Word Celebrity Blog

Here in the United States, we pride ourselves on the the belief that we have what is known as "Freedom Of  The Press". The word "Press" refers to the newspaper industry. It has often been called "The Fourth Estate". It is assumed that the press helps to keep our Government working in an honest, just, and non-partial. manner.

Most American citizens believe that if they see something printed in the newspaper, it must be true.  I ask you now: "Is it true?"

Before I explain to you what I have seen and know about the American press, I will give you some background information on how I gained this knowledge.

For over 30 years of my life I have worked in the newspaper  industry. I have worked in the newsroom as a reporter and/or photographer. I also have worked in the composing room as a linotype operator, make-up man, and proof reader. In those days, it was a common practice for newspaper people to move from one newspaper to another and then another. I have worked at most major newspapers in this country and others that were not known by people 50 miles away.

In those days, even a small town might have 2 newspapers and a city would have 4 or 5. the larger cities would have 3or 4 times as many newspapers. Today, many small town newspapers are printed in some distant town which prints various newspapers: a different one for each. Many cities have only 1, and those who have 2 or 3 newspapers, often they all have the same publisher,

With some variance, this is how it works.-

The reporter and photographer are assigned a story to cover. Often both of these responsibilities are done by one individual. The photographer takes pictures of what he or she thinks are pertinent to the story. The reporter takes notes on what he or she thinks are important. They then go back to the news room.

The photographs are given to the editor and the notes are given to a copy writer (some of the best reporters are allowed to write the story from their own notes). The finished story is then given to the editor who already has the photographs.

The editor chooses the photographs that they might use and reads the story. He takes a pen and marks out anything that he doesn't want in the story and writes what he wants included in the story. The story is sent back to the copy writer who rewrites it as the editor wants it to be, and sends it back to the editor.

The editor takes all of the important stories for that day, along with the possible photographs to the managing editor. The managing editor then makes decisions like this:
If they are going to publish the story
If the story is to be published, what photographs (if any) will be published.with it
What position on the page will the story be placed, and what page will it be on.
If he is unsure about a story, the managing editor will check with the publisher
If the publisher doesn't like the story, that is the end of it.

The stories are then sent to the composing room to be set in type and then the stories are put in the pages by a makeup printer according to the instructions of a makeup editor. If the story is too long to fit in the allotted space, The make up editor will delete a portion of the story in order to make it fit.

The newspaper is printed and delivered to you.

Let us follow the sequence of the truth and/or accuracy of the story:
1. There was a personal bias in what photographs were taken
2. There was a bias as to what notes were taken and what witnesses were interviewed
3. There was a bias by the editor as to what photographs might be used
4. There was a bias by the editor when he changed the wording of the story
5. There was a bias by the managing editor when he decided on the photographs and the story and what prominence they would have.
6. There was a bias when the makeup editor decided what to take out of the story.

The next time you hear someone say that it must be true because they read it in the paper. Just remember:
It might be true.... It might be partially true... It might be half true... or there is a chance it is a biased falsehood.

CLYDE