The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-07-16
NEWSPAPER STYLE BECOMING
MORE ESSENTIAL.
According to Prof. Beekman of the
Department of journalism of Iowa
State College,


The newspaper style. which is be
coming more and more essential in
the equipment of every successful
writer is the clearest. most concise
and most interestine style in which
.hings can be written declared Prof.
+. w. Beckman of the department of
journalism of Iowa State college, re-
Gently in addressing the professors of
journalism of is colleges and univer-
stiles gathered at Madison, Wis, for
the second meeting Of the American
conference of teachers of journalism
The news sense. the ability to see
what is new and its new meaning to
the great mass of humanity is neces-
sary to men in every field of endeavor,
but especially to men who write"
1T is the news sense which enables
the writer to see through a mass of
non-essentials to the essential, through
dead rubbish. to living facts, through
husks and shells 10 the kernels of
truth" continued the speaker. 1T is
the news sense that gives the writer
understanding of and sympathy with
common activities OF men so that he
can find what will interest them.
with all its faults | still believe
in the news style as the most efficient
style of this modern day for present
ing information through the written
word 1t has been hammered out in
the heat and stress of newspaper
work to meet the demands of the mil
lions for something to compel their
attention, interest them and give them
information in the quickest, clearest
way possible.
The news writer comes fresh from
the things he writes and puts the en-
ergy and life, or it may be the JOY and
sorrow of what he has just seen or
heard, into the living. breathing words
of his story.
There is a vital living quality in
news writing that demands attention
and grips interest This style is more
widely used than any other. 1t is of
the people and for them, and it has
come through years TO have a value
that cannot be denied.
The ranks of present day literary
successes are filled with men and
women who had their training in the
newspaper office. The demands of
editors and publishers everywhere is
for matter written in the same clear,
concise. interesting way that has
made the American newspaper the
most readable publication printed,
either today or in any time"
Professor James Melvin Lee of New
York university discussed instruction
in advertising, circulation matters and
other phases of the newspaper in con-
nection with college courses in jour-
nalism.
ANOTHER OPINION.
Joseph Jastrow, of the University of
Wisconsin, speaking in Chicago, be-
fore the National Council of Teachers
of English, referred to the possibility
of society for the prevention of cru
city to the English language.
Professor Jastrow told the result of
an inquiry as to what would be the
outcome if so Objectionable compress
sions caught in ordinary conversation
were fined such amounts, varying
from one cent to one dollar, as seemed
fit unishment for each separate of
fence, according to the ain inflicted
number, included IL women. Half of
the 6S reside east of the Alleghenies.
Among the judges were college pro-
fessors. leading editors and readers
for prominent publishing houses.
An average fine of nearly cents for
each offence was the outcome. Pro-
fessor Jastrow suggested that the rev.
enues from enforcement of the fines
against violations of good English
would make substantial fund to be
distributed in prizes by a society for
the prevention of cruelty to English
speech.
What prompted Professor Jastrow s
unique inquiry was a study of lin
guistic sensiblity as field for the
determination of the variety of fac
tors of Judging process.
f. n Scott of the University of
Michigan. whose topic was THE Tn
defined Gate" asked "Of what use
is it to drill pupils in grammar, TO
sweat over compositions, to spend
month after month in the reading and
study Of English masterpieces. if
steadily. day by day, some powerful
disintegration agency nullifies all that
we have accomplished
Not even the Bible. Professor Scott
said, could now compete with the
daily newspaper as the most power
full and most persuasive influence of
our day and nation. Accordingly