspaper is an absorbing ' occupation, and while most of those engaged in such work have "moments of disgust, dispair, and disappointment, they wouldn't trade jobs with anybody. For there are too many bright spots along the way, and there is an eternal fascination about recording the life of a community or a county that "gets under one's skin.'' i inn .iranj mil nil. 'W;, '-i"" mKmmT A - .Ji I ' - - - '. . . .' "" , ' i ' . I ? I VY ' '' -:v -w,. I,:.,-, -. ... ... . .. . . ..... . .. .. - ' f - ' ' - This is the 12-ton newspaper press on which The Mountaineer is printed. This pres will be running Friday afternoon for visitors attending our "Open House". The press is capable of printing 40 sheets a minute. This press was installed new just two years ago. ; I yourself what would happen if we should suddenly be without them. Cal Keller. Freedom of the press has long been taken for granted in America. Events taking place in other parts of the world warn us to be on guard. In almost all continental Europe, freedom is dead.v Our freedom is of vital concern to every citizen of the United States and Canada. But this is not particularly a news paper problem. Ours are demo cratic nations. We need only to stop and to think what it would be like to have the press of our coun try shackled! Some dictator would censor every move. Our demo cratic way of life would be ended! Fortunately our free press re flects democracy! Our nearly 12,000 uncensored newspapers in the United States and Canada give us the news and not propaganda. We have 12,000 watchful editors and publishers with active staffs free to think and to write our news without censor ship. Kiwanis International. In Germany, Hitler tells the press what to print, Germanv is "Hitler ized." ' In Russia, Stalin tells the press what to print and what hot to print. Russia is "Stalinized." In Italy, Mussolini tells the press What to prints and what not to print Italy is "Mussolinized." In Japan, France and all con quered countries, the press is under the heel of the dictators. In the United States, no one tells the press what to print and what not to print. Free people free thought free assembly and free press. -. The newspapers of the United Statesdaily newspapers Sunday newspapers weekly newspapers tri-we'ekly newspapers semiweek- ly newspaper bi-weekly newspa pers reflecting a free people are free to conduct or condemn all and sundry without fear of any OGPU or Gestapo just as all Americans are privileged not only to think but to express their personal opinions good or bad without approval of any man, woman, political party, or anything else. ."cover" all these items which oc i . i - i . cur in tne aay oi a person living in a small town, the average week ly has a peculiarly powerful ap peal, its semi-gossipy "socials" ful filling a fundamental human need. The point here being made was beautifully illustrated when, in re ply to a query from the writer as to whether or not she would miss her weekly paper if it ceased pub- America's Weekly Newspapers (Continued from page 1, Section 2) serve control the nation's political majorities; 46 per cent of all the stores in the United States are cen- bCl CU 111 bUCll. tCI l ItUI y t W It'll DMIv a ' i i 1 J J 'iv . last year totaling $14,000,000,000 or j llshin?' a ladv Bnswered w,th th,s Newspapers Serve Commi 31 per cent of the national total, Oh yes, when one starts playing with statistics on 10,000 Weekly pa pers' impressive figures turned up, and a dazzling picture can be painted I But to one of the 1,900' subscri bers to the average home town paper these figures mean nothing. On Thursday or Friday of every week this reader looks forward to seeing in his paper what happened to Mrs, Jones' proverbial cow, what cousin visited with which neighbor, or who was entertained at cards by whom, when, and where. Biggest Little Things Little things but the biggest things in the everyday lives of us all-'- Because only a little paper can question: "Of course, young man. "How else would I ever know what parties I hadn't been invited toT" ..-' A Sound Future. Human nature being what it is, weekly newspapers have the sound est future in the world. Tremen dous dailies at low cost, radio, tele vision, fascimile transmission, fre quency cut very far into the reader appeal of Weeklies, because it" is physically impossible for them to cover the activities of the neighbors of each person in their vast audi ence. Only the home town paper has space for the social activities of the local church caretaker as well as those about the mayor's wife or the By John E. Stempel Professor of Journalism, Indiana University. Show me a live town and IH show you a newspaper that's on the job. That is the message that business executives, traveling men, civic leaders and others who have occa sion to compare various towns have brought me time and again. They see the newspaper as an important part of any community today as important as the bank, the stores, the school and the church. Were there no bank, business would be sadly handicapped and yet a score or more small towns in the United States today have banks because they have a good local newspaper, When lunds were need ed to reopen a closed bank or es tablish a new one, a live newspaper editor on the job helped raise the money. Support the Schools. Millions have been spent in the last few years to give small towns and larger cities adequate modern school buildings. Hundreds of edi tors not only supported plans for buildings, but also they have seen the school building as more than a place for teaching pupils, and have encouraged folks from town and countryside to attend athletic events, school plays, and other ac tivities, and these folks in turn have made the school the headquar ters for various community meet ings.: . Merchants in hundreds of small towns have quit complaining about loss of business to nearby cities, and have started to see what they could do about it. In their' local papers they have read articles about the improvement of stores in other towns, they have taken heed of their editor's suggestion to tidy up, and they have relied on sur veys the editor has made to de termine what kinds and quality of goods they ought to stock. Here again the result has been more than mere economic improve- banker's wife. .-' These great hew developments utilizing the principles of radio are far greater threats to the dailies.' And it has been a well-grounded tradition that the average weekly editor wields a great influence over his little family of 1,900 readers; his indeed are the "grass root3." He writes for Tom, for Dick, for Harry, and not for "the pee-pul of this great nation." But these Toms, Dicks and Harrys or Small town America are "the people.-' Together with their "country edi tor" they have provided the thought and things which have made Amer ica great; and together in these tur bulent, perilous days ahead they will keep it great. ment. With the . they have broSS band concerts.S editor counted 17 ,uok had sponsor i n " e year-and . w , t0Bl fave become be" Live newspaper haV( eacl ion Guardians of puhiu t . Only two thing, taxes and death? their place in thel, Per. Most public 0S give service, and the local newspaper kli. When they fal Cost riaa op .. th. wvi : resmvito!, - . :nspaper that tention to the need Z '"spapers thus Fwreti tne town's welfart 6 e,iuinent clean cials honest. t The famer today find, less nard for ht u. he used to, and his wifaJ leisure Why v in V """utuon. irom the ... a.iu nome demo agents; in part because nf courses at the colleges of u.c, w m large pan ms locai newsDaDer iu l: the meetings at which h. ..cai uj. inese new things reports of the mpetin and announced advan. u ux , . a generation ago we ti y ... . la"" '"as inj unking irom the farms tol les. Today their interest J w tne son and the hi cause of the 4-H clubs, fil DpuiiBureu Dy tne local net The happy merchant nH py farmer, the happy eJ win nappy parent, the happ wife and the haonv fm look to their newsDanw fri what their neighbors are di the knowledge necessary t xecuveiy in Dusiness and ii ment, and for insDiratim the best in life health am beauty and comfort in tl ana on the msrhwav. a fal ana pleasant recreation. ohow me a live . town, snow you a town in ti newspaper is on the job, people informed, supporti interests, inspiring them id their talents and their rej in if Truth crushed to 'earth! spontaneously upward, ai pers to the breeze man's! able birthright. Mar Eddy. The only liberty I !r.-J liberty connected with orl not only exists along vi and virtue, but which cal ist at . all without them-Burke. THE GIANT OF THE AGES " By Arthur Elliott Sproul. I came. Instant upon man's mid night burst midday. Th whole round world I survey with my th-eless orbs. No act escapes. Lightnings I harness to my ponder ous car, and the earth quakes beneath the onset of its wheels. In wrath I strip the glittering rags from hypocrites high placed, who naked cower in the all searching light; Yet I have tender moods, when my great heart throbs fast with sympathy for the oppressed of earth. . Sweet is it, too, to me, to breathe a benediction on the head of him whothinking of God the while, not self pours out his bounty to uplift his race. Power immense is mine. The puny strivings of a king I make my jest My word is law. Feared am I, hated oft, loved sel dom yet I would not evil do, but good. luinrei yet, aiasi despite my strength ana lofty aims, be cause I human am and never else can be. Yet I may come near to Christ by patience and endeavor, like the humblest I am what I am made not what I would be and may yet become. I am The Press. The world has never had good definition of the word liberty. Abraham Lincoln. The MOUNTAINEER brings ill ill Unit u h II wire s EVERY WEEK The Mountaineer Goes Into Over 2 5 0 0 HOMES A horn of plenty for Haywood business is The Mountaineer. Results pour endlessly from effective Mountaineer advertising because this paper has entrenched itself thoroughly in the minds of Haywood people. It is practically and actually an institution whose presence can be noted in over 2,500 homes, in which H is read for concise reporting of the news of Uie day and adver .Using news, too. If your business can use a horn of plenty in advertising results, don't wait to get in touch with The Moun taineer office. The MOUNTAINEER "The Largest Non-Daily Newspaper West Of the Blue Ridge"
The Waynesville Mountaineer (Waynesville, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 2, 1941, edition 1
10
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