Bulk Written

The bulk of the paper has been written by 6 p.m. edited and sent down to the university printing plant to be cast into type. But there are always evening meetings, lectures and sporting events. Reporters are assigned to attend these and return to the office to write their stories immediately afterwards.

Two members of the lower staff go to the printing plant about 9 p.m. to start reading proofs of the type which has been cast by the paper's two Linotype operators. One of the senior editors goes to the office about 10 p.m., edits the stories written during the evening and heads for the plant.

There, the professional compositor has cast the healines in lead, prepared the advertising which has been sold and designed by the business staff. He starts to put the type into place, following a tentative diagram which has been sent down from the office late in the afternoon.

The junior members of the staff continues to read the proofs and do other miscellaneous jobs while the senior editor works closely with the compositor, deciding on changes in layout where necessary.

The final hours each night are frantic, as the last two or three stories are telephoned directly to the plant and dictated to a staff member there. The early edition of the downtown morning paper is checked for possible stories involving the university which may not have come to the attention of the students. A final push goes on about 1 a.m., as proofs are taken of each page as it is completed.

The senior editor checks them for headline and composition errors and they are approved for printing. The printers start getting overtime at 1.30 a.m., but all too often that comes and goes before the work is done. A last-minute story, a particularly large amount of news space or other unforseen developments, can keep the staff there for an hour or more, but everything must be ready for the printers before the students leave.

The actual printing is done about 6 a.m., when two other members of the university press's staff report for work, and roll off the day's edition, ready for distribution.

One paper is out, but for the staff, rolling out of bed and running off to morning classes, the next deadline is less than 12 hours away.

This article was written by Mr . Sid Hurlburt, who is in New Zealand, studying for honours in Political Science. Sid is a Fulbright Scholar, and was formerly the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, the Syracuse Daily Orange. He has worked for the American Associated Press. At present Sid lives in Weir House.