In the following text, we cover the major points of assembling a picture story. NUMBER  OF  PICTURES The  number  of  pictures  required  to  make  up  a picture  story  depends  on  the  importance  and  complexity of the subject. However, an odd number of photographs should  be  used  in  a  double-truck  layout.  The  term double  truck,  also  called  a  centerfold,  is  used  for  a two-page layout made up as one page, with the “gutter,” or normal margin between the two pages, eliminated. LEAD AND LAST PICTURE The most important picture of any picture story is the  one  that  opens  the  story  —  the  lead  picture.  This picture has a double function. First, it must attract the reader’s attention and make that person want to know more about the subject. For that reason it should be the largest in your picture story. Second, it must show the subject   and   theme   of   the   story   in   a   graphically interesting form. Almost as important as the lead picture is the last picture. The closing picture should show the reader the significance of the subject to the storyline or theme. BODY OF THE STORY The  body,  which  shows  important  scenes  of  the subject  in  action,  must  be  varied  and  lively  in  visual rendition and presentation. To provide this variety and liveliness in a story, the photographer should start with a  good  script,  excellent  change  of  pace  in  coverage techniques  and  a  quick  eye  for  unexpected  develop- ments during actual shooting. By careful study of major picture  magazines,  photographers,  as  well  as  layout artists, can gain a great deal of insight into the type of pictures being used in picture story assignments. PICTURE  DIRECTION Some photographs, because of their compositional direction,  are  natural  right-hand  or  left-hand  photo- graphs. This means that the photograph is a natural to be used on the right or left side of a page, photo display or picture layout. Picture stories are viewed in the same manner in which we read, from left to right. Therefore, the lead photograph should be one that has the subject facing   toward   the   viewer’s   right   and   the   ending photograph   facing   toward   the   viewer’s   left.   When possible,  all  lead  and  ending  photographs  should  be taken twice: once with a left-hand direction and again with a right-hand direction. By duplicating these shots, you  provide  flexibility  for  layout.  All  photographs  have direction: left, right, upward, downward, straight in or straight out of the page. HEADLINES, CUTLINES AND TEXT Headlines, cutlines and text have double functions. First,  they  give  the  reader  facts  that  supplement  the pictures editorially. Second, they serve graphically as elements  of  composition  that  contribute  to  the organization  of  the  picture  story. PROOFREADING LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the purpose of proofreading newspaper galley proofs and recognize  the  standard  proofreader’s  marks. Proofreading is one of the final steps in the printing process   (from   the   standpoint   of   the   JO,   not   the publisher). After the publisher has typeset your copy, you will receive the initial copies of your typeset stories. These copies  are  called  “galley  proofs,”  “galleys”  or  just  plain “proofs.”  The  galley  proof  name  originated  in  the printing profession many years ago. Proofs of long rows of type came direct from the “galleys,” or trays, in which the type sits until makeup time at the printshop. WORKING WITH GALLEY PROOFS Your  job  is  to  read  through  the  galley  proofs  — every word and every punctuation mark — to make sure there are no errors and that they conform to the original copy. If an error is found, it will be connected at the expense of the publisher (in a commercial printshop). However, the cost of any changes in the original copy must be borne by your command, since they result in extra  work  for  the  publisher. In photo-offset printing, you are likely to be given the   complete   paste-ups   of   pages   (publisher’s reproducible,  sometimes  called  repros)  for  proof- reading. Proofreading is usually done by all members of the newspaper staff and printshop personnel. The reason is obvious; checking the content of your publication is part of your job. 8-29