The Editor,
Happy 50th anniversary. I had the pleasure of attending the Low Down’s 50th anniversary on May 26 at Motel Chelsea as part of the Wakefield Writer’s Festival.
Back when the Low Down was in its teenage years, I had the opportunity of working for a small community newspaper. I was responsible for editing and revising articles we would receive. In those days, we did not have computers or desktop publishing software, so we had another company prepare the paper for us. They provided mock-up sheets, and I had to calculate column inches for each article and select a font and size. I had to crop photos and create captions. Part of the job was deciding what articles would be published and where they would be placed in the paper. Like the Low Down, we followed a specific format. Additionally, I had to ensure that ads were
placed where clients wanted them to appear.
I would drive to the company shop with my mock-ups. After picking them up, they were reviewed for errors and sent back for revisions. Another trip, and the paper was finally ready for printing. Today with computers, I suspect the layout and editing are done in-house, and the paper is sent to the print shop electronically for printing.
Although technology has changed the way newspapers are put together, I believe many things have remained the same. Decisions are still made about what goes into the paper and where the articles are placed. If a subject is controversial, how will the news be received by the community? If a mistake is made, an ‘erratum’ is always published in the following issue. And, of course, the deadlines are always there.
To Nikki, Trevor, and the rest of the crew at the Low Down, thank you for your passion and dedication and for giving us a superb paper every week.
Andre Chenier
Chelsea, Qc