Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1948-07-15
And They Wonder
Why NeWSmen
Have Ulcers!


Did you ever awake from ter
riblc adventure in the Land of
Nod, in a sweat, shuddering a bit,
and thanking your lucky stars that
it was "only dream" and that
you weren't really being chased by
towering giant, or band Of can
nibals, or a tax collector?
Only if you've had this feeling
can you sympathize with a news
PAPER staff that publishes six
papers.
But on Thursday night, our
sweat is forgotten and it gives
way to sigh of relief. For the
last paper is through then, and all
so of us feel like we've lifted the
world over hump. We go home
tired, and possibly a little angry
that we had to call off that Thurs
day night date, or miss that favor
lite radio program. But underneath
all this lies a real feeling of ac-
complishment, of pride in a job
1--WE think well done,
Before that Thursday night
breathing spell rolls around,
though, there's a lot of rushing,
fussing, and cussing in and around
the offices and plant. 1t goes some
thing like this:
FRIDAY CHATS the first day Of
the week here)-We read the pa
pers, scan the mail, look over some
Of the pile of publicity releases
that come through the mail, and
overlook" the rest, take care Of
that "gotta-be-done-some-time' fig
ure work, and then begin to line up
stories for the next edition. In the
shop, the men take care Of our lob
work"
SATURDAY - straggler's day.
There's usually enough to keep a
couple of people busy until noon.
MONDAY and TUESDAY -
business is picking up. The phone
rings almost constantly as ads
come in, customers question their
bills, and mis-informed county
folk mistake the Office for the
County information center. Pic
lures are made into cuts, and the
men begin to set up the stories and
ads.
WEDNESDAY - beginning Of
the mad rush. Deadline day for all
news copy and ads on three papers,
Stats from other papers begin I'd
come in. Around 2 o'clock with.
luck) the Laurel News-Leader is
ready to run, and everyone feels
that we're on our way. The Elli3
colt City Times is ready to go at
a, but before then, any of NUM-
her of things can, and usually do,
20 wrong. Shop men work until 10
P. M. or later; report back at s
A. M.
THURSDAY = the pressure's
really on. Anything that didn't go
wrong on Wednesday goes wrong
today. By now, the building is a
madhouse. The Gainesville Herald
Argus is addressed and mailed out
the first thing in the morning.
Then, work begins on the Mont
gomery County Sentinel. This ones
Il headache, because four page SEE
tons usually have To be hand
inserted. When that's through, the
Community News staff gets set,
giowering at those happy editors
M1o have finished their papers.
The Community Press, the last of
the let, is finished any time be-
tween G;30 and 10; sometimes W.
run IL off the first thing on Friday.
BY this time, everyone is tired,
but also relieved. Glad because
we've finished \ job and done it
well. Usually around then, when
everybody is feeling pretty good,
the phone rings.
whats that, madam? You're
cancellng your subscription be-
cause we neglected TO list the Off
GERS Of your club on the front
page?"
humble, grumble. humble! And
they wonder why newsmen have
ulcersl
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