Category Archives: newspapers

Nellie Bly on the radio

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Bob Stepno

“1885… Women are coming out of the kitchen and invading fields hitherto considered sacred to the male of the species. One of these fields is the newspaper, and the spearhead of this invasion is a girl with big soulful gray … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, cavalcade, foreign correspondents, historical figures, journalism, newspapers, reporters, women | Leave a comment

Rescuing the Tabloid Competition in Big Town

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Bob Stepno

Not only were newspaper reporters and editors cast as heroic characters in old-time radio dramas, they sometimes made heroic attempts to help the competition, no matter how bitter the rivalry. Perhaps that’s because they recognized newspaper journalism as a higher … Continue reading →

Posted in competition, crime, ethics, j-heroes, movies, newspapers, reporters, sensationalism | 1 Comment

Clark Kent vs. Horace Greeley: Heroic deeds on radio

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Bob Stepno

As mentioned in a separate episode or two, the 1940 radio introduction of Lois Lane had her greeting Clark Kent with a sarcastic remark comparing him to Horace Greeley (1811-1872), one of the previous century’s journalistic superheroes. That got me … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, cavalcade, Clark Kent, historical figures, Horace Greeley, newspapers, publishers, reporters | Leave a comment

‘Hildy Johnson used to be a man’ – Cecil B. DeMille

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Bob Stepno

After their success as Hollywood movies, both “His Girl Friday” and the hit Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play that inspired it, “The Front Page,” were adapted for radio — and more than once. A few of the productions are … Continue reading →

Posted in Hildy Johnson, j-heroes, movies, newspapers, reporters, women | Leave a comment

Publisher dares to report

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Bob Stepno

http://otrrlibrary.org/OTRRLib/Library%20Files/G%20Series/Green%20Hornet,%20The/Green%20Hornet%2040-06-05%20(0448)%20Murder%20Seeks%20Its%20Victim%20(aka-Crandall%20And%20The%20Murder%20Ring).mp3 Britt Reid didn’t follow a traditional publisher’s job description, and I’m not just talking about his moonlighting as a masked crime fighter for more than 1,000 radio episodes in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, each one with a newsboy … Continue reading →

Posted in competition, ethics, GreenHornet, j-heroes, newspapers, publishers, radio, sensationalism, women | Leave a comment

Superhero ethics versus reporter ethics

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Bob Stepno

Landing that first journalism job can be a challenge. It’s certainly true today, but the 1940s were no picnic either. So, when a young man identifying himself as Clark Kent appeared at The Daily Planet, “a greenhorn” as the editor … Continue reading →

Posted in Clark Kent, j-heroes, journalism, Lois Lane, movies, newspapers, podcast, reporters, Superman | 2 Comments

Getting off the ground at The Daily Planet

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Bob Stepno

This is the first in what I hope will be a once or twice a week podcast of oldtime radio programs featuring fictional (or dramatized) newspaper reporters and editors. As a logical place to start, I’m sure the first fictional … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, j-heroes, newspapers, radio, Superman | Leave a comment

The Hornet’s nest was a newspaper

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Bob Stepno

Britt Reid, daring young publisher… Long before Seth Rogen put on a green mask for his 2011 film, “The Green Hornet” was one of the 1930s-1950s radio series that inspired me to start paying attention to how newspaper reporters and … Continue reading →

Posted in GreenHornet, j-heroes, journalism, movies, newspapers, podcast, radio, women | Leave a comment

Stay tuned!

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Bob Stepno

Journalism today needs heroes. For inspiration — or at least food for thought about what might make a journalist “a hero” — this site explores radio’s portrayals of “ladies and gentlemen of the press” starting back in the 1930s, when … Continue reading →

Posted in j-heroes, journalism, movies, newspapers, podcast, radio, teaching | Leave a comment