The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-04-23

From this It will be seen that each story, with
its fund OF human interest and useful
combined, reaches a different circulation, tho
distribution being governed entirely by the range
Of applicability Of the information st contains"
II is the desire Of the office OF information to
prepare these stories so that they may be printed
without editing or revision. II Is In this that lies
one Of the strengths OF the agricultural depart.
ment information service, for II means that scien-
tihc terms and phraseology are eliminated wher-
ever possible. that the significance to the people
OF the bulletin on which the story Is based is
emphasized, and that specific, but easy, instruc-
tons are given to enable the people to do that
which the bulletin The stories,
therefore, can be called constructive news"
They tell the people what they can do and how to
do It.
The department Of agriculture takes great care
TO make IT'S stories accurate. Everything that Is
put out by the ONCE Of information is submitted
for approval. FIRST, to the author; second. to the
chief Of the ONCE or bureau which has charge
Of the subjects with which the story is con-
cerned; third, to a second chief Of bureau In
order that he may check up any undue EN-.
phasls on one particular aspect Of a given prob
lem, and. fourth, TO the secretary or assistant
secretary Of agriculture for final approval.
Il would seem that with these safeguards moth.
ing can be sent out which will be misleading TO
the people. Il can be said that since the ONCE
OF information was created II has been a rigid
rule to avoid any appearance Of personal pub.
leity. In the Information stories which are sent
out neither the names Of individuals nor even
the names OF the different ofices and bureaus
in the department are printed unless they are
absolutely essential to the story. Every state.
ment that Is made Is given upon the authority Of
the department and not upon that Of a part OF Il.
No stories are sent out from the ONCE OF infor-
nation about what the department OF agriculture
intends 10 do or hopes 20 do. Neither Is anything
said IN praise OF the departments work. Plain
statements are given OF what has been done and
recommended. This is all. II can be said that
seemingly this policy has brought about a very
appreeiable change in the way In which the
newspapers regard agricultural news. Once the
daily press vas inclined 10 consider that the
only interesting stories we're those which we're
personal In character. we're Sensational or what
might be called freakish. Now Il is believed that
the newspapers are much more disposed 10 meas.
ure the value OF a story az news by the value
OF the information Il conveys.
The Office Of information does not measure the
worth OF newspaper circulation by numerical
standards. but rather by the appropriateness Of
each story that II sends out to the necessities
Of the readers. So Il can be said that the farm
papers are regarded rs a much more valuable
medium than the daily press for purely agricul
iufal stories. and the papers circulating IN rura
districts as much more valuable for the sam,
Kind OF reading matter.
No absolutely accurate information can be hal
40 10 the extent OF the circulation given 70 infor
mHtion stories by She agricultural department
service. Il is said that clippings arc received