Newa Agency Journalism: A Handbook by John Cardownie

The Global Vilage is becoming more a relaity these days; hence, news has become an important commodity the set-up. International market rules have to be obliged, international standards have to be taken into consideration, all for the sake of sales achievement and acceptance or to acquire credibility and to reach the larggest number of recipients. With it goes the important task of news agency journalists who have to play according the rules, anywhere, world-wide. The only weak link in the process is the dearth of special publications that 'say it all' to guide both career personnel and enthusiasts in news agency journalism, and this is more pronouncedly felt in the Third World.
The publication of News Agency Journalism: A Handbook by John Cordownie, and published by Friedrich-Ebert-Stidtung, in Bon, in 1988, is therefore timely and welcome. It is the first comprehensive book ever written in the subject, directed to the readers using the English language as their medium and also adaptable to other languages and cultures. I dare say that it is not only a tool, that one cannot do without but an asset to those who possess it!
Britisher John Cardownie, the writter, has responded well to the challenge of writing a practice-oriented handbook and training material. This lecturer of training courses for young journalists from Third World countries at the International Institute for Journalism in Berlin has a way of conveying his massage in a easy manner as if he is addressing the reader personally. The reader will certainly find most parts of the book refreshing because of the writter's witty and conversational style of writing, that can only come from conviction and long experience. And experience is of course the best weapon of any writer.
The handbook covers various angles of news agency journalism, giving the dos and don'ts, the ways and the hows. Lengthy explanations for exercises and examples support every topic discussed, a notable characteristic or the British educational trend. Cardownie opens the book with the highlight of the job, which, summarized, means that only a special kind of person can do it. If you work half-heartedly, you had better call it quits.
I have never found a book so generous with its tips and guides, so much so that every sentence is much appreciated. The contents are all about the every day work in a news agency journalist's life but with a little twist the distinguishes them from other journalists or writers. They include 'the art' in word economy, story construction, different approaches in writing the into, how to avoid confusion and a long valuable list that will be very helpful to those who get to know about it, and be one step ahead of the others. Words can trap you, no matter how clever you are at playing with them. News agency journalists, especially those who begin their communication careers in information departments, are advised to be careful and to apply word economy to improve their work. Few people realize this.
News agency journalists have an advantage over other writers, for example, fiction writers. In story contruction, all you need to do is to put together the collection of facts and information that you already have, to produce a plot. The key here is you must know what to say and think before putting your thoughts on paper. The explanation given by Cardownie justifies Cyril Connolly's view that literature is the art of writing something that will be understood immediately. 'The overriding requirement always', according to Cardownie 'is to present accurate news clearly'.
the handbook also brings into focus the difference between news agency journalists and newspaper journalists which may have been overlooked. In common, both deal with news but newspaper journalists work for a media publication with a specified readership, while news agency journalists do not. The differences are distinct in the way they work. Writing the intro is one of them. It shoud not be straight and dull. As the 5Ws and 1H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How) remain, news agency people can also make use of the skills which, as Cardownie puts it, were previously the sole province of newspaper journalist.
The handbook can be an eye-opener to many in the field of journalism and invaluable to those who are imvolved in news agency journalism. You can improve your skill or compare what your have been doing with what you are actually supposed to do.
If Cardowine emphasizes the importance of Internet, Tell, Hold, and Influence in news agency journalism, he has certainly made use all these elements himself. His direct explainations enable one to understand his message clearly. His wit and humour entertain you even on the most crucial subject or sensitive areas that deal with the human ego.
For the first effort, the publication of the handbook, has gone beyond one's expectations. Cardowine's handbook is not only an invaluable primer for news agency journalists, it is also a useful 'how-to-do' book for all those involved in the field of journalism.