The White Falcon - 21.08.1964, Blaðsíða 5

4
WHITE FALCON
Friday, August 21, 1964 Friday, August 21, 1964
WHITE FALCON
5
Ci^©'
Gathering the news to be printed in the White Falcon can be
interesting or dull, effortless or laborious, challenging or routine.
In most instances, it is everything mentioned. At times it may be
two extremes combined. On other occasions only one of the adjectives
given above will adequately depict the White Falcon staffer’s job.
Providing comprehensive news coverage for the Keflavik complex,
the White Falcon is staffed by three enlisted journalists who also
serve as photographers. They are Editor Gordie L. Webb, J03;
Associate Editor George A. Simpson, JOSN, and Reporter John S.
Stromberg, SN.
Joint Operation
As part of the Service Information Office (SIO), which is a joint
operation combined with the Armed Forces Radio and Television
Service (AFRTS), the White Falcon occupies front office spaces in
Building T-44, three qounset huts joined together to form a compact,
H-shaped unit accommodating all of Keflavik’s information activities.
The newspaper is under the management of Lt. Claire E. Brou in
her role as Service Information Officer. She is also Officer in
Charge for AFRTS.
Under the cognizance of the Public Relations Officer, Iceland
Defense Force Staff, the White Falcon also prepares and submits
news releases for Naval Station personnel and tenant activities-to the
Fleet Home Town News Center and various Armed Forces publications
and civilian media. In April, May and June of this year the Fleet
Home News Center processed 158 news releases on Keflavik personnel.
To better aquaint the reader with the White Falcon and the various
processes involved in its publication, a discussion of copy preparation,
history, missons and position should prove helpful.
First Falcon
Keflavik Airport’s service newspaper came into existence during the
early days of 1941 when American forces were dispatched to Iceland,
then a Danish possession, to meet the threat of an impending Nazi
Reporter J. S. Stromberg, SN, prepares for job calling for photo
coverage.
invasion. The first paper was basically a humor sheet designed to
bolster the morale of these American servicemen drawn from all
sections of the country who rather suddenly found themselves pro-
tecting an island in a distant corner of the North Atlantic.
The White Falcon’s predecessor ranged from four to ten pages
in length and was reproduced by an Icelandic printer. Publication
continued until American troops departed Iceland in the spring of
1947.
When the United States was again asked to station troops in its
NATO partner’s homeland in May, 1951, the newspaper was re-
established. The falcon, Iceland’s national bird, was chosen as an
appropriate symbol for the fledgling publication. All resemblance to
present-day editions ended with the “flag,” (top portion of first page
where every newspaper identifies itself) however; it was a mimeo-
graphed sheet with few of its successor’s refinements. It was not
until Oct. 2, 1954, that the White Falcon appeared in a letterpress
edition.
Language Barrier
The Reykjavik firm of Isafoldarprentsmidja (The Iceland Printing
Company), which has been in the printing business since 1877 and
is the oldest such establishment in Iceland, was contracted to publish
the paper on a bi-monthly basis.
Technical obstacles such as the metric system were overcome after
a concerted effort by both parties. The language difficulty has also
improved greatly, but there are times when “sign-language” has to
be used.
In the past copy was sent into the capital city of Reykjavik using
a variety of methods, the most dependable being the Air Police
Squadron night-town patrol, to meet deadlines. On one occasion a
helicopter had to be pressed into service to deliver copy in the wake
of a violent snow storm which closed the road to Reykjavik. More
recently the Steindor Bus Company has been utilized as the mode
of transportation.
In accordance with Joint Utilization Agreements signed in 1951,
Keflavik Airport was operated as a jointly controlled NATO command
hosted by the U.S. Air Force, and all three branches of the service
were represented in the White Falcon office. In 1956 the staff consist-
ed of an Air Force Master Sergeant serving as Editor, an Army Sp3
as Assistant Editor, an Army Sp3 and an Air Force A/1C filling
Staff Reporter billets and an E-3 Draftsman, U.S. Navy, attached
as Staff Artist.
In January, 1956, the White Falcon became a weekly newspaper in
an effort to provide more complete news overage for the expanding
NATO installation.
Navy Control
The U.S. Navy assumed control of the Keflavik complex in July,
1961 and subsequently the responsibilities for preparation, publication
and distribution of the White Falcon.
As previously mentioned, three Navy journalists make up the present
staff of the service publication. Local news items are gathered on a
contributory basis and by the staffers themselves. The Armed Forces
Press Service and various other media are also utilized as news
sources. 1
Associate Editor G. A. Simpson, JOSN, drafts page layout.
GuSmundur Steinsson hand sets headline.
White Falcon copy is set in lead slugs by linotypist G. Oli Olason..
Mission
Every Service newspaper has two basic missions. One is to enhance
the morale of the organization it serves by fulfilling the desire of
its personnel to know about the doings of their comrades and neigh-
boring units and information about their Service. The other is to
serve as one of the main channels through which the commanding
officer gets his message across to the personnel of his command. A
desirable by-product of Service newspapers is a better informed
external public.
Newspapers published by Service organizations have the same high
standards to meet as those of commercial publications.
Newspapers are published primarily to inform their readers and,
to a lesser degree, to entertain them. Service newspapers perform
these functions in service terms that are readily understood.
Special news reports and articles known as “features” deal with
entire organizations, events or personalities on base. Such items as
trips to foreign countries and Special Services sponsored tours
throughout Iceland are but a few “features” that appear in the
base paper.
Planning Is Initial Step
Before news copy can be sent to the printers for publication, certain
procedures must first take place.
Requests for journalistic coverage of significant events and news
tips are telephoned in by the department or organization concerned
to the SIO/AFRTS coordinator (Special Assistant to the Service
Information Officer). The coordinator, in turn, determines the type
of coverage to be accorded — radio, television or newspaper. In
general, the White Falcon staff covers assignments and provides
copy for all three media.
Coverage
When the job calls for newspaper coverage, the Editor assigns
a reporter, who may also double as a photographer, to cover the news
item. Most routine work is detailed in this manner; the Naval
Station Photo Lab provides support on jobs of larger scope and does
all photo processing .
Stories are written by the reporter assigned to the job and edited
by the Editor. The writer often attaches a headline for his story,
but in many cases the Editor writes them himself.
When all copy, headlines and photographs with captions are in,
the Editor arranges all material for each page. Occasionally, he
will assign a specific page to various staff members. The layout of
each page, plus every story in the paper, is the Editor’s responsibility.
He sees that the newspaper’s policy is strictly adhered to.
This done, the copy is sent to the printers. There it is turned over
to the linotypist, who sets the material in the specified type faces.
Deadlines for sending copy to the printer are noon Mondays and
Tuesdays. Wednesday is make-up and proofreading day, and it is
not unusual for the staff to spend 12 hours at the printers on this day.
Dual Purpose
The White Falcon is in a unique position. Not only is it the only
service paper for three Armed Services stationed here, but it is
also the only English language paper printed in Iceland.
Therefore, the White Falcon covers a greater area than most
service newspapers. It must cater to the civilian populace (American
Civil Service workers and dependents) and at the same time maintain
its primary military functions. This is no easy task for the White
Falcon staff.
Many people have to be turned down because they think their
articles worthy of publication—and they may be for civilian news-
papers. But military publications such as the White Falcon must
adhere to basic military regulations regarding the printing of any
Olafur Hannesson makes up page as Editor G. L. Webb, J03, oversees
operation.
article. Regardless of the news worthiness of an article, if it has
no relation to military matters, it must be printed on a secondary
basis if available space permits.
However, great latitude is possible through revisions of material
sent in. No article is “cast aside” if upon first inspection it appears
“unusable.” If the story has merit, in the opinion of the editors,
great effort is taken in trying to align the story within the scope
of existing policies.
The White Falcon staff appreciates all articles sent them. For one
thing, it makes their job easier. For another, articles and styles in
which they are written are more diversified, making the newspaper
take on a professional appearance—-what every Service newspaper
strives toward.
This, briefly, is what YOUR newspaper has done and will continue
to do. To make it an even better publication, to inform and entertain
“All Hands,” and to serve as a positive factor in promoting the
efficiency, welfare and contentment of personnel stationed in Iceland,
articles of interest should be relayed to the base newspaper.
The White Falcon is YOUR publication, so let’s get those articles
Agust Hinriksson affixes picture plates to page layout after locking
it on the press.