Category Archives: journalism

The most beautiful newspaper reporter on radio

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Give me a chance, just give me a chance, and I’ll be the best male Jane Arden in the racket.” — Jerry Delaney, the newspaper’s cub reporter Clearly, she was inspiring! Jane Arden was a long-running comic strip about an … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, crime, editors, journalism, movies, radio, reporters, soap opera, women | 2 Comments

Hearing the reporter’s voice in All the King’s Men

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Bob Stepno

In the movies of All the King’s Men, starring Broderick Crawford (1949) or Sean Penn (2006), charismatic Southern politician Willie Stark is obviously the main character. But for the only radio adaptation I’ve found of Robert Penn Warren’s novel — … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, journalism, movies, political corruption, Pulitzer Prize, reporters | Leave a comment

A phone call, shoe-leather and compassion turn a story into a crusade

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Call Northside 777 “Well, it made a pretty good yarn, I guess. Y’know — ‘Mother slaves to save $5,000, offers it to clear her son.’ I told myself it was all in a day’s work…” — Reporter Mac McNeal About … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, adaptations, editors, journalism, movies, newspaper crusades, radio, reporters, reporting | Leave a comment

Newspaper says Yale cheats; Merriwell to the rescue

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Last time it was scrappy Boston reporters heading for Connecticut to cover Yale-Harvard baseball. This week we jump to another sport and season, to watch an investigative New Haven newspaperman get the scent of a sports scandal for a Front … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900s, 1940s, adaptations, ethics, journalism, newspapers, reporting, sports | Leave a comment

Newspapers Battle to Cover Merriwell at Yale

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Bob Stepno

The game on this 1904 cover was in Cambridge; the radio episode’s action is in New Haven; home-team advantage: Merriwell, but difficult for Boston press. “When a big story is involved, a good reporter doesn’t worry about what is or … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 19th century, adaptations, competition, journalism, newspaper stunts, newspapers, reporters, reporting, sports, technology | Leave a comment

Mike Wallace on radio, from Information Please to the Green Hornet

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Bob Stepno

While this blog usually deals with fictional journalists and the  dramatized lives of historic journalists, today’s news is worth an exception. Legendary television newsman Mike Wallace, who died Saturday at 93, got his broadcasting start in radio, and this may be … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, GreenHornet, historical figures, journalism, radio, reporters | Leave a comment

Stanley, meet Livingstone; America, meet modern journalism

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“This isn’t the other papers… I’m going to teach everybody in the cities, on the farms, on the frontiers to like important news. This country’s growing up… It doesn’t want any more colonial gazettes with local gossip, but big newspapers … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 19th century, cavalcade, editors, foreign correspondents, historical figures, Horace Greeley, journalism, newspapers, publishers | Leave a comment

Former police chief becomes investigative reporter

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Here’s the dope, Bob…” — former Chief Henderson. A few episodes ago Betty and Bob Drake convinced their corrupt city’s former police chief to become an investigative reporter on their paper, The Trumpet. In this episode, he lets them know … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1940s, journalism, political corruption, publishers, soap opera | Leave a comment

Even soap-opera journalists can fly the flag of human decency

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Betty and Bob have neither thought nor fear of the disasters that may lie ahead. Their newspaper will not only fly the flag of freedom and human decency, but will fight for it.” Publishers Betty and Bob Drake have turned … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, journalism, newspapers, political corruption, publishers, soap opera | Leave a comment

Newspapers as Madness: Is Bob Ready to Take Control?

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“You wouldn’t have made a bad detective, either of you” — ex-police chief to editors Betty & Bob In last week’s eighth episode in our 16-part “Betty and Bob” story, crusading editor and publisher Bob Drake hired a former police chief … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, editors, journalism, newspaper crusades, political corruption, publishers, radio, soap opera | Leave a comment