It’s hard not to reminisce about the “good old days” when you worked at a newspaper for more than 20 years. Many of the memories and feelings I fondly retain from my “newspapering” career came flooding back in reading Ken Steinhoff’s ode to The Palm Beach Post.
A former photographer at The Post, Steinhoff recalls the “glory days” and uses his camera to chronicle the last days of the newspaper’s production department, which it has since farmed out to another publication as a cost-cutting move.
It’s sad to think how often this process has been repeated recently in newspapers across the nation. I’m glad that Steinhoff took the time to preserve in pictures the work of the dedicated backshop crew members who always made our work in the newsroom stand out for our customers.
My eternal gratitude goes to the folks of the press and production departments of the Corvallis Gazette-Times and Albany Democrat-Herald, including Dale J., Dave P., Don S., Mike V., Wally J., Ken W., Bob J. …
See also:
- Videos on the demise of the Seattle P-I and Rocky Mountain News.
- Veneta, Junction City papers shut down
-rp-
Rob,
Thanks for the kind words. I think you have to have worked in a newspaper before you can appreciate the sounds, smells and low-frequency rumble that comes out of a press room.
I still watch(ed) in fascination when one roll of newsprint runs out and a flying paste is done on the next roll.
The web may be where it's at these days, but little electrons flying around will never evoke the same feelings as the Big Iron Monster gobbling up trees at one end and spitting out papers at the other.
We oldtimers may be dinosaurs, but the dinosaurs had a hell of a run while they lasted.
Ken,
I love seeing the look on the faces of young people when they tour the newspaper and see the presses, especially when they are running off the next edition. If only we could bottle and put to work that sense of wonder and fascination! It truly is something to behold, and to lament its passing.
rp