Transcript
Morning Paper
Link: http://film.britishcouncil.org/morning-paper
Timecode
00:27
Dialogue
English Voiceover
With news pouring in from all over the world in the stirring days in
which we live, the British people read their papers more than ever.
On the way to work, in trains, tube, and omnibus, the news is
being studied and opinions freely formed. Britons are inveterate
newspaper readers, in their own homes or in public libraries. The
morning survey of events, at home and abroad, is to them almost
a ritual. How is the news collected for all these newspaper
readers? For all these men and women, how is the news printed,
published, and distributed?
01:05
English Voiceover
First go to Fleet Street, for the Fleet Street area is the home of the
London press. In newspaper buildings, the day staff still use their
pre-war offices above ground. Into these offices pour items of
news from all quarters.
01:26
Various Voices
You’re through / Thomas speaking / Hello / (etc)
01:32
English Voiceover
At the daily editorial conference the layout of the paper is
arranged and the relative importance of the news items weighed.
What might be termed the ‘memory’ of a newspaper office is the
Intelligence Department. Here, doubtful facts are checked and
information gathered on widely different subjects.
01:50
Man
Hello? Yes?
01:52
English Voiceover
Even in wartime advertising has its part to play. The crossword
puzzle has a whole department to itself.
02:03
English Voiceover
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02:03
Here in the Art Department, the staff are responsible for the layout
and the presentation of the illustrations.
02:11
English Voiceover
The words “newspaper office” conjure up before all else the
reporters’ room. Here it is, but not at all how it is sometimes
represented in the films. Hard work, certainly, but no hustle. From
its correspondence all around the globe, and from world famous
news agencies, reports and messages pour in.
02:37
English Voiceover
Meanwhile, the leading article is being discussed by the editor
and his leader writer. The sub-editors check and revise all written
material as it comes in from reporters and correspondents. All the
staff have their minds on their jobs, for on the roof above their
spotters keep a lookout for enemy planes.
02:59
English Voiceover
As evening comes, lights flash throughout the offices to warn the
staff that it’s blackout time and windows must be darkened.
03:10
English Voiceover
Now, the night staff comes onto work and at this time of day are
accommodated below ground. The fire squad make sure
everything is in readiness to deal with incendiary bombs. Always a
danger, even in peacetime, fire is particularly menacing in a
newspaper building, where tons of paper are required to produce
a single issues of a national newspaper.
03:40
English Voiceover
Besides its fire squad, some papers have their own Home Guard
to protect the building.
03:49
English Voiceover
Also below ground, the leader writer works, and his copy is one of
the last items to be finished. The written copy comes to men
working at type-composing machines. A combination of typewriter and foundry, they cast the metal type in column, which are
then made up into forms or pages.
04:12
English Voiceover
Here are the forms. These have to be hammered flat, and then
locked into position in their iron frames.
04:38
English Voiceover
2
04:38
Then a proof of the page is printed and carefully checked. All this
composing and checking must be finished by nine o’clock so that
the waiting presses can start running at 9:20. This enables the
first edition to catch the first newspaper train, the ten o’clock from
Marylebone.
04:56
English Voiceover
No raid yet.
05:03
English Voiceover
Newspapers are not printed direct from type because speed is so
essential. Printing from a cylinder is much more rapid. An
impression of the pages of type is therefore made on Papiermâché, which is trimmed and curved before going to the foundry.
05:38
English Voiceover
Here, for the purpose of rotary printing, a semi-circular metal plate
is cast of each page for fixing to the cylinders.
06:27
English Voiceover
These plates are arranged in order on the presses and locked into
position. Sometimes there’s a rush. A minute or two in hand
tonight.
06:38
English Voiceover
The presses start up. Slowly, at first. Then, at full speed.
07:03
English Voiceover
The alert. Unmoved by the raid above, the Editorial Departments
handle late news items and the presses thunder on.
07:31
English Voiceover
In this room, the wartime signals are controlled – warning and
danger lights for aircraft overhead. Relying on the signals, work in
the press room goes on steadily and efficiently as usual. To
newspaper men, nothing matters except getting the newspaper
out on time. Outside, the raid is in full blast.
08:26
English Voiceover
In peacetime, the papers used to go upstairs to be dispatched;
now they stay below.
08:35
English Voiceover
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08:35
The lights dim – danger overhead. The staff go on quietly. Here
below the surface they’re fairly safe.
08:50
English Voiceover
But the van drivers put on their tin helmets. They may have to
drive through an inferno to reach the London mainline stations.
High explosives, incendiaries, shells, fire, may lie between them
and the stations.
09:19
English Voiceover
And they reach the station and the newspaper train starts just on
time.
09:30
English Voiceover
Back in Fleet Street, the presses are still running and later
editions are coming out. Night workers and air raid workers are
thankful for the canteen which provides hot drinks and snacks
through a noisy night until, at last, the roar of the presses dies
down and the all-clear rings out.
09:56
English Voiceover
Workers who have been prevented from getting home by the raid
sleep peacefully in cellar dormitories. The routine of the office has
gone on as usual. So the paper boys get to work as usual.
10:18
Man
Hmm. London had another raid last night.
10:21
English Voiceover
But raid or no raid, the papers were out on time.
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