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Tricks of the Trade: Learning the Newspaper Business
"Last Saturday Larry Williams Jr. went down to the EVENING STAR alone and watched the big presses turn over. He was the city editor's guest…He showed how they made stencils out of lead. To get the eight presses working and ready to print papers for the city took fifteen minutes, and only two seconds for each section to come through the presses."
The Thornapple Street News November 14, 1931. CCHS 1989.27.01. The Chevy Chase children's newspapers were not merely ways to have fun. The young reporters took their work seriously and put a tremendous amount of effort into producing their newspapers each week. They gathered news stories, chose content, produced the newspaper and distributed it throughout the local community and beyond. Through this process they gained valuable skills in inquiry, interpersonal communication, social skills, decision making and meeting deadlines.
Reporting
Editing
Production
Distribution
Reporting
"We wish that people's children would not bite the reporters when they come to get news. It is bad enough to be bitten by dogs sometimes."
The Thornapple Street News, December 10, 1932. CCHS 1989.27.01.
“We visited Mr. Fishburn and asked him the news around the house. He replied "Well it's a beautiful evening and some beautiful children and a dog Samantha have come to visit me. Also there is a good show on TV"…We all think he is a very nice man. He has lived here probably the longest of anybody.” The Shepherd Street News, July 29, 1972. CCHS 1989.27.01. "REMEMBER…SUGGESTIONS, RECIPES, CROSSWORD PUZZLES, LETTERS TO THE EDITORS AND JOKES, RIDDLES AND SAYINGS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE ANY THING THAT YOU ESPECIALLY WOULD LIKE PRINTED IN THE LELAND STREET SUNDAY NEWS, PLEASE PREPARE IT AHEAD OF TIME AND GIVE IT TO THE EDITORS OR CALL THEM UP AND TELL THEM. THANK YOU." The Leland Street Sunday News, March 23, 1975. CCHS 2010.1015.02.
Given their limited amount of time and actual page space available, the young reporters had to make decisions about what to place in their paper. The newspapers were first and foremost an opportunity for the children to have their interests and voices heard.
"America has joined in with the League of Nations to try to stop a war between Japan and China. Nobody here wants war any more, and we hope the other countries don't."
The Thornapple Street News, October 17, 1931. CCHS 1989.27.01.
Reporting on such a diverse range of issues required honesty on the part of the reporters and taught them discernment in which stories would be appropriate for their newspaper. For the most part, however, they seemed to follow the wise words of Leonard Williams, recorded in 1975:
"Print only good news, stay out of politics, and have a good time!"
An Interview with Leonard Williams, The Leland Street Sunday News,
March 16, 1975. CCHS 2010.1015.02.
Click next to learn how the newspapers were produced!
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