FOR 35 YEARS, our Goss seven unit press has been our faithful friend. It has printed millions of papers in those years and, most importantly, it only missed two days of printing (the two editions were printed at Junction City.) This brings our record to 114 years of not missing a day of publishing The Emporia Gazette, which is rather incredible when you think of the odds.
But today the press will roll out its last issue. Printing technology has pushed our equipment to its limits, and it was time to make a change. Tomorrow we will start using the printing facilities in Lawrence to print the Gazette. We will all miss the smell of ink and paper and hearing the sound of the press running. The hum and vibration the press sent through the building was such a comforting, peaceful sound.
We will miss our old friend but we welcome tomorrow with great optimism.
If the press could only talk the stories it would tell…
Chris Walker
Editor & Publisher
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Nice editorial, Mr. Walker; reminds me of similar editorial about retiring an old and fatithful printing machine written by WAW, included in the book "Home Town News" by Sally Foreman Griffith. Refer to page 73, THE OLD PRESS.
August 31, 2009 at 9:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justasking (anonymous) says...
Sooo, 'our old friend' the press will be silent. Just asking how many other 'old friends' might be unemployed as the result of shutting the press down? Shutting down the press is an unfortunate sign of the times. Adding numbers to the counts of those who have lost jobs is the true sadness.
September 1, 2009 at 9:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
justasking,
Sure, but those papers are going to have to get to Emporia somehow, correct? That means there will be someone employed to drive them from Lawrence to Emporia. We'll also need someone in town to unload them for local distribution.
Once the driver from Lawrence get here, they'll probably have to fill-up their tank and maybe get a bite to eat before driving back to Lawrence. Sounds like it'll create/support at least 2 jobs!
Also, upgrading to new printing technology is hardly a "sign of the times". If this was an indication of poor economic times, the Gazette wouldn't invest in changing the format and technology. Instead, they'd just continue printing on the outdated press until it broke and/or we got left behind by other technologies. Now THAT would be a sign of poor times. The fact the Gazette is able to adapt is a good sign in my opinion.
'enry
September 1, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )