Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-07
PEOPLE AND THE PRESS.

PEOPLE AND THE PRESS,
The press department of the Ameri-
can Civic association has issued to the
members of the organization circular
giving them some valuable advice
which should be read by everyone who
has occasion to offer matter to news
paper for publication. And this in
cludes nearly everyone, for the news
paper editor receives call from at
least one or two representatives of
every class of humanity within the
limits of each week. The man who
prepared this circular, it is very prob
able, has ink spots on his hands and
knows some of the woes of the editor.
for he shows by his article that he
knows newspapers are always glad
to have information of general interest
but it is not always possible to give as
much space to the articles as their
authors think they deserve. The
circular says:
10 help the town is fundamental
OF the newspaper creed. 1t may thus
be assumed. at the beginning and all
the time. that the local newspapers
will be interested in helping along any
like movement of civic betterment.
Differences of judgment among editors
as to ways and means of accomplish
ing results, however, must be allowed
for, since they are quite as human as
the members of organizations for i'm
provement purposes. Therefore the
attitude Of the civic organization,
whatever it's name, toward the press,
should not be that of crowding special
theories down the Threats of editors,
securing puffs of persons leading the
movement, or demanding that papers
shall virtually become official organs
of the movement.
Let the fact regarding what it is
proposed to do or what is actually be-
ing done speak for themselves, but
take some pains, either through the
secretary or a press committee, to give
the newspaper man careful statements
OF facts. Erroneous reports and mis-
representations arise in the great
majority of cases from failure to take
pains or even little time to state
facts, on the assumption that the news
paper mar ought to know them by
some kind of mysterious instinct
If a press committee is appointed, it
is well to have each one Of its mem
bers solely responsible for the work of
the committee for some stated period.
A new committee can be named at suf-
ficient intervals to divide the work;
but there is advantage in continuing
a good committee indefinitely. Only
one member should deal with any pa
per during a given period, though
where there are several papers an
equal number of committeeman may
be kept busy
What newspapers usually like to
have: A consise statement of the pur-
poses of the organization Definite
statements regarding plans adopted
and special projects to be undertaken.
Accurate lists of officers and commit
tees for reference. Brief pointed,
signed letters written on one side of
the sheet only regarding projected
local improvements. Accounts of ac-
tual achievements in other places
along the line of local projects, either
in print or written out
Don't expect papers to give large
space to promoting your organization
unless your are really doing something
besides talking about civic improve
ment.
Don't stop giving information about
your work to the press because at
times the editor has not been able to
use It at all. Yours is not the only
organization concerning which, pub
licity is important.
Don't seek to use papers for per-
sonal publicity unless you are prepared
to pay the advertising rates.
Don't feel hurt if papers do not use
your story word for word, even when
you take pains to write 1t out; they
do not wish to duplicate what others
may use verbatim. and they have a
right to a style Of their own.
I'm preparing articles for publica
ton:
%, Always make the first para
graph tell what the local effort is in
connection with the subject of the
article. In the second paragraph
state clearly the application of the
facts which the article contains to the
local situation Then tell your story
with the outmost brevity. 1t is highly
important to summarize your facts II
the first two paragraphs. This helps
to get the favorable attention of the
editor and is appreciated by the gen
eral reader.
"(2). Typewriter copy should bt
furnished whenever possible; other
wise be sure your manuscript is legi
bly, written. Make it brief and to the
point, and cut out every word not es
sential to the sense Of the story. Edi
tors have constant trouble to fine
space for all the good matter they
would like to publish. 1t will BIZ
found that many times brief note
gets attention where the editor can
not consider lengthy article"
FROM PRETENsE TO REALITY.