The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1909-03-11
HOW NEIGHBORHOOD news
SHOULD Be REPORTED.
SOHE POINTS TO PENCIL PUSHERS-
RULES WHICH, If FOLLOWED, WILL
MAKE A GOOD REPORTER.

The following guide to CORE
spoudehts is taken from the Ben.
nettsville Advocate. There is no bet.
ter schooling" for boy or girl in
style and expression than reporting
nelghborhood news items and noting
closely the changes and corrections
after the "copy" passes through the
editors hands, We hope that those
who favor US with their contributions
(snd we have several valued loyal
regular correspondents, as we'll as
those who sometimes write Gas the
spirit moves them") will take heed
Of the points indicated by our es-
teemed contemporary, as they will
find the article we'll worthy of their
attention.
81. Reliability. Be sure that what
you write is trne. Give the facts just
as they are. Don't guess at anything
nor rely on your imagination.
"2. Promptness. SEND report of
any event as soon as possible after 1T
hsppens,-as soon as you can get
positive particulars. If a wedding
occurs on Wednesday don't wait until
the following Tuesday to send an ac-
count of 1t. Send it OH Thursday
or Friday, OF better still on the
same das it occurs, if you can get
the facts and write it up that day.
As soon as one paper is printed the
priuters have to begin setting up
type for the next one and thev want
to get the news set up as 1T hap
peus, so as not to he over.work-
ed a day or two before publication.
All matter should reach the Office by
early Wednesday morning, and no
long letter should be sent in that
late uuless it is something of unusu-
81 importance. A good plan is to
send longer letters earlier, aud
short, late items BY Tuesday night or
by phone Wednesday morning.
.3. Completeness. Send in every
item of news IN your community
that would interest the public. Al
low as little as possible to escape
you. Marriages, deaths, accidents,
public meetings ard improvements,
new enterprises, changes in business
or yesidelce, social functions, visitors
from or to places some miles away,
etc, should be reported. 1t is not
necessary, however, to report the vis'
ting of next door neighbors nor
anything of usual occurrence. as for
instance, John Smith went to Ben
nettsyiIle Yesterday, when Mr. Smith
comes to town every few days.
81. ConciSeness. Give the news
in as feT and as plain words as you
eau. Give the facts, and give them
fully, but do not waste words with
round about introductionS, apologies
nor promises. Keep self in the back,
ground and never use the editorial
swe. 1t should never occur in news
letter The editor himself is violating
the rules of journalism if he uses ii
in q news article outside of the edit
oriaI column.
SO. Spelling, punctuation an
grammatical accuracy. While this
will be the last point to be consider.
ed. it will count for something, a;
well prepared copy saves the editor
considerable work. DO not hesitate
to send in news letters, however, be-
cause YOU are deficient in this re-
spect.
s:In writing about any event, as
many names of persons connected
with it as possible should be given.
and give the correct initials or Chris,
t;e, naroac if nossihle Tt il imnor-