Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1958)
Th* IfnttnUnn + Cn/l+fi* Station (Urns** Ctmntr). Tern* FACE S I Phishing Newspaper Is No Easy Task Jt*'j ••*£.: COiifCI f •''t'wBflS ay 4 * * 0 i ) p / / »* ♦ Tip rom«»H In On* reporter coming: up. Executive News Editor Gayle Me N"11 tells a tipstu who report* a meetinj{ Umg held by %i\es of ail-senior Company C Compocite. McNutt dis- jn.tehe-* a reporter to cover the meeting:. By GAYLE McNlTT A newspaper may he compared to a mirror—a mirror *o larjre that it reflects not a single imape but a picture of the entire world. The newspaper must know what is happening through- out the world and from this vast collection of news, select that which will l>e interesting to its particular readers. Thus the newspai>er is a source of knowledge, of enter tainment—an up-ti>-date ledger of the living W(»r!d in which humanity exists. To gather, select and report the news is a tremendous task and a task of many aspects. A single story must go through a dozen or more processes before it finally appears in print l>efore the public. . On this page, told in pictures, is a glimpse of what hap pens to a routine news item that is reported to The Battalion. Usually the tip is taken by one of the editors, who in turn assigns a reporter to cover the event. When the re- l>orter has completed his story, it is handed to a news editor, who corrects mistakes and checks for accuracy and com pleteness. The headline is written and the story goes to the make-up editor who assigns it a jKisition on the page The story is given a final okay by the editor who as signed it and it is ready to “go to press,” or in simpler terms, to be set in type. When copy goes to press, it is first set in type from the molten lead of a linotype machine When the complete story has l»een set. a proof (called a galley-proof) is taken and checked by a proofreader to correct any typographical errors l >efore it is placed with other stories of the day in a "chase.” or metal frame, in which the copy is locked before the page I is placed on the press to lie printed. When all copy and pictures for a page are locked Into place, a proof sheet of the entire page is taken and checked I by news editors, to correct any final errors and eliminate any mistakes which may have occurred in making up the page. Only when these corrections are complete is the completed page placet! on the press. Then the presses ”roU” and as papers spin from the press, completely cut and folded, the circulation staff stands ready to count, bundle and deliver the finished product into dormitories and homes in the city. v' 4 A Imp ** nS R«*l>orter Take* Story And a pleasant task it is for Battalion News Editor I^wis Keddell as he takes notes on the meeting from (left to right) Eloise Bollfrass. Carolyn Tew and Leah King. During the interview, Keddell is careful to find out the complete details of the meeting so that he may give an accurate account of the meeting. He has learned from exper ience that the ability to inteniew la basic for reporting success. IT w 5 - -4J JL' i V x r 3 J h' 1-* ! * - u 4 - ONM Reporter W rite* Story Keddell returns to the Batt office with a good set of notes and write-* his story in a manner that is completf, concifl^ accurate and interesting m l.iu. Keaoy f or Freiw I^ist minute corrections are made on the page proof* prior to placing the page forms on the press. Making corrections are (left to right) Weeklev. Johnson. Sports Editor Bob A&M Press Shopman Jimmy Nuche and Sports Writer Tomny Keith Story Scheduled News Editor Johnny Johnson, working as make-up editor, dummies the story on page forms to be used by tne press make-up man in preparing the pages of lead-set typ« for printing After securing the executive news editor’s ap proval on the story, Johnson sends the copy to press. \ -.. L r ir M 'JN*'' its Story is fxlited News Editor Bill Keed edits Reddell’s story to be sure that no questions are left unanswered, that words are spelled correctly, that correct writing style is used, and write* a head for the story. , Presses Roll The. big moment of the newsman’s day has arrived—the paper is wrapped up and the jj -•-Lj l iV r? • • -.k *.1 t - Circulation Underway Battalion Circulation Manager Ray Hudson operates the addressing machine as he sends out the day’s mail sub scriptions. Meanwhile, other circulation men are busy de livering the Batts to dormitories and College Station homes—and another day’s work is done. presses roll. Finished copies of the Batt pour from the press onto the rack at right. Photo* Bv JOHN AVANT