Exercise 8, Creative Editing for Print Media
Copy the following story to your Home drive using File|Save,
call it up in Word, edit it and print it out. Obviously, a major issue
is questions of libel, but also remember to edit for story structure
and AP style.
Mayor Dwight Smyth held a press conference yesterday afternoon at
3:30 P.M. at the City-county building in downtown Centerville. At the
press conference the mayor made known the the assembled press, various
city officials and interested public the identity of the
newly-appointed Director of the Office of Economic Development, whom
he selected from a list of three possibilities submitted to him by a
search committee. The person selected by the mayor is Mrs. Mary
Berryman, who has served in a similar capacity in the city of
Riverside.
During the press conference the mayor said "Mrs. Berry, is a
first rate organizer and planner and will do a first rate job for
Centerville citizens in her new post. Her appointment culmenates a six
month nation-wide search and the search committee couldn't be happier
with it's choice the major said. "We are indeed fortunete to have
a person of Mrs. Berrys statute join our city staff Mayor Smyth told
onlookers.
Mrs. Berryman is married to Reverend John Berryman, who is a
minister of a Baptist church in Riverside. Reverend John Berryman said
that his plans are uncertain now but that he hoped to relocate to
Centerville now that his wife has gotten this new job. Reverend John
Berryman has been pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Riverside for
the past 5 years. Before that time he was pastor of a church in
Lawrence. He graduate from Southwest Baptist Semenary in Ft. Worth,
Tex. in 1975.
Mrs. Berryman was one of 15 applicants for the job in a nation wide
search. She was one of three finalists whom was recommended by a
search committee appointed by the City Council last July 1991. The
search committee screened applicants, conducted interviews and
forwarded 3 names to Mayor Smyth, who made the final selection.
As economic development director, Mrs. Mary Berryman will over see
a staff composing two assistant directors and three clerical workers.
The office is charged with bringing new businesses and industry to
Centerville to help increase job opportunities and to broaden the
cities' tax base. Mary, a youngish looking grandmother, wore a black
dress and long gold earrings for today's ceremony. She used crutches
during her introduction because she is recovering from a broken leg
which she received last month.
She will move to Centerville from Riverside where she held the
position of assistant economic development director for the past 2
years. She has over ten years of experience in municiple financial
planning and economic development. She earned a masters degree in
public administration in 1980. Mrs. John Berryman replaces Sam Spade
in her new post. Spade left the office 6-months ago after ten years on
the job. He now has a similiar position in Podunk.
"Frankly, the office is in a financial mess and has been for
the past ten years or so" Mayor Smyth said this morning during
the announcement ceremony. "The city has spent a bundle on
auditers but we still are unable to account for all the money that
went through that office during Sam's tgenure, the mayor said.
"Mary will be a careful and honest administrater" the mayor
said.
Due to financial accounting problems in Centerville and several
other cities in the state in recent years, legislation has been
introduced in the state legislature which will require anual audits of
all city funds in cities throughout the state.
Mrs. Berryman, an articulate black woman, answered questions from
newsmen after she was introduced at the press conference. She inferred
that she has all ready began efforts to attract a major manufacturer
to Centerville. She said that farther meetings with the firm, that she
declined to name, were scheduled for later this month. "I know
that my predecessor was involved in some questionable financial
dealings with city funds, but let me assure the citizens of
Centerville that every penny will be accounted for while I'm in
charge" Mrs. Berryman told newsmen. Berry said that as one of her
first changes in the office, she planned to institute new computer
software to facilitate bookeeping in the office.
Mrs. Berryman is a member of the National City Planners
Association, the Women's Christian Temperence Union, and the National
Organization of Women. City workers were disappointed that they did
not get a free lunch yesterday. Original plans called for Mrs.
Berryman to meet with city workers at a noon picnic in the park next
to the City-County Bldg. but colder temperatures forced cancellation
of the picnic. It will be re-scheduled in the Spring.
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