Major Newpapers Print Extra Issues to Meet Public's Demand

Date: Friday, November 07, 2008, 5:33 am
By: Bobbi Booker, Special to BlackAmericaWeb.com

Bookmark and Share

Barack Obama's victory sent millions scurrying to the streets in search of newspapers documenting the historical moment. (AP)

EXTRA! EXTRA! The election of Sen. Barack Obama, the first black U.S.president, sent millions of Americans scurrying to the streets in search of copies of newspapers documenting the historical moment. From coast-to-coast, daily papers reported unprecedented demands as post-election papers flew off newspaper stands and convenience store shelves.

According to Editor & Publisher, papers from The New York Times to The Los Angeles Times — and numerous dailies in between — were besieged with requests that, in turn, sparked expanded press runs nationwide, with millions of extra copies eventually hitting the newsstands. For newspaper executives and circulation departments accustomed to years of declining sales, the surprise rush required extra press runs — a rarity for the struggling industry in the age of the Internet.

The New York Times printed 35 percent more than the usual number of copies for individual sale on Wednesday, an increase of about 150,000. Later, it printed 75,000 more. In addition, for the fifth time in its history, The Times used 96-point type in its header to simply proclaim "OBAMA." Previously, only the resignation of Richard Nixon, the first man on the moon, the New Millennium and the Sept. 11 attacks garnered such a large font on the paper.

"America Makes History: Obama Wins," read USA Today, while The Wall Street Journal declared, "Obama Sweeps to Historic Victory," and The Los Angeles Times proclaimed, "It's Obama." Copies of Wednesday's major papers sold on eBay and Craigslist for more than $200. As newsstands emptied across the country trying to keep pace with demand, people headed online, flooding media entities such as Newseum's online Page One gallery at Newseum.org.

In Philadelphia, vendors reported that election issues were selling better than the commemoration for the Philadelphia Phillies' recent World Series championship.

The Philadelphia Tribune distributed a special newsstand edition of the paper on Wednesday, Nov. 5 carrying full coverage of the presidential election, a first in the historic black newspaper's 125-year history. Like many other papers, The Philadelphia Tribune turned its Center City headquarters into a makeshift newsstand for the hundreds of walk-up costumers who inundated the paper throughout the day. Much like voting the day before, visitors seeking the paper were diverse. Most telling were the number of seniors, some on canes, who felt it was necessary to personally claim their keepsake copies. The paper decided by Wednesday afternoon on an additional press run of several thousand copies.

"We have been the keepers of our history for over a century and found it incumbent upon us to dedicate our resources to reflecting this defining moment in the lives of African-Americans and our nation," said Robert Bogle, Philadelphia Tribune's president and CEO, in a statement.

"It's history, it's history," Pat Washington of Virginia Beach, Va., told The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Va., for a story on its Web site, saying that she was frustrated when she couldn't find additional papers Wednesday morning. "I went from one place to the other to the other," Washington said, adding that she found two additional copies to add to her collection of items chronicling historic events. "My mission was to pass them out to my family and to save them."

Thomas Baldwin, a Washington state retiree, bought 10,000 copies of The Bellingham Herald's election wrap-up edition on Wednesday. The front page carries a photo of the Democratic president-elect and the headline "Obama wins." The Herald still had the plates for the publication when Baldwin called and was able to fill his special order.

According to the paper's coverage, the 67-year-old said he has a friend in California who sells copies of newspapers that are decades old at trade shows and makes a profit. .....


Bookmark and Share
Please Login or Register to Rate this article



Please Login or Register to post comments on this article

  |   Read More Comments





More Headlines
New York Muslim Groups Decry Hostile Atmosphere

They gathered on the steps of City Hall to call for a stop to religious intolerance

Some States Haven't Changed Coke-Crack Disparity

Missouri and New Hampshire have disparities greater than the one in the revised federal law.

Lawmaker Says Mistakes Used to Distort Her Image

Texas Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson said Wednesday she didn't shortchange others to benefit her own family.

Obama: 'Time to Turn Page' in Iraq - and at Home

Obama formally ended the U.S. combat role in Iraq after seven long years of bloodshed.

Troops, Families Glad to Hear End of Iraq Combat

"I'm just glad we're in a total transition now," Steve Baskis said, snapping the fingers on a nerve-damaged hand.

CBC Foundation to Audit its Scholarship Program

CBCF Chair Rep. Donald Payne says an extensive audit is underway.

Obama's Goal: End War, Win Mideast Peace

He will have but a moment before trying to hasten peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Texas Rep. Admits She Wrongfully Violated Rules

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson gave thousands in CBCF scholarships to family members.

Obamas Dish on the First Daughters' Doings

The president and first lady put their girls off-limits to the news media after they moved to the White House.

'Reclaim the Dream' Pays Homage to MLK

"They may have the platform, but we have the dream,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton Saturday.

Career Central
Search millions of job listings from across the web. New jobs added daily!



Post a Job on Black America Web!
advertising
advertising
advertising