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Home My WebLink AboutThe Brussels Post, 1980-04-30, Page 10THE BRUSSELS posT*Apilm. 3o;iaao 1(1 ORNN. seminar Local news first, cOtre$poridents.:,. White's Roofing & General Construction R.R441, Brussels Phone 887-6432 Free Estimates' Local news comes first with newspaper readers, 75 correspondents for. Huron, Bruce and Perth newspapers heard'at a seminar in Clinton Friday. Bob Trotter, journalism program co-ordinator at Con- estoga College in Kitchener, told the correspondents that, a $250,000 survey commis- sioned by the big US Gannett newspaper chain, showed the papers should take "one giant step backwards" and start stressing local news and names again. "Why do you think a magazine like `People' is so successful?", Mr. Trotter asked. A highlight of the day long seminar, at Wesley-Willis United Church, was a series of talks by a variety of local correspondents. • Mary Chessell, Varna Cor- respondent for the. Huron Expositor and the Clinton News Record said she tries to look for a fresh slant on stories that may happen annually. LOCAL HISTORY She suggested corres- pondents who aren't familiar with their area's history read a local history book. "Flloyd McAsh's Varna in Review really helped me," she said. Several correspondents commented it takes a lot of effort to get news. "Some people like to read about others but don't like their names in the paper," one said. "Sometimes it gets a bit discouraging," Mrs. Ches- sell said. "But community news helps to hold the community together. New people learn about a com- munity from the weekly papers." She said she advises local groups to use the papers' coming events ads. "Not everyone reads the Varna news but everyone reads coming events." Correspondents' pay isn't high, especially when it might take four phone calls to get one news item. But there's satisfaction, several correspondents said, when people say they read the news. Mrs. Chessell said she's enjoyed the chance to meet people from all over Canada by keeping alert to special story possibilities from her area. SCRAPBOOKS Other speakers included Carrie Barton of Atwood who has written for the Listowel Banner for 32 years. Mrs. Barton told correspondents she has more than 50 scrapbooks filled 'with At- wood news which are invalu- able for reference. Several of the correspon- dents, including Bertha Mc- Gregor of Hensall, have served their communities for more than 30 years. "A thick skin" is one of the prime requIrements for a newspaper' correspondent Jean Southern, who has written about Fordwieh for the .Wingham Advance TimeS and the Banner for many years. Editor Jim Fitzgerald of the Clinton News Record advised correspondents to call their editors (-with bad news or difficult stories. "Let us make the judge- ment on unfortunate stories. We don't like them either but we have' trained people to work on them," Mr. Fitzger- ald said. - Eleanor Bradnock, Auburn correspondent for the Blyth Standard, .the Goderich Sig- nal-Star and the Clinton News Record said corn- . munity involvement is es- sential for a correspondent. "I'm never at home," she said. "I never write about what. 'doesn't interest me and I'm just an ordinary guy," explained farmer Jack' Mathison who writes about the Avonton area for the St. Marys. Journal-Argus. Mr. Mathison writes features about area farms and schools and calls people for their news. "I think it over when I'm in the barn then come in and • write it. My wife rewrites it and then we deliver it. I try to • have a photo every week," he told the seminar. Participants tried a contest on cutting down and re- writing stories and on correct spelling, grammar and punc- tuation. Shirley Keller, editor of the Goderich Signal Star, who organized the event for the Bluewater Regional Newspaper Net- work, showed a series of slides on how the modern community paper is put together. NEW BOOKLET A new booklet for ,corres- pondents and anyone who submits news to the local paper, called "Hey, what's happening" was reviewed by Mrs. Keller. It will be available soon at this news- paper and readers can call to reserve a copy. Others attending from this area included Betty McCall of Walton; Rena Caldwell of Kippen; Don McRae of Dublin; Annie Engel of Cranbrook; Priscilla Bray of Met Ethel; Mrs. Lewis Stone- house of Belgrave; Mrs. George Brown of Gorrie; Moira Robinson and Esther ' Handy of Vanastra; Wilma Oke of Seaforth and Mrs. Herman Leonhardt of Brod- hagen. DI avid Langstaff It Optician 87 Main St., South, SEAFORTH OPTOMETRIST'S AND • OPHTHAMOLOGIST'S Prescriptions Filled Promptly Mon-Fri. 9 5:30 p.M. Wednesday Closed Saturday 9 - 12:00 COMPLETE OPTICAL SERVICE 527-1303 BRUSSELS BUILDERS 887-6408 Mill St. West Since 1956 NOG 1H0 RESIDENTIAL '= COMMERCIAL H.'-I EN PAS CONSTRUCTION LTD. WE SELL AND. INSTALL PELLA AND HUNT Windows - Patio Doors Insulated Entrance Doors - I nsul. Glass BELGRAVE CO-OP For Feed & Fertilizer — Petroleum Products Hardware and Appliances Universal Milker Equipment and Cleaners 'BRUSSELS WINGHAM 887-6453 357-2.711 Mrs. Yvonne Knight Agent for. Elrna Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company R.R. 3 Brussels, 887-6476 Fleming Feed Mill Bulk Pelleted Feed Fast Unloading Elevator 2 PITS OPEN Clinton 4 HRS. A DAY 482-3438 RON'S SECOND HAND 'SHOP Main St. Brussels - • • We sell ,used furniture, clothes, tools, knicknackS, books etc. • We are also looking ' for consignment articles. Hortie. 887-9577. Shop 887-6084 BRUSSELS TRANSPORT Livestock Trucking and Shipping Service Local and Long Distance Phone 887-6122 (Evenings) George Jutzi Brussels Increase Your Income BUY THIS. SPACE TO-DAY I Call 887-66.41 STFZUCTION General Contractor New Homes Agricultural • Renovations • CoMmercial • Additions • Framing BRIAN SANDERSON 298 Brussels 887-9200 General Welding Repairs. Material Buckets RO$S \HEMINGWAY WELDING ..R R No. 3 Brusels 887-6348 . Trailer Manufacture HydreOlic Brake Kits. 5th Wheel and snowmobile 'and stock. 17,0 Wallace Ayenue Flower Phone 291-2040 IAtOOTEf SDLYIht: Ltd. ED VAN GEEST LISTOWEL, ONT. YOUR PERSONAL FLORIST WITH WORLD-WIDE CONNECTIONS McGavin's Farm Equipmen We specialize ina Complete Line of FARM EQUIPMENT Sales anclService Brussels Walton Seaforth 887-6365 527-0245 Anstett Jewellers, Ltd. Watch and Jewellery Repairs —We Sell and Service— BOLOVA ACCUTRON — WATCHES — 3 Stores -- SEAFORtH CLINTON — WALKERTON Arts-Krieger Home Improvements Specialty: Aluminum and Vinyl Siding, Doors anti Windows, Additions and Renovations FREE ESTIMATES 887-6964 • Harwood C. Smith,Ltd R.R. 2 Listowel 291-3810 TV Refrigeration Appliance Service PaidYs..Daity -Supplies Brussets 887-6,694' Mamsawamommasolow 1