WHAT IS COPY?

Southland Times, Issue 21264, 10 December 1930, Page 8

WHAT IS COPY?

i NEWSPAPER TERMS «■ . ■ JUDGE AND COUNSEL . ■. ■ -DEBATE NO SOLUTION REACHED (Per United Press Association.) ; - Wellington, December 9. Mr Justice Blair and counsel debated for some time, during a hearing of a case in the Supreme Court to-day, in an endeavour to find suitable definitions for “editorial,” "article” and “copy.” “I can generally pick a leading article, from its position in the paper,” said Mr Justice'Blair. “They talk about ‘copy.’ What is .‘copy’?” Mr C. A. L. Treadwell: Articles, sir. His Honour: The generic term for anything that goes into the paper excepting advertisements is "copy.” Mr Treadwell: I am not quite sure that advertisements would not be called "copy” from a printer’s point of view. His Honour: What point of view are you talking about? Mr Treadwell: That is just the point. His Honour: Suppose they propose to change Wellington from 110 to 230 volts, you could write an editorial on it, but supposing there was a technical discussion about 110 and 230 volts that’s “copy.” ■ Mr Treadwell: That would be an article on the subject. ' His Honour: If the same person wrote it? Mr Treadwell: But written from a different point, of view. His Honour: What's the technical term? One is an editorial. What’s the other? Mr Treadwell: An article, sir. His Honour: Then suppose they interview the Mayor of the town and the Leader of the Opposition and ask them what they think about the change of voltage. What would that be? Mr Treadwell: An interview of leading citizens. His Honour: What’s the technical term? Mr Treadwell: I don’t know there is one except comprehensive expressions of "copy.” The subject then lapsed.