US Army Journalist - Course - Survival Books

Lesson 2, Learning Event 3At mythical Fort Boston, a corps headquarters also serves as thepost headquarters. An armored division is the major tactical uniton post. There are nearly 18,000 soldiers and 6,000 DA civilianemployees, as well as 30,000 Army family members. There are threeelementary schools, a junior and a senior high school on post.Ideally, an editor might hope to have four or five journalistsworking various beats, with another two covering sports. Thesejournalists might also assist the editor in layout, pasteup andproofreading. They are each responsible for their own photography.Ideally, other PA staff sections are staffed sufficiently to limitadditional requirements on the newspaper staff.In reality, the newspaper staff may consist of two or three peoplewho occasionally also fill the requirements of public informationand community relations sections. The editor in this situationwill need to establish a stringer system. A stringer is a nonjournalistwho gathers the essential facts about something his unitor organization does and provides this information to the editor oran assigned reporter. Stringer systems will be discussed inanother subcourse. The Army journalist may also be responsible fordistribution of the newspaper.Teamwork and personal initiative are critical if a qualitynewspaper is to be published. Nothing short of long hours anddedication will produce a newspaper filled with the news andinformation the Army audiences deserve and need.Decision MakingNo newspaper reporter, civilian or military, is ever the finalarbiter of what will appear in print. Sometimes reporters areassigned stories they would rather not do, or in which they have nointerest. The decision isn't theirs. Similarly, a writer's copyis subject to editing and rewriting under the editor's pen.Changes are to be expected. Invariably they lead to betterstories.Ultimately, the commander has responsibility for what is publishedin his newspaper. It is his right to review all copy before itgoes to the typesetters. Most PAOs and editors act responsiblyenough that commanders ask only to De briefed on the newspaper'scontent; sometimes --only when a controversial or sensitive topicwill be published.14