Originally Posted by McBeat on Delphi
I'll cut this absurd argument off as someone in the field.
Each paper has its own style, which is usually a slightly modified version of associated press style. What is "style?" It's a uniform code of word usage in newspapers with the goal of making the work:
1. Totally accurate.
2. Totally clear to anyone with a high school education.
3. As tight as can be, given No. 1 and No. 2.
4. Inoffensive, unless there is an overriding reason, central to a significant news story, to include potentially offensive words or concepts.
(the above from http://www.usu.edu/journalism/facult...sources/ap.htm)
AP issues a new stylebook every year. That is mostly adhered to by most papers and additional styles are on issues that are local and, as a result, not covered by AP's book.
What is "name" style based on? Generally on a mix of proper name and common usage. At our paper, our style is to refer to McNeese as McNeese State in first reference, then McNeese in subsequent references (as a general guideline, but not a rule, we shy away from MSU, because there are so many MSUs). In what I consider a quirk, we call LSU LSU on first reference. I disagree with it, but the argument is that LSU is so commonly called LSU, that using "Louisiana State" would only be cumbersome. Our style is to call UL University of Louisiana, then ULL because, well, that's what people call it. We avoid just saying "Lafayette" because there is a Division I school by that name.
If something is submitted for publication in a paper, the understanding is it will be edited to conform to that paper's style for the sake of consistency.
I think Louisiana - Lafayette or ULL is what it's called in every Louisiana paper outside of Acadiana proper. And for certain, it's the News-Star's style. The only thing the News-Star is guilty of is a poor edit of Dan's Advertiser story to make it conform to the News-Star's style.
I'm sure he's not offended. If I was asked to string a story for the Advertiser and I had a reference in the story to University of Louisiana and they changed it to "UL" I wouldn't care one bit.
Hope that helped.