Lessons Outside the Classroom

The Investigation: what secrets does the local newspaper really hide?
The Mission: act as an undercover reporter, gaining access to the newspaper by means of disguise. In this case, disguised as a field trip attending student. It worked.

The Albany Democrat Herald opened its doors to the news room but did not know they were opening eyes. The quiet working employees, stayed on task as our group of students strolled across the room. No shouting, no loud machines, all was quiet. Much different than how movies show reporters to be outgoing and their editor, gruff and strict.

The associate editor, Steve Lundeburge, took plenty of time to show us around and his constant smile expressed appreciation that we would even come to learn about the newspaper. On the tour he brought us through all departments of the Democrat Herald.

The printer's buzz was overwhelming as we stepped into the room filled with machinery. The rolls of paper waiting to be made into newspapers were as high as my chest. I learned that paper used for the press, if rolled completely out, would lengthen to seven miles!

In the newsroom, I found that each employee was working on a different topic or job of the paper. When the paper was finished, close to noon, it would be previewed several times to make sure that no mistakes were found. The front page is the worst page to leave a mistake, said Lundeburge.

Our last stop was the advertising department. We were met with even more excitement and unveiled secrets. You have to love talking to strangers to work in this department, said Bob Carruth. He brought us through how advertising works, starting with the sales of the ads. Even the smallest ad can bring in money for the business owner he explained. Ads are being harder to sell he said, because of the present economy.