[It has been my privilege and honor to occasionally serve as substitute editor for our fine local journal, The Herald. Here is a fascinating look at the daily rhythm of the editor’s work week. The regular staff never let me near the real controls, but I was close enough to say that the routine hasn’t changed all that much in the last 80 years. Like print media everywhere, The Herald is constantly in crisis mode due to the volatility of the media world, but I’m still betting that they will figure out a way to still be here, and still be relevant, when 2074 rolls around. SB SM]
Serving the Communities of Vermont’s White River Valley Since 1874
This photograph shows Luther B. Johnson, left, and Jack Drysdale in front of The Herald building, circa 1945. (Herald Archives)
In 1945, Jack Drysdale purchased The Herald from its illustrious publisher Luther B. Johnson. Johnson had presided over the paper—then called The Herald and News—since 1894 and over the prior five decades, he honed his craft week by week in the trenches of local reporting.
Drysdale, a dedicated newsman who came to Randolph from large paper in Springfield, Mass., asked Johnson to describe what went into getting The Herald out to press each week.
What follows is the content of Johnson’s note, which Drysdale handed down to his son, M.D. Drysdale, when he took over as Herald publisher. Found in a draw in Drysdale’s rolltop desk (once the desk of Vermont Gov. Stanley C. Wilson), the letter outlines how Johnson spent each day focused on the newspaper as of May 1945.
Week’s Schedule
Have everything cleaned up so as to start Monday morning at scratch. Monday—devoted mostly to writing editorial matters. Generally I have some theme in mind for one long headed editorial—right now I am carrying on “War observations,” which began at Pearl Harbor. The short notes I base mostly on state news or state exchange clippings made when I took them over. I head up all proofs taken on Monday. Usually this occupies the day. If I have time left and there are any local stories that I can write up, even if it takes an hour or two Monday evening at home, I do it. All so accomplished lets up on the peak load later. It also provides against shortage of copy on Tuesday, which sometimes happens. This essential to keep the work upstairs moving continuously.
Tuesday—In forenoon I read any proofs that come, with the first page heads and what time is left I put onto local work, either inside or on the street. In afternoon, I read all proofs that are ready before going out, usually about 2:30. I make the circuit, collecting locals—sometimes I don’t get entirely around. Return to office by 5 p.m. and immediately read up all the proofs that have accumulated, so they can proceed to complete the first section makeup, usually finished by 6 p.m. They take a proof of it before leaving. In evening I look over first section proof, then dig in writing up my local news notebook. (I keep this with me always and jot down items I hear of or that occur to me during the week, besides those collected on my rounds.) Tuesday evening, if there is any phoning to do I do it early, as people don’t like to be disturbed much after 9 o’clock. I write up everything I can and prepare local copy that has been placed in drawer & not yet prepared.
Wednesday—As soon as I have given things (including mail matters) the once-over, I read up the proofs set the night before and others as they come down, till all are cleared. Rest of forenoon goes in on local news follow-up. In afternoon it’s more time on locals, proof reading and late in the afternoon I write the news column, read the final proofs for the first edition of second section—and go to supper, usually a little late. In the evening, I do the last raking after on the local news, complete the writing up and call it a day! (I’m not mentioning the makeover, which the boys are doing, for the second edition).
Thursday—First is reading the proofs for Randolph edition matter. I have then helped Maude on the makeup but she can do it alone if there is time. (Usually there is a very little late local news to set Thursday morning, but keep it down.) Look over the section first proof and let ’er slide.
The rest of the day I work rather leisurely, but find plenty to do catching up odds and ends, going through the letter drawer, answering letters, lining up the live advertising matter and left-over news matter (if any) for coming week. I do not stop to write any but urgent letters until Thursday, when I have more time to do it. I like to get the desk clear Thursday p.m.
Friday should generally be quite an easy day, but one Friday in the month the bills are drawn. These I supervise. First, I look over the card charges for the month after they are carried out by the bookkeeper, to see they are correct. Then, after the bills are drawn, I glance these over before they are mailed. (Sometimes a few of them are held up for various reasons.) Every Friday, or Thursday if there is time, I check with the bookkeeper from the week’s issue to see that the ads are all entered, and in order to keep the run of that business. The second Friday in the month I personally collect most of the local ad bills—it pays to “see ‘em.” One of the Friday forenoon jobs is figuring up the prospective payroll for the week, allowing cash to meet it, making the weekly P.O. deposit ($10) for newspaper postage, and visiting the bank. Edna has assembled the checks & M.O.’s, and signed them, which is quite a help. I usually do the rest of it. Another job for Friday to get enough first page and state news copy ready so that Clifford will have a column or two to set when he comes in Saturday morning.
Saturday—with things well cleared up Friday, this ought not to be a hard day, but somehow I have found enough to keep busy on. Copy for first page and state news must be added, sufficient to get up four or five galleys, and I have usually read the proofs of them. I have generally ordered the club papers late Saturday afternoon. If there are special things to be looked up or written up I try to do them on Friday or Saturday, or sometimes I do a little recreating, but plan to leave things so the work will go along while I am gone. I feel more at ease with everything cleared up Saturday night.
Sunday—I [collect the mail and] go over it [and] clear the decks for the coming week.
Edna commonly pays off and gives the receipts, but on Thursday noon, if this is going to delay her for her usual early dinner, I pay those who finish them for the week (Maude and the mailing boy). My dinner hour at home is about 12:30, and by then they know what their time will be. If they don’t, it will be so late that Edna will be back and can attend to it.
Luther B. Johnson