Elaine Shein

This week, we welcome a new copy editor. Originally from Saskatchewan, Terry Fries most recently was editor of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman in Cranbrook, B.C. He also managed The Daily Bulletin in Kimberley, B.C. Prior to that, he worked at Yorkton This Week & Enterprise, and the Edmonton Journal. A graduate of the University of […] Read more

The crow has always symbolized a contentious segment of agricultural history here in Western Canada. Stories about the Crow Rate, and later the Crow Benefit, occupy large volumes of space in our library archives. Later deadlines occasionally accommodated the latest possible twists and turns in Crow events. However, last week our staff were pressured to […] Read more

Bill Cameron’s deep voice reverberates in my mind each time I scan stories or headlines. Is a story unclear and ambiguous? What is it communicating to readers? Is the writing too formal? Are the words incomprehensible? Are there more cliches than you can shake a stick at? Was the writer excessively verbal? Was the right […] Read more

Last week’s column presented some of the most-frequently asked questions by our readers about our newspaper’s services, and the answers as compiled by our librarian with the help of other departments. This week we continue with more questions and answers. Can I contact one of your columnists? Send letters addressed to the columnist, c/o our […] Read more

Striving towards better customer service, our newspaper’s librarian, Judy Ferguson, recently compiled a list of questions frequently asked about our newspaper’s services. With the help of various departments, we’re putting together a fact sheet for our staff to help answer your questions sooner or direct you to the correct person in charge of your specific […] Read more

It’s like a ghost that continues to haunt us. Almost three years ago our company’s Prairie Books department ceased to exist. Some titles were sold to Douglas & McIntyre in Vancouver, other books were relegated to dusty bookshelves and sold no more. However, letters continue to arrive from people wishing to purchase, proofread or write […] Read more

Some U.S. states have introduced laws making it illegal to insult farm products. The American Farm Bureau Federation encouraged states to follow the example of Idaho and Georgia, who approved such laws. Washington state also considered similar legislation this spring. According to a story done for us by freelance writer Steve Krueger, the advocates of […] Read more

Sources occasionally ask our reporters and editors if they can see our stories prior to publication. Politicians most often make the request, but we have also received this question from elected officials of various organizations, conference participants, researchers and farmers in the field. Sometimes people refuse to be interviewed if they can’t see the typed […] Read more

If you want to buy a newspaper, which department do you contact at our office? Circulation? Subscription? Up until recently, we used the title of circulation department. Most newspapers also use that term for their departments that sell papers. However, many of our readers found it confusing. When they phoned, they requested the subscription department; […] Read more

Western Producer staff The main theme for the the second triennial congress of the Canadian Co-operative Association, held last week in Toronto, was linkages among co-ops. Two of the main priorities were organizational renewal and strategic alliances. Out of the three days of meetings came a sense of urgency about the need to succeed in […] Read more