All good journalists should have two well-read blue-and-white books on their desks. The Canadian Press Stylebook and CP Caps and Spelling act as bibles for writers and editors. Whenever there are questions, the book addresses them: capitalization, court reporting, government titles, libel and contempt, metric, initials, numbers, obituaries, plurals of nouns, possessives, punctuation, quotations, sexism, […] Read more
Stories by Elaine Shein
Wheat board advisory nominations are due Friday
SASKATOON – John Clair wishes other farmers could have the great learning opportunity he has had. The farmer from Radisson, Sask., has attended meetings in Winnipeg with the Canadian Wheat Board minister, listened to port concerns in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, and compared notes with U.S. farmers at the National Association of Wheat Growers’ annual […] Read more
Wanted: nominations for CWB advisory group
SASKATOON – An election is held only once every four years, but nominations for the advisory committee of the Canadian Wheat Board are trickling in to Winnipeg. As coordinator of the producers’ vote, B.C. Lemon supervised as 123,000 farmes, all of them CWB permit holders, were mailed brochures and nomination forms. A week before the […] Read more
Wanted: sensitive federal politicians
Western Producer staff When should rural Canadians begin to seriously question whether the current federal government understands them? A recent meeting in Kenora, Ont., had strong words from politicians critical of Liberal cuts to agriculture. Out of the meeting came statements about having to sensitize “the people who make these decisions,” particularly the ones who […] Read more
Cranky phones
Please pardon the hang-ups. And the miscalculated taxes. Really, we didn’t intend to be impolite on the phone, nor did we wish to be misers and save a few pennies at the risk of driving other companies crazy with improper balances. Our office has been helplessly held hostage by failing technology. In recent weeks there […] Read more
Official languages (2)
As Canada prepares for its 26th anniversary as a dual-language country, the U.S. considers finally making English its official language. The past controversy in Canada may prepare the U.S. for what it faces. The front-page story in the May 22, 1969, Western Producer quoted then-state secretary Gerard Pelletier as appealing to Canadians to “keep their […] Read more
Official languages (1)
Occasionally our staff covers national conferences where translators are provided to give the proceedings in English and French. The translators sit in a small tent at the back of the room, listen intently to headphones, then reiterate the words spoken at the podium/head table/microphone on the floor. Conference participants – and journalists – listen to […] Read more
Politicians on Internet
As presidential election fever begins to pick up across the border, politicians have found a new way to reach voters: the Internet. A recent story from the Internet News Service provided some Internet addresses people can use in the World Wide Web service to access important political details and make their lives more complete. For […] Read more
Names
What’s in a name? Dick Assman from Regina gained notoriety, thanks to the David Letterman show. The U.S.-based late-night talk show received a newspaper ad Assman had run two years ago about his Petro-Canada station. Letterman for more than two weeks made Assman the subject of a running joke because of his name. Regina and […] Read more
SaskPower plans rate increase
Managing Editor Elaine Shein was among a group of media, industry and municipal officials who were briefed in Regina last week on SaskPower plans for rate increases. SaskPower president Jack Messer didn’t mince words. Rural customers must face reality. It’s time to pay the real cost of power. It’s time to quit being subsidized. Saskatchewan […] Read more
