Milford chronicle., 1953-10-02
EVER STOP TO THINK WHO MAKES
TODAY'S NEWSPAPER?

Did you ever stop to consider what it
takes to produce even the smallest news
paper? -
moment On a smaller weekly newspaper
he likely is not only the editor and publisher
of the newspaper, but the adman, job print
er, Linotype operator, press feeder, circula-
ton manager and bOOkkeeper, and perhaps
the photographer He is a Jack-Of-all-t
if ever there was one. On a larger weekly
he is relieved of some of those duties, but
never all of them-for he has to fill in many
times in numerous places. His job parallels
that of the editor of small daily.
But don't think for a moment that the
publisher of the large daily is a One-niche
man. While he may be freed Of a lot of the
chores of the publisher of a smaller news
paper he faces a multitude of problems not
common to the little man. Once you cross a
certain line in the publishing business, you
face the big problems of employee relations,
labor unions, mass distribution, newsprint
shortages, and greater and greater civic re-
sponsibility.
Newspapering has become complicated
profession. The editor must be able to sense
the public pulse, evaluate the news, and relay
the events of the day to the reader in such
a manner that he will fully understand what
is taking place at home and throughout the
pret the news, advise on matters of local
concern and stand up for the peoples rights.
He must "knOw something about everything
and4eVeFything about something lat
ter being the newspaper business.
1t is his duty, alsO to display the news
in his publication in such a manner, typo
graphically, as to attract the readers eye
to the more important news. At the same
time, he must not Overplay an unimpOrtant
event; or underplay an important happen
ing He weighs the news as carefully as
the butcher weighs the meat or the grocer
the apples, or the filling station attendant
measures the gasoline. Did you ever stop
to think of that?
What about the adman? Did you know
that he probably spent several years in
learning to plan ads that would appeal tC
you as a reader, sell merchandise for you as
an advertiser, and bring buyer and seller to-
gether? Did you know that he studied mer
chandising, layout, cOpywriting, selling-anC
continues to study those things-sO that he
can advise intelligently on advertising anC
can be a merchandising counselor, so tC
speak?
Do you realize that the reporter must bt
a person of broad training, with a great
knowledge Of many things? Did you evel
stop to think of the multitude of assignments
he covers? Of the complicated subjects he i!
called upon to report?
Sit down some day and try to write {
story about meeting you attended. For ex
ample, the city council, the medical society
the bar, the ministerial alliance the PTA
Ever try to write up a trial. football game
a drowning, a funeral, a fair or festival
all in the same day? That's fair sample Of
the reporters job. Oftentimes, in addition
he has to cover the police station, the city
hall, the court house, the chamber of com
merce-and write feature about the big
gest melon, or the smallest midget, or tn,
newest automobile. It's fun. No doubt abOu
that. And you meet the finest people, tn,
worst people, the prettiest, the zaniest-al
those who make life what it is. That is tn
reporters jOb-bringing you life as it is
for he is the mirror of all that happens.
There are society reporters, police re
pOrters, sports reporters, feature writers
each with separate tasks to perfOrm-ol
the larger newspapers. On most of the small
er publications the reporter does it all-lik
a aone-man band.
Writing a story is one Job. Getting
into print is another. Enter now the me
chanics of publishing newspaper.