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Author	Message
pjaymac	Post subject: -30- Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 10:56 am
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2002 12:01 am Posts: 9	I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit this, given that I am such a newspaper junkie and that I hold a bachelor's in journalism. What's more, I know this subject was covered very early in my college curriculum. <p>But the fog of 14 years since my graduation has obscured, among other things, my memory of how the symbol -30- came to be used to signify the end of a piece of news copy. <p>I know I should know this, especially given that I used to use -30- myself on news stories I wrote for my professors. <p>Could someone please refresh my memory?<p>Thanks.<p>-30-
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Bumfketeer	Post subject: Re: -30- Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 11:36 pm
Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 3557 Location: Cusp of retirement, grave or both	You should be embarrassed to admit that you hold a degree in journalism. Just kidding. We hashed the whole degree thing out ad nauseam a few months ago.<p>As to -30-, I am old enough to have worked as a reporter using hard copy, and did some desk work with it too. I am not sure of the origin, but I sure as hell remember the smell of the gluepots.<p>Here is ASNE's theory, along with a few other tiresome yarns...<p>http://www.asne.org/kiosk/editor/98.jan/perez1.htm
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pzicari	Post subject: Re: -30- Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 12:41 am
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 12:01 am Posts: 131 Location: Cleveland, OH	I always thought it was composing room tradition -- when the foreman tore a deadline story up for speed, he'd scribble the slug at the top and the page number at the bottom. 30 was more takes than anyone would ever have, so it signified the end. <p>Here in Cleveland, an add-at-end written in advance is called a "20th Add"<p>On the ACES list, they're debating CQ. It's a good sign that winter is closing in -- the old-timers are all gathering around the glue pot and swapping etymologies....<p>[ November 15, 2003: Message edited by: Pete Zicari ]</p>
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Phillip Blanchard	Post subject: Re: -30- Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 12:58 am
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 8342 Location: Bethesda, Md.	Let's wrap this up, shall we?
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Bumfketeer	Post subject: Re: -30- Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 1:11 am
Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 3557 Location: Cusp of retirement, grave or both	Pete,<p>Anyone who thinks 30 is more takes than anyone would ever have has never read our Sunday paper.
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pjaymac	Post subject: Re: -30- Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 10:14 am
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2002 12:01 am Posts: 9	Thanks, Bmfketeer and Pete. The telegrapher story sounds more familiar to me than the composing-room story, but both are plausible. And reading the review at the ASNE link was entertaining.
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Bumfketeer	Post subject: Re: -30- Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 4:53 pm
Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 3557 Location: Cusp of retirement, grave or both	Pete and I live to amuse, PJ.
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