CHAPTER VIII
FOLLOW UP AND REWRITE STORIES
News Possibilities. The possibilities contained in
a piece of news are seldom completely exhausted by
the first story published concerning it. Causes, results,
and significant phases many times cannot be ascertained
when the first story is written. New facts sometimes
develop from hour to hour, and very frequently from
day to day. It is the constant aim in newspaper making
to give in each edition the latest possible phase of every
important event. Accordingly, news stories must be
rewritten or must be given new leads as often as the
character of the latest news warrants it. A story is
worth rewriting or following up as long as it is likely
to be of interest to any considerable number of readers.
Even when it is evident that the first story contains all the significant facts and that additional details cannot be obtained, the first story may, nevertheless, have sufficient interest to deserve a rewriting by papers which have not as yet had an opportunity to publish the news that it contains. A new feature is sought for in the first story, and this feature, when played up in the rewritten story, gives it a new turn. New significance, likewise, may be given to the event in the rewritten story by looking at it from a different point of view or by showing its relation to other events. Probable causes, possible results, or striking coincidences may be "played up" as new features. Often the next development can be anticipated to bring the rewrite up to the time of going to press. Imagination
