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inch and multiply by the number of inches, Compound words count as two words. When an editor orders 1000 words, he means an article that will fill about the space that 1000 ordinary words would occupy. The lines in most newspapers average between seven and eight words. The news columns of most newspapers are set in nonpareil, and there are twelve nonpareil lines to the inch. The columns are usually between twenty and twenty-four inches long, so that the number of words in a news column ranges from 1600 to 2400. It is the custom to speak of 2000 words of news matter as a column, and many papers pay on that basis. Editorial matter, being set in larger type and leaded, will range between 1000 and 1500 words to the column. It will be found useful to remember that ordinary typewriter copy averages almost exactly twelve words to the line.

The following paragraphs are from articles by William H. Hills in The Writer :

"Always begin your story with a short, strong sentence, Come to the point at once. Don't waste words telling what you are going to tell. Go ahead and tell it. What you want is to interest your reader at the outset, and if your story is going to interest him at all, the main fact put at the beginning simply and strongly will attract his attention quicker than anything else.

"Don't get the idea into your head that because a sentence is simple it must be commonplace.

"Do away utterly with the idea that writing a special despatch to be sent by telegraph to a paper 1500 miles away, is essentially different from writing a story to be printed in your own city.

"Always be truthful in writing your despatches.

"Study the style of the paper to which you are telegraphing. Notice how much space it gives daily to telegraph news. Notice with what sort of news that space is filled. Notice what kinds of despatches are printed in full, and what kinds of despatches are condensed to a paragraph. Notice, more than anything else, the disposition of the despatches you yourself may send."

HEADLINES.

Headlines play an important part in the American newspaper, and the writing of them is proportionately important. They must be as effective as possible, and at the same time must conform to definite and inviolable typographical rules. As to their matter little more can be said in a general way than that the first line should be striking and attractive, the others should be explanatory. If possible, do not begin the first line with an article, and try not to use one in beginning any of the others. Avoid phraseology that makes it necessary to divide words of five letters or less. Do not divide words pronounced as one syllable. Figures are awkward things in headlines. Each line (by which is meant so many words as are printed in one style of type) should generally be complete in itself, that is, should be such as can be ended with a period. The same noun, verb, adjective, or adverb should not appear twice in a head. Alliteration is someused sparingly. In a

times advantageous, but should be head for a dated article, 'Today' means the day of publication, not the day of the dateline. Heads should con

tain no expression of opinion.

Slang should be avoided.

Nothing should be intimated

which the body of the

article does not warrant; leave to the patent medicine men the deceptive policy of unjustifiably alluring headlines.

Every paper has its own rules as to the formation of heads, and you must learn by observation or questioning what is the system of the paper for which you write. Some common principles, however, may be noted. It is usual to put a head of some sort on everything that does not go into some department such as Local Notes, Telegraphic Brevities, or the like. Except in the case of matter of special consequence, few papers put a head of more than one line over anything less than an inch long, or say 100 words; it would be nearer the average to put it at 200. Two-line heads invariably have the first line (using the word in the editor's sense) composed of one line of type; the second ordinarily has two lines of type, but many papers in the case of matter more than half a column long, use three, four, or even five lines of type. Larger type and longer heads are the rule for articles. that begin a column. For all these the kind of type to be used is determined in advance, and the editor, knowing the number of letters that can be put in any given line, governs himself accordingly in 'building' or 'putting up' his head. Even in the matter of scare-heads of six, eight, or twelve lines the big newspapers have a fixed form. In the large offices the type of the lines of all these heads is designated by numbers, which the editor affixes to each particular line, leaving no discretion whatever to the compositor.

Few big papers ask their news writers to write their own heads, but it is equally true that few discourage it.

Every enterprising writer will try to learn how to do it, and will do it whenever time permits. If he is paid 'on space', he will do it because everything that lessens the editor's work increases the chance of getting the article printed and decreases the chance of its being cut down. If he is paid a salary, he will do it to increase the goodwill of the news-editor and to show his own willingness to get a promotion. Yet it is generally not even expected, and a writer will suffer only negatively by neglecting it. If you cannot do it accurately, do not do it at all. If you do not write it, leave space enough for it at the top of the first sheet, a third of the page will be none too much. Do not send headlines by telegraph.

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IN GENERAL.

'Never put an editorial opinion into a news paragraph,' is a standard rule and, interpreted correctly, a good one. Theoretically it is not the province of the reporter or correspondent to express opinions, but too strict an application of the theory makes news columns prosy. Descriptive matter especially it is next to impossible to make entertaining without putting in opinions. Most of these and other sorts of opinions are harmless. The rule would be better if modified to read, 'Never put into a news paragraph, a special article, or correspondence, any personal opinion that will hurt anyone's feelings, or that is of moment enough to cause discussion.' This excludes opinions that might cause libel suits, and opinions that might differ from the 'policy' of the paper or compel the paper to adopt an unwelcome policy. Distinguish between your own opinions and the opinions of others: your own are insignificant; those of others, if they are

men whose opinions carry weight, should often be reported, but so as to put the burden on them, or if it is a general opinion you voice, let it appear as such and not as your own.

You express a decidedly objectionable opinion when you apply a disrespectful epithet to any person or body of persons. It may appear very bright to a reporter to talk about 'Sheenies' and 'Dagos' and 'coons' and 'scabs', but it does not appear bright to them or their friends, and every reader has the right to expect that his feelings shall not be needlessly outraged. Many colored people dislike the word 'negro' as applied to them. Many Catholics dislike the adjective 'Romish', for 'Roman'. Old maids are usually pained to be called old maids. The youth who is called a boy seldom forgets the affront, especially if he happens to be short for his years and you call him a little boy; better err in the other direction and give him credit for more years than belong to him. There is very rarely need to speak in print of a 'grass widow'. The habit of speaking familiarly of public men is so common that it seems almost useless to combat it, yet there can be no doubt that our politics would stand on a higher plane, our statesmen would command more respect, and our newspapers would be more dignified if they did not speak of 'Teddie Roosevelt' and 'Dave Hill' and 'Jim Blaine'.

'Call a spade a spade,' is an old rule and a good one, but not of invariable application. It must be followed with due regard to the conventions of society. If, for example, 'limb' were the word used in good society when 'leg' was meant, it would be expedient to use 'limb' in

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