In a utopian world, each newspaper would be perfect: no spelling, grammar, factual or other errors. The reality is no paper is perfect. On Tuesday mornings, as our papers come off the presses, we scan for the mistakes our reporters and editors might have missed. The type of error determines what corrective measures need to […] Read more
Stories by Elaine Shein
How are graphics done?
Last week this column explained why graphics are needed and what types of graphics are used. This week we’ll explore the subject further. Who decides and creates the graphics for our paper? Early in the week, we have an editorial meeting where reporters and editors discuss upcoming stories. Our graphics editor, Michelle Fritz, begins to […] Read more
The role of graphics
When you look at a page in our paper, what do you see first – story, headline, photo or graphic? Newspapers often survey their readers to find out the answer to the above question. The more things that draw the attention of a reader, the longer the reader’s attention span to the page. As lifestyles […] Read more
YC goes far
The Houston, Tex., postmark threw me off. However, the letter was a pleasant surprise. Shirt Tail, a former member of the Young Co-operators Club, had returned home to Canada before Christmas and read through some back issues of the Producer. Reading a piece on the history of the YC pages stirred nostalgia in her. “I […] Read more
Jeremy Rifkin lashes out at BST
Western Producer staff Animal-rights activist Jeremy Rifkin has begun to target the bovine somatotrophin (BST) cow hormone and is encouraging milk dumpings across the U.S. Dairy producers should keep careful vigil over Rifkin’s activities and be prepared for a long fight. Never underestimate such an adversary — particularly if he has money, confused consumers, and […] Read more
Changed classifieds
Take your newspaper’s classified sections from this week and from two weeks ago. Now turn them upside down and glance at the type. Which appears easier to look at? Try reading the ads right way up. Which edition is better? The “upside down” test helps show the difference in type, which was changed in response […] Read more
Cover BSE?
For the past few issues we have run stories fairly prominently about Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as “mad cow” disease. Agriculture Canada continues to receive angry challenges from some livestock owners against its decision to destroy animals imported from the United Kingdom and Ireland prior to 1990. We have received a mixed […] Read more
Satellites
Be honest — prior to January, how many people had ever heard of Anik E-1 and Anik E-2? Despite odds being better to win Lotto 6/49 four weeks in a row, these two satellites, heartbeats of Canada’s communication system, decided on Jan. 20 to swirl out of control within 24 hours of each other. Suddenly […] Read more
Rally anniversary
It’s been a year since the busses and pickup trucks brought thousands of farmers to Sask Place for a protest rally. Sponsored by Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, the rally was planned as a finale to other prairie rallies aiming for political attention. Farmers were angry, and showed solidarity. Some were plain desperate for help. The event […] Read more
Advertising & editorial
Each week our staff decides which stories will win the competition for the limited space available. It becomes a delicate balancing act to represent the different sectors and farm groups in agriculture, the various provinces, hard news and feature stories, long background pieces and short briefs. Staff-written stories compete with those of freelancers and wire […] Read more
