Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-05-25


 OF before Saturday. June 20, 19OC. Best news story ...=...#..=.#....-.$5 oo second best story .......=.=.#... ? 00 Third best story ........,. 1 co Next two, 50 cents each ...... 1 00 Next fo'w. 25 cents each ..#.... 1 oo
 Tolal of prizes ...,...-..,-.-.-.-..$1 $10 00
 The competition is open to anyone not connected professionally with the editorial, fepOrtorial or correspond ence staff of a newspaper. Coniribu- tions will be judged on their value as news items and on their general style and construction. News value is de termined by. the amount of interest the matter has in itself. News has value Independent of the >form in which it is presented, but ordinary incidents can be related in a manner to awaken interest when some of the elements of news are lacking. An ar ticle which combines news merit with good literary style has double value
 In all cities like Pine Bluff there are many happenings of legitimate news interest that do not find their way into the newspapers This is Tot because newspapers do not want 10 print them. but because reporters dO not discover them. Reporters nee ossarily follow beaten paths in their search for news, visiting stated places from day to day, and their work be- comes routine to large degree.
 The best stories are often found off the newspaper beats, being spontane- oHs or unexpected. and not provided for or anticipated in assigning report CTS to duty In many instances these published. but in other cases they es. cape observation except in their i'm mediate localities and are lost to the newspaper world.
 In addition to the larger affairs which receive newspaper attention, there are many interesting minor in cidents of every day life that may be published with propriety, and the pur- pose of this competition is to awaken the news instinct and secure for pub lioation timely stories that are now overlooked Neighborhood happenings picnics, games, improvements, public complaints, accidents, births, etc, are often passed over by regular news gatherers. and will be found excellent subjects for stories to be entered in the Graphic contest
 4 Few Suggestions.
 A few suggestions to contributors may be of service in the preparation of newspaper copy.
 Use paper about 7x9 inches in size. writin" the long way of the sheet, on one side only. and using a soft black lead pencil or ink.
 Don't be wordy or long drawn out, but let your story be clean-cut and to thr point
 Don't write mere fancy sketches. Stories fer in" contest must deal with real life and have an actual news 1 basis.
 Contributions in competition for l these prizes should be addressed 1 News Contest, Graphic Office, Pine ! Bluff. Ark and may be sent by ] nail or delivered in person. Each | story should show the name and ad- 1 iress of the writer, to be filed for ! reference in awarding prizes. If pre- 1 erred pen names" or initials may be 1 signed for publication. Contestants may send in as many 1 as they please at any ! ;me during the contest, and all will 1 'eceive consideration. It is possih' or one person to receive more than ne prize
 All acceptable news stories will be rinted in the Graphic from day to lay while they are fresh and timely. I he contest begins at once and ends with Saturday, June 90. The prize 4inrtrs will be announced in the is ,Ue of Sunday. July 1.