The Meeker herald., 1915-04-24

From this 1t will be seen that each story, with
its fund OF human interest and useful information
combined. reaches different circulation. the
distribution being governed entirely by the range
OF applicability Of the Information it contains."
1t II the desire OF the once Of information to
prepare these stories 10 that they may be printed
without editing revision. It IL in this that lies
one Of the strengths Of the agricultural depart
ment information service. for 1t means that scen-
tue terms and phrase0logy eliminated wher-
ever possible. that the Significance to the people
Of the bulletin on which the story IL based 10
emphasized. and that specific. but easy. instruc-
lions are given to enable the people to do that
which the bulletin recommends The stories
therefore, can be called Constructive news"
They tell the people what they do and how to
do II.
Tho department of agriculture takes great care
to make Its stories accurate Everything that is
put out by the once of Information il submitted
for approval. flrst to the author: second, to the
chief OF tho once or bureau which has charge
OF the subjects with which the story Is con-
cerned; third. to . second chief OF bureau in
order that he may check up any undue en-
phasis on one particular aspect of q given prob
lem. and, fourth, to the secretary assistant
secretary Of agriculture for final approval
II would seem that with these safeguards moth
ing can be sent out which will be misleading to
the people. 1t can be said that since the once
Of information was created II has been rigid
rule to avoid any appearance Of personal pub
hcity. In the Information stories which are sent
out neither the names OF Individuals nor even
the names of the dlnersnt oMces and bureaus
in the department ara printed unless they are
absolutely essential to the story. Every state
ment that 10 made 10 given upon the authority Of
the department and not upon that Of 4 part Of It.
No stories are sent out from the ONCE Of infor-
nation about what the department Of agriculture
intends to do or hobes to Do. Neither IL anything
said In praise Of the Departments work Plain
statements are given Of what has been done and
recommended This 10 AL. 1t can be said that
seemingly this policy has brought about very
appreciabls change in the way in which the
newspapers regard agricultural news Once the
daily press was inclined to consider that the
only interesting stories were those which were
personal in character. were sensational or what
might be called freakish. Now It 10 believed that
the newspapers are much more disposed to meas
ure the value of story as news by the value
Of the Information 1t conveys
The ONCE Of information does not measure the
worth OF newspaper circulation by numerical
standards but rather by the appropriateness OF
each story that 1t sends out to the necessities
OF the readers. So 1t be said that the farm
papers are regarded much more valuable
medium than the daily press for purely agricul.
tural stofies and the papers circulating in rural
districts as much more valuable for the same
kind Of reading matter.
No absolutely accurate Information can be had
~ to the extent Of the circulation given to ufor
nation stories by the agricultural department
service 1t is said that clippings are received