Making News

"A free press, like a free life, sir, is always in danger."
--Ed Hutcheson (Deadline U.S.A.)

When my dad wrote for the Cincinnati Enquirer, the paper would host annual employee family days. As I recall, they took place about this time of year. Families could tour the Enquirer Building and learn how newspapers were made.

My greatest recollection is the basement--where the printing presses ran. Press operators folded hats out of newpaper pages and gave them to the kids. I also recall those linotype machines used for arranging letters on letterpress printing plates. An entirely new set of  metal plates in high relief type had to be made daily to fit the content. I remember thinking how much work went into producing newspapers each day.

The above figure sketches production flow for the Washington Evening Star (1852-1981). Not terribly different than the Enquirer layout. Even the sports department's position, which as I recall from visiting my dad now and then on the sixth or seventh floor, was in about the same place.

The integrated approach to news and newspaper production has generally given way to a virtual model. Formerly in-house steps in the process--ad sales, reporting, printing, etc--are often outsourced. And, of course, newsprint has yielded to digital media.

A primary risk of outsourcing is loss of control. Loss of control--in cost, quality, key resource access, etc--can be the kiss of death strategically as commitments that define competitive position are relieved.

It seems of little surprise, therefore, that as the self-contained production process of newpapers has dwindled, so has the independent, objective nature of the product.

And with it, the relevance of the institution.