[.ca] Associated Press Guide to Newswrit, 3/e (ISBN 0768919797)

Not just for Journalists:
This book is a must reference for journalists. It is small enough to be read and re-read many times. Every journalist should be forced to read this book, and be quizzed on it, every six months. It would save the rest of us from having to read the awful writing in the manistream press. Even a non-journalist would enjoy this book. It will give you some insight into how news stories are written. Also, if you catch a journalist breaking these simple "how to" rules, you can move on to another more well written story. Personally, I would rather read a well written story about a topic in which I have no interest, than a poorly written story about something for which I am passionate.

How to avoid an attack of The Elongated Yellow Fruit:
"The Associated Press Guide to News Writing" makes more points in 136 pages than do most writing books four times the size. One would expect no less from a master news editor like Rene Chappon. The formula Cappon follows is to write a very brief explanation of a problem; an example of the problem; a sentence dissecting the example; a rewriting of the problem sentence; and a summary of the topic. The result is almost always memorable. Consider this typical section on The Elegant Variation (capitalized words below are italicized in the original): *** Writers who believe that the repetition of plain words within shouting distance of each other is crude take off on synonym safaris.... It's all the more grotesque as there are few true synonyms and the author may introduce misfits: "The mayor's task force was asked to meet with the owners of the STRUCTURES, discuss whether they wanted their BUILDINGS preserved, and recommend ways to adapt older EDIFICES to new use." STRUCTURES could be anything and EDIFICES is too grandiose; the story concerns commercial and apartment buildings. If the author didn't want to repeat BUILDINGS, a pronoun was the way out: "...to meet with the owners of the buildings, discuss whether they wanted THEM preserved, and recommend ways to adapt the older ones to new uses." The same craving for daintiness will convert elephants to PACHYDERMS, dogs to CANINES, cats to FELINES, tigers to STRIPED PREDATORS and cars to VEHICLES. Petroleum becomes BLACK GOLD, snow becomes WHITE POWDER (a justly forgotten poet once called it "God's dandruff"), a banana turns into THE ELONGATED YELLOW FRUIT. *** The benefit of this style is that Cappon's admonitions pop up unasked whenever we commit one of the sins he identifies. I find that "elongated yellow fruit" frequently superimposes itself on my more tortured prose.

Details, and Details about how to write well.:
I barely received my copy, and the advice/help on being a better writer is pretty good. One thing that stands out in the book is the issue of vulgarity, and that is simply a no when it comes to writing journalism. The other areas are well explained, and i tell any one who is reading this small paragraph, get it, it is worth it! It will definitely help you get more creative with your writing, this is like the bloom's taxonomy of writing.

Details, and Details about how to write well.:
I barely received my copy, and the advice/help on being a better writer is pretty good. One thing that stands out in the book is the issue of vulgarity, and that is simply a no when it comes to writing journalism. The other areas are well explained, and i tell any one who is reading this small paragraph, get it, it is worth it! It will definitely help you get more creative with your writing, this is like the bloom's taxonomy of writing.

An exceptional guide to newswriting:
AP Guide to Newswriting would have to be the most informative and thorough book on newswriting I have come across. It is clear and concise and deserves a prominent position on every journalists bookshelf. With the excellent price tag why hesitate? Now, if only I could get all newswriters' to follow Cappon's example. Thanks Cappon for keeping it short and sweet!