Category Archives: journalism

Woman with a Mission, Ida B. Wells

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Bob Stepno

[Ida B. Wells portrait from the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, via Google Arts and Culture] Her New York Times obituary — 87 years after her death — called Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) “one of the nation’s most … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, civil rights, journalism, newspaper crusades, Race, true stories, women | Leave a comment

No paper dolls on radio, just a pioneer newswoman role model

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Bob Stepno

Announcer’s introduction: The Adventures of Jane Arden, a thrilling drama of a fearless girl reporter, the most beautiful woman in the newspaper world. Jane Arden, star reporter for The Bulletin, important newspaper of a big American city. It has taken … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, adventure, comics, journalism, newspapers, reporters, women | Leave a comment

News Meets Blues

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Bob Stepno

“Hurry up, newsman, get on with the fight, Or Johnny dies with me before daylight.” That’s the unmistakable voice of blues singer Josh White, added to the cast of “Big Town,” the adventures of fighting editor Steve Wilson, for this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, Drama, editors, journalism | Leave a comment

Newspaper legwork, 70 years ago on radio

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Bob Stepno

In the continuing story “Pennies for Plunder,” the Daily Planet and Superman waged a month-long battle against a punchboard lottery racket, throughout December 1947, in the era when Superman was a daily 15 minute cliffhanger radio serial (and seller of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, adventure, Jimmy Olsen, journalism, newspaper crusades, Perry White, reporting, Superman, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Landing a Newspaper Job; Cameraman Tells All

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Bob Stepno

Some of my favorite “newsroom scenes” in old radio shows involve a young reporter trying to land a job. Here’s the first of a couple of episodes where the job-hunter is a would-be photojournalist. This 1947 “Crime Photographer” episode put the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, Casey, journalism, newspapers, photographer | Leave a comment

Reporter had spunk, but soup-opera didn’t last long

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Bob Stepno

Jane Endicott, Reporter — premiere, January 5, 1942: https://ia600201.us.archive.org/7/items/Singles_And_Doubles_Singles_A-C/42-01-05xxxJaneEndicottReporter.mp3 I’ve had this short-lived series tucked away on my “Soaps and Romance” page, although these adventures of a young woman reporter are not a typical soap-opera or romance series with cliff-hanger … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, Drama, editors, ethics, journalism, women | Leave a comment

A Christmas story – Superman versus the Nielsen racket

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Bob Stepno

December 1946 — The bad guy in this Superman story isn’t threatening the world, but he could cost Clark Kent his job, and right before Christmas too! Yes, as the headline above suggests, the villain is a racketeer named Nielsen, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, adventure, Clark Kent, comics, editors, Jimmy Olsen, journalism, newspaper crusades, newspapers, Perry White, reporting, Superman, World War II | Leave a comment

Reporter’s manhunt in London & Tangier

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Bob Stepno

Old-fashioned shoeleather reporting gets a good demonstration in the Europe Confidential episode called The Raymond Shortly Affair, which takes reporter Mike Connoy from his Paris office to London and from there to a Tangier nightclub and some intrigue involving a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, Europe, foreign correspondents, journalism, reporting | Leave a comment

“Storm in a Teacup” crossed Atlantic

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Bob Stepno

The full-length 1937 film “Storm in a Teacup” is available from the Internet Archive, with Rex Harrison as a crusading young journalist and Vivien Leigh as the beautiful daughter of the smalltown dictator he crusades against. The 1948 Ford Theater … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, adaptations, comedy, international, journalism | Leave a comment

Who would want a newspaper for a wedding present?

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Two recent journalism school grads, Betty and Henry Beetle Hough, that’s who. Their adventure is explored in this week’s radio program, “Once More the Thunderer.” Some context: My “Portrayal of the journalist in popular culture” students are watching “Teacher’s Pet” this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, editors, journalism, local news, newspapers, publishers, romance | Leave a comment