ABSTRACT
The number of would-be recruits who indicate that they are interested in journalism because they like to write must be one of the greatest frustrations of any news training manager's life. Of course, being able to write is one of the skills a reporter needs, though good contacts and an ability to find stories are often valued more highly. But news writing is not creative writing. It can require creativity but it also requires discipline, and this is where grammar comes in. Would-be journalists with a poor grasp of grammar and spelling should invest in a good guide to the topic and be prepared to do some work. Computers have taken some of the drudgery out of checking spelling and grammar, but they are not reliable and they don't fully compensate for an ignorant or careless writer. Journalists use the active voice whenever possible. The active (as opposed to the passive) voice puts the agent ahead of the action.
