Since the offices have switched to running a morning edition paper (with an 11 p.m. deadline) six weeks ago, the environment was rather subdued and serene, which made for a much more intimate experience than it might have been, had the presses been up and running to meet the out the door deadline.
Steve Lundeberg led the tour throughout the editorial offices, and production centers, showing students the entire process of putting the paper together. From typing up the stories, running off the production plates and printing through the press, all the way to packing and binding for distribution.
Seeing first hand how much paper is used in the printing process, approximately 900 lbs and 7 miles of paper (unrolled end to end) per day, questions come to mind regarding not only the viability of continuing a print edition, but also along the lines of ecological sustainability.
In the editorial conference room, a month's worth of papers decorates the wall, charting the sales and income each edition generated, to help staff better understand not only what is economically viable, but also what readers enjoy seeing in terms of content. The Democrat-Herald has it's volumes archived back through 1900, which stands as a testament to the paper's heritage.
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