Newsrooms today have joined every other enterprise in Cubicle City.
Carpeting and white noise mask sound.
Computers have replaced Remington, Royal and Underwood typewriters, the clack of metal keys striking paper and rollers ringing bells on returns.
No more pneumatic tubes sending edited copy to typesetters. In fact, no more paper, tubes or typesetters.
No more soft-leaded pencils, paste pots or copy readers wearing suspenders, arm bands, green visors and money belts while smoking cigars and quietly editing around the rim.
Copy now flows electronically from writers to editors, to the graphic artists who lay out the news pages.
Fewer newspapers are produced on newsprint and delivered on lawns and porches by contract drivers. More and more arrive via the Internet.
Thankfully, the digital formats faithfully mimic the traditional. But it's still –30— for paste pots and pencils. (22 MARCH 2015)
