LOCAL MEDIA

Press Herald's bulldog keeps pace

By Sam Pfeifle and Noah Bruce

In the wake of the terrorist attacks September 11, the Portland Press Herald, for first time in its history, printed a special second edition of the paper, called a “bulldog edition,” which became available at 3 p.m. “I don’t remember ever [putting out a second edition] before,” says managing editor Eric Conrad. “I don’t think we ever have.”

Marsha MacVane, Reader Services Manager for the paper, confirms this is true. “This is the first time we’ve put out an afternoon edition when we didn’t already have one,” she reports. Back in ’61, when Kennedy was assassinated, the paper had both a morning and afternoon edition. “We stopped the presses and replated the front page of the afternoon edition when he died,” she says, “but everything but the front page remained the same.”

The decision to print a second paper was made, says Conrad, at an editorial meeting around 9:30 a.m., shortly after the announcement that two airplanes had struck New York City’s World Trade Center. The unique second edition underscores the enormity of the national tragedy.

“I’ve never been involved in something like this,” says Conrad. “Congressional people like Olympia Snowe are comparing it to Pearl Harbor. I wasn’t alive then, but it’s probably a decent analogy.”

“We had editors showing up of their own accord right after it happened,” says MacVane. “Editors that had left at 2 a.m. this morning. And reporters, too.” She reports that though the newsroom was “somber” and “very serious,” “this is what [the editors and reporters] are meant to do. Even though it’s terrible, it just energizes everybody.”

MacVane, who’s been with the Press Herald off and on since 1966 has a unique perspective on the tragedy. “It certainly has the most drastic implications” of any news story she’s seen covered. “The Space Shuttle was a truly terrible thing,” she says. “But this, basically, is going to change everything. This is the worst thing I’ve ever been involved with.”

Twenty-six thousand copies of the 3 o’clock edition were printed — normal circulation is 75,000. The paper was eight pages long, and, in addition to Associated Press coverage, featured four local news stories focusing on the reactions of Maine leaders, everyday Mainers, and tightened security around the state. The edition also included a Bill Nemitz column, and two editorials.

The primary editorial stressed that America would “triumph over this day. We are the United States of America,” it read,” and when we choose to act as one people, there is no force on this earth that can defeat us.”