| Subject | Date Asked |
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| Looking for Career Advice | 10/22/2009 |
Q: My name is Chris, and I'm a sophomore in high school. I'm planning on entering either print or ...
A: Yes, plenty. If possible, work on your school's newspaper. Not every school has one, and many times ...
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| Career in journalism | 10/11/2009 |
Q: My daughter was interested in journalism until the last year when it seemed the entire industry was ...
A: Morkin, My assessment isn't nearly as glum as yours. While it is true that the 20th Century brand ...
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| writing | 10/4/2009 |
Q: Do you have any suggestions on how to improve your writing skills?I volunteer for a local very small ...
A: I can't give you a direct answer because I am unfamiliar with the college freshman writing books ...
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| investigative reporter | 10/1/2009 |
Q: I also need information on investigative reporters. In my story, someone will look on the reporters ...
A: The situation as you describe it would probably work. But I cannot answer your other question ...
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| writing | 9/16/2009 |
Q: Do you have any suggestions on how to improve your writing skills?I volunteer for a local very small ...
A: There is no easy way. Most poor writing that I have observed seems to come from a poor understanding ...
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| writing assignments | 8/5/2009 |
Q: Do newspaper editors hand out assignments to their writers, or are the writers responsible for ...
A: It happens both ways. On all four newspapers I worked for during my 28 year career most reporters ...
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| Freelance editing rates | 6/28/2009 |
Q: Magoo! I have a BA in English followed by 23 years' professional editorial experience, and I've ...
A: The answer to your question is "there is no answer to your question." It's a free market out there ...
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| Post graduation in journalism | 6/8/2009 |
Q: i have completed my Bachelors Degree in Political Science as my majors. I just wanted to know would ...
A: In my opinion, it would. However, to be accepted by most graduate schools you must also take the ...
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| Blurb requests/Press Releases | 5/29/2009 |
Q: Could you tell me what exactly a newspaper might do with ones press release? Do they print it if ...
A: Rich, I'll give you an explanation of how newspapers regard press releases and how they are used. ...
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| writing work | 5/28/2009 |
Q: I am in the process of getting into a freelance job doing writing. This will be new to me and one ...
A: Richard, It looks to me like you are taking on a lot of work and you have to hit the ground ...
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| Ask experts about journalism | 4/9/2009 |
Q: I am a young student interested in journalism. What can you tell me about your job as a reporter? ...
A: Amy, This is a question that would require a long and complicated answer if I were to answer it ...
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| legal notices | 3/9/2009 |
Q: Most states require legal notices be placed in newspapers of "general circulation." What exactly is ...
A: I Googled the phrase, "Newspapers of General Circulation," and got many answers. Rather than ...
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| sources and attribution | 3/4/2009 |
Q: I would love to write articles for magazines or small newspapers. I know that for college papers, we ...
A: This has never been a problem in my 28 years in the newspaper business. If there is a printed source ...
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| internship | 2/27/2009 |
Q: I am a third year English Major student in Australia. I suppose my specialism is in creative ...
A: I cannot give you a crash course in beginning Journalism, although I would like to. I suggest you ...
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| God's name. | 1/6/2009 |
Q: I am the editor of a monthly secular newspaper.A person has written a poem & in this poem, God's ...
A: You don't give me enough information. When you say "secular." do you mean just any old newspaper, ...
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| death certificate | 12/20/2008 |
Q: How do i find out the cause of an ex-boyfriends death. He died around 1998-99 but I just found out ...
A: Normally the cause of death is public information. In most counties in the United States such ...
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| what should i major in | 12/14/2008 |
Q: my name is Abby and I'm 12 years old. i know it sounds weird for a 12 year old to think about ...
A: I do not think it's weird to think about college and your career at 12, I think it's very smart, and ...
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| Getting a column | 12/6/2008 |
Q: I am a writer by profession, running my own small business copywriting, editing, ghost writing and ...
A: The best way is to write to the editor of the newspaper you wish your column to appear in and tell ...
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| School Newspaper advice? | 11/12/2008 |
Q: I need some advice on how to improve our school newspaper. "The York Spork" is not impressive as a ...
A: This might work for you: Many years ago when I was a reporter at the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, ...
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| Is it what you expected? | 10/31/2008 |
Q: my name's Emili. :) I'm currently a year 10 at a small Illinois school that's literally in the ...
A: I will try to answer you questions. First, I have no strong dislikes about journalism. I worked as ...
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| When someone dies, is it mandatory to have some kind of public obituary? | 9/21/2008 |
Q: I want to know what the legal requirements are in PA concerning "Obituarys" in the local ...
A: You are making a common mistake. There is a difference between obituaries, which are considered ...
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| Searching history | 8/27/2008 |
Q: I will be grateful if you are able to answer this question. If someone was researching a city's or ...
A: The first place I'd go would be to the county courthouse. There you will find marriage records, ...
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| Press Club | 7/11/2008 |
Q: You may have heard about Second Life in the news (or even be a resident yourself). A number of us ...
A: I don't believe any two press clubs do the same things. The National Press club in Washington has ...
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| help on a feature | 7/9/2008 |
Q: i am based in jeddah saudi arabia,i am doing a feature on shoppers who irritate shopkeepers.they are ...
A: I would try to interview everybody, including the shop keepers, the Indian and Pakistani shoppers, ...
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| Is an AA in journalism worth it? | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I'm interested in a journalism career and I'm thinking about getting an AA degree. Are there any ...
A: I started in the newspaper business in 1967 with a BA in English and course work in Poli Sci, ...
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| Is an AA in journalism worth it? | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I'm interested in a journalism career and I'm thinking about getting an AA degree. Are there any ...
A: In general, the more education you have, and the better the school is that you went to, the better ...
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| inquiry: How to sell articles to magazines | 5/29/2008 |
Q: Good day! I need information on the following questions. 1) What is the correct format in writing ...
A: I cannot give you specific answers to all of your questions, but I can tell you where to find ...
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| Newspaper Protocol | 5/19/2008 |
Q: when a person has information about a news story or information worthy of reporting how do they go ...
A: I suggest you call your local newspaper and tell whoever answers the telephone that you have ...
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| travel journalism | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I am a novice in journalism and it's not even a month that i have started working as a trainee in a ...
A: As a lifelong print journalist, my bias should be obvious to you. Most of the writers and editors in ...
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| FEE | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I recently proposed a literature page to an editor of a new magazine. Apparently he took my ...
A: This is a little beyond my experience, but I could offer you some common sense advice. First of ...
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| Getting an article published | 3/6/2008 |
Q: I am beginning a research project. I will be interviewing the top 50-100 business owners in my area. ...
A: You've taken on a monumental task. If you interview 50 to 100 business owners and write in depth ...
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| newspaper reprint | 3/3/2008 |
Q: I am looking for a reprint of a newspaper from January 26th, 1861 of some newspaper from Louisiana. ...
A: That date, the day Louisiana seceded from the United States of America and declared they were no ...
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| Landing that First Job | 2/12/2008 |
Q: I am wondering if you can advise me on the best way to get an interview and be hired by a newspaper. ...
A: Newspapers prize employees who are imaginative and inventive. If you can demonstrate to the editor ...
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| Finding a Newspaper Job | 9/17/2007 |
Q: I'm looking to move to a new city (Birmingham, AL) and would really like a newspaper job (preferably ...
A: Are you moving to Birmingham because you want to work for Birmingham's newspaper or are you moving ...
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| tired of knowing nothing | 8/27/2007 |
Q: Tired of knowing nothing about the world, I have subscribed to the New York Times and now read the ...
A: There's no quick answer to your question. It often takes years of newspaper reading to determine ...
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| most accurate newspaper(NO SPIN) | 8/6/2007 |
Q: I would like your opinion as to what is the most accurate newspaper for both national+international ...
A: Most major newspapers in the US today can be regarded as accurate, they are as sensitive to ...
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| starting a writing job | 7/21/2007 |
Q: The title pretty much speaks for itself. I would like to start writing for magazines and newspapers. ...
A: There are no "easiest jobs." You might try to get a job with a small newspaper to start. That's the ...
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| starting a writing job | 7/17/2007 |
Q: The title pretty much speaks for itself. I would like to start writing for magazines and newspapers. ...
A: Of all the various genres a writer could work in, you have chosen one of the most competitive and ...
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| getting started | 7/10/2007 |
Q: as in how do i get started in journalism? what should i expect in job interviews? do i need to build ...
A: Primarily, as a journalist, your duties will be to report and write the news. Any experience you ...
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| newspaper witn least "spin" | 7/3/2007 |
Q: which national or international newspaper seems to give the best unvarnished national+international ...
A: The best paper in the world, in my opinion (and in the opinion of many other educated people) is the ...
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| pseudonyms | 5/14/2007 |
Q: i heard that there was a common pseudonym name (say Grant Smithies)that a variety of writers will ...
A: Grant Smithies is a columnist, reviewer, and reporter for the Star-Times, a newspaper in New ...
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| journalist | 4/27/2007 |
Q: i am writing colum and reporting NEWS for a weekly newspaper in urdu languge,The editor of my ...
A: Your question is not a difficult one. Generally speaking, you are a journalist if you write for a ...
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| how to submit a portfolio | 4/20/2007 |
Q: i am applying for an internship at a national publication. the internship is open to students and ...
A: Katie: I've never been involved in hiring interns, but intuitively, I could give you advice about I ...
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| Journalist | 4/19/2007 |
Q: 1-please tell me the defination of a journalist,i mean who is a journalist(for a newspaper). 2-as a ...
A: Unfortunately there are none with any power. The freedom of the press and freedom for journalists to ...
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| Journalist | 4/13/2007 |
Q: 1-please tell me the defination of a journalist,i mean who is a journalist(for a newspaper). 2-as a ...
A: A journalist is a person who reports and writes the news. He is usually an employee of a newspaper, ...
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| periodicals | 4/6/2007 |
Q: If a journal is published four times a year, it is called a quarterly. What is the word for ...
A: From Dictionary.com Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source tri·an·nu·al ...
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| Magazine Sources | 3/27/2007 |
Q: What kinds of sources do magazines use to find information? Which are specific to fashion magazine? ...
A: I can't speak for the magazine business, but as a former newspaperman, I can tell you how newspapers ...
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| how do you do it? | 2/22/2007 |
Q: is that i don't know what things i should put in an underground school paper and what would be ...
A: The best way to find out what should be in an underground newspaper is to read underground ...
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| Online news | 1/17/2007 |
Q: At the end of February I will be launching a humorous conservative political website. ...
A: I am a newspaperman, and the genre of political websites is foreign territory to me. However, I can ...
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| Career in journalism | 1/15/2007 |
Q: I am fifteen years old, and I am a sophomore in high school. I have been thinking a lot about what ...
A: I believe a career in journalism is the best and most fulfilling way to spend one's life. A ...
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| I'm entering a journalism contest. | 1/15/2007 |
Q: I was wondering if you would tell me if this article is worthy news, and what corrections I should ...
A: After giving it a quick read, I think it might be appropriate for a newspaper features page that ...
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| Journalist industry accountability | 12/18/2006 |
Q: Follow up, Thanks for your first response. The author of the story is the reporter and editor. He ...
A: Glenn: I cannot give you legal advice because I am not a lawyer. However, I have some familiarity ...
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| Journalist industry accountability | 12/17/2006 |
Q: I had opened a laundry business in Pennsylvania, My closest competitor with older equipment had ...
A: (I tried to answer this question, but I got tripped up in the intricacies of computer technology. ...
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| College Sophomore | 12/2/2006 |
Q: Magoo: My name is Janine and I'm a college sophomore whose trying to prepare for a career in ...
A: It kinda really doesn't matter. The old fashioned way was to paste clips onto sheets of 8 1/2 by 11 ...
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| journalism city council straight news story | 11/28/2006 |
Q: I am writing a straight news story about a city council meeting in inverted pyramid organization. I ...
A: Normally the lead paragraph for a city council meeting would contain the news about the most ...
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| Follow-up Question | 9/16/2006 |
Q: Magoo, Thank you for response to my questions about media bias, your input was very helpful. I ...
A: Sure, Zach. Not a problem. My name is Joseph McCaffrey, I am 69 years old, and I worked for the ...
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| Media Bias | 9/13/2006 |
Q: Mr. Magoo: I am a high school journalist from Palo Alto, California and I am currently writing a ...
A: Zach: Bias has always been a problem, not among the working journalist, but among those who own ...
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| journalism | 8/17/2006 |
Q: i love reading articles from magazines, particularly those ones from the international section. i ...
A: You seem to be on the right track. Political Science is a must, so is American History, and some ...
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| Journalist | 8/9/2006 |
Q: I belong to Pakistan and a muslim by religion,i want to join a newspaper as a amature ...
A: I don't know what the hiring practices are of most newspapers, but I would assume that most of them ...
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| writing a column | 6/28/2006 |
Q: I am getting ready to launch a new column concerning children's healthcare issues. My first ...
A: Tara: Wow! Your questions go way beyond my areas of experience. But being the true newspaperman I ...
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| Perverted Justice | 3/21/2006 |
Q: One man busted for trying to meet with a 12-year old girl (and sending photos of his genitals online ...
A: We all feel sorry for the wife and family of anyone who is arrested. Getting arrested is a traumatic ...
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| starting a news paper | 12/14/2005 |
Q: .im trying to start a newspaper in my little town...i dont really know what imdoing..i dont know ...
A: I can't answer you questions in a few words, because if I answer a few of them, you will undoubtedly ...
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| small town reporter | 11/29/2005 |
Q: I am a 22 year old writer, at my first out of college job with a small town newspaper. There's a lot ...
A: Shelly: There is no easy answer to your question. If you are starting on a small paper, which is ...
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| Demise of SPY magazine | 11/28/2005 |
Q: Forgive me, but your pseudonym prompts me to pose a second question which I herewith submit prior to ...
A: Like you, I enjoyed Gerald McBoingBoing. I was dismayed that his career was so brief. But take ...
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| Submitting articles | 11/18/2005 |
Q: I have written an article containing some unique tips about job interviewing. I would like to submit ...
A: You haven't told me how you want to present this article. Is it as an op-ed piece, a letter to the ...
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| how to make it in the real world | 11/5/2005 |
Q: I write for an award-winning high school newspaper - the best in the city. I really love writing & ...
A: There is no "one size fits all" answer to the questions you ask. But I'll try to answer some of ...
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| Media | 10/31/2005 |
Q: Do you think that the media is more out to entertain or inform the general public?
A: Your question is too broad for a simple answer. I, as a former newspaperman, don't really feel ...
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| Libel question | 9/26/2005 |
Q: I run a website dedicated to publishing news about a cult film that's in production right now. I ...
A: Here's a definition of Libel from dictionary.com. Read it carefully, and decide if what you did fits ...
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| Travel Writing and Ebooks | 8/7/2005 |
Q: I am going to China soon, doing some budget travelling. I have an apartment there as a base, and ...
A: If you want to be a travel writer, I suggest you contact the editors of the newspapers or magazines ...
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| Question about disinformation | 7/7/2005 |
Q: I am Japanese student 18. I am writing paper about problems of media with reporting. I have a ...
A: "Disinformation," as I understand it, is lies and false information. No reputable journalist would ...
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| college degree | 7/5/2005 |
Q: I am about to attend community college soon for the first 2 years and then transfer to a state ...
A: The most useful advice I can give someone in your position is to develop your writing skills. I ...
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| My Interview | 5/21/2005 |
Q: I'm 36 with no prior newspaper experience. However, an editor has agreed to see me based on my ...
A: Most editors I know, myself included, would give you a one-day "tryout." They would bring you into ...
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| Getting Local Interest story published | 3/28/2005 |
Q: Can you please tell me about the process of getting a local interst story in a paper and tips for ...
A: There are no magic formulas. However, there are several things you should remember. Primarily, the ...
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| Writing a newspaper column for syndication | 2/15/2005 |
Q: I have written a newspaper column that is targeted at metropolitan newspaper readers. I have put ...
A: You have undertaken a project that most newspaper men and woman dream about. I congratulate you for ...
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| Protocol | 2/1/2005 |
Q: I have asked an editor of a newspaper if they could write a letter of recommendation for an ...
A: In my opinion, if the editor refused your request, he was acting properly and wisely. If I were ...
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| Lit magazine | 1/26/2005 |
Q: Hey, I'm considering publishing a lit magazine at my high school. Since that sort of thing costs ...
A: Your scheme to get readers to look at the ads is a clever one, and might just work. I never sold ...
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| Newsletter editor | 12/27/2004 |
Q: These questions are concerning a newsletter for an organization, not a newspaper. What are the ...
A: First off, I would get a consensus among the people who want the newsletter as to exactly what they ...
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| "Underground" Newspaper | 11/16/2004 |
Q: Ok, so I'm extremely interested in starting an underground newspaper at my school. The only problem ...
A: Many years ago in the late 1970s when I was a reporter with the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, I ...
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| Re: Press Release | 11/6/2004 |
Q: Good day, Recently started a market research firm and have submitted more than 50 press releases to ...
A: If I could give you an answer to that question that was certain to work every time, I'd have to hire ...
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| more focused questions... | 10/23/2004 |
Q: You've put things in perspective. I'm still not sure if the protagonist, John, is a magazine writer ...
A: How much do journalists get paid? That depends on where they work. I worked for a New York area ...
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| more focused questions... | 10/22/2004 |
Q: I'll more than likely have more questions later. And sorry about not being specific. I had a feeling ...
A: You want to write about a man whose profession is his identity, yet you don't really know enough ...
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| freelance journalism | 10/21/2004 |
Q: I've just started out ...or trying to start out as a freelance writer (on music) and have no idea ...
A: If you have a finished piece of work, you might first want to have someone evaluate it for you ...
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| Hi. I'm doing research on... | 10/21/2004 |
Q: I'm doing research on a comedy screenplay. I've written the first draft but I'm in the middle of a ...
A: Daniel: I'll be glad to help you. I worked for two major newspapers for a total of 28 years, some ...
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| Legals | 7/19/2004 |
Q: Why do newspapers have to publish Legals in their Classified sections?
A: Because they have to. Many legal procedures such as divorce proceedings require that some kind of ...
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| Editorial Content | 4/20/2004 |
Q: I am taking a Media Management class. I am working on a twenty page paper that needs to address "the ...
A: This kind of assignment is apparently designed to get you to think about who one publication differs ...
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| i want to work for international newspaper | 4/14/2004 |
Q: My name is ali . I am 23 years old and I study IT in NCC university in Tehran Iran. I want to work ...
A: First go to an English language library and get a copy of "Editor and Publisher," the weekly ...
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| Biased newspapers at elections | 3/26/2004 |
Q: Good day Mr. Magoo, I would like to know, whether there is a big American newspaper which supports, ...
A: You must be kidding. Either that or you're from another planet. Practically every newspaper in the ...
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| school underground newspaper | 3/11/2004 |
Q: my buddies and I are starting an underground newpaper at our school ( in maryland). We are aware of ...
A: I suggest you go to a bookstore and buy a copy of the Associated Press Style Book. That should give ...
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| Press Release | 2/1/2004 |
Q: I have a news release that is timely. I want it to go to my local newspaper (Raleigh News and ...
A: The answer to your question depends on what the news release is about. Is it about a new product? ...
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| press releases and publicity | 11/11/2003 |
Q: I have been a working, professional artist for over 20 years. I am now writing and self-publishing ...
A: Although my career was as a newspaper reporter, I will try to give you some advice on publicity, ...
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| Heirarchy structure in a newspaper office | 7/31/2003 |
Q: I'm a freelance writer and have worked with newspapers from time to time in the past. Right now I'm ...
A: In the newspapers I worked for, an investigative reporter would probably have reported to either the ...
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| Biased reporting | 5/18/2003 |
Q: Is it possible for a newspaper's editorial staff to be biased? Is there such a thing as right or ...
A: (A caveat: The views expressed here are those of a middle-age Liberal who worked for big east coast ...
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| Hi,
I would love to be involved... | 2/5/2003 |
Q: I would love to be involved in journalism in some form but lack any practical experience. To solve ...
A: Good question, Neil. One of the most basic, fundamental skills a journalist requires is the skill ...
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