Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 14, 1955.
V-M Plans Drastic Changes Due To Newsprint Shortage
As with other daily newspapers from coast to coast, The Vidette-Messenger faces a severe newsprint shortage in 1956 that manufacturers consider more critical than during World War II.
Although The Vidette-Messenger has conserved on its newsprint the past year, only increasing its usage because of a normal growth in circulation, many measures will have to be taken to assure publication of a paper each day.
In the works right now, according to General Manager Avery B. Weaver, are plans to use paper rolls of narrower width, closer editing of stories, closer checks on free copies, fewer tear sheets, and, when possible, fewer pages in an issue.
Closer editing will mean cutting out non-essentials in articles to the best judgment of the managing editor and banning an increase in more features.
What hits the V-M squarely between the eyes is the continual gain in population in both Valparaiso and Porter county, the area of its circulation which it must serve, with both news coverage and advertising.
Because of a delay by its supplier in shipping a carload of newsprint on the scheduled date of Dec. 1, the management has its fingers crossed until next Monday when it is supposed to arrive.
No Relief Seen
While Candian newsprint mills have expanded capacity during 1955, a number of factors have prevented them from producing to the limit, thus cutting down on output and creating a critical situation in almost every newspaper plant which they supply.
Many large newspapers have been notified that shipments expected for the first four months of 1956 will be slashed by 7½%, indicating the clouded horizon, are doing everything possible to obtain newsprint whenever they can, and to reduce its use wherever it is feasible.
