James Vaughan, editor of the Overseas News Department, used a knife to open the brown paper envelopes piled up on his desk one by one. These thick, massive, and solid letters were mailed back to The Times from various European countries and colonial news stations.
Alternative works for the headquarters' international columns.
James Vaughan's job is to first review these various submissions, select the valuable and meaningful ones, and send them to the editor-in-chief for publication as an international column.
As for what is valuable and meaningful, according to the standards of journalists, it is newsworthy, and according to the standards of "The Times", it means that it can attract attention, seduce the general public to pay for the bill, and make money for the boss.
It has to be said that compared with forty years ago, the circulation and influence of The Times have risen several levels, becoming the largest newspaper and news giant in the UK and Europe. But the peak of prosperity is decline.
Under the leadership of the Northern Rock family, other newspapers rose up on the cheap, and the Times began to have a difficult time. Especially when the helmsman, John Walter II, gradually became old and could not keep up with the times, this decline became worse.
The origin is obvious.
Even though The Times has increased the number of foreign correspondents and extensively mined news around the world, it still feels that it is lagging behind compared with the booming Northern Rock newspaper industry. This has also put a lot of pressure on the editors of The Times.
Because the superiors asked them to work harder to explore the value of news, and they must hold firm to resist the challenges of Beiyan Newspaper Industry, otherwise they would simply pack up and leave.
Junior editor James Vaughan is a direct victim of this pressure. He has just graduated from Oxford and there is no way he can compare with his entrenched predecessors. They have extensive informants, deep relationships, and can obtain information in popular areas.
First hand news.
And he could only guard a few unpopular countries to blow the cold wind. Every time he saw valuable submissions from France, Prussia, Austria, and Turkey flying into other people's hands, his eyes were filled with envy.
Red. And he can only suffer on the bench in Africa, America, Australia and Russia.
Of course, he can't last much longer. If he can't create in the near future, no! It's to discover news value, then he can go out and look for a new job.
"What the hell, these ghost places are newsworthy, and rabbits are infested? Hell, let the rabbits go to hell, who cares whether rabbits are a disaster in this barren land!"
James Vaughan threw a stack of manuscripts from Australia into the trash can bitterly, then picked up another one, glanced at the envelope and muttered: "Russian? Another pile of rubbish, a waste of paper and a waste of ink."
,Waste of time, waste of..."
Before he finished talking about the last waste, James Vaughn was attracted by the content of the manuscript. It was completely different from what he expected. This submission was extremely newsworthy, and for him it was like a sudden rain after a long drought.
After hurriedly going through the manuscript, he couldn't bear it anymore. He couldn't wait to grab the manuscript and rushed to the editor-in-chief's office.
Bang!
In the ecstasy, James Vaughan forgot the trick and almost broke into the office of deputy editor John Stoner, making senior editors Samuel and Stoner in the office shocked and angry.
Stoner angrily shouted: "Mr. James Vaughan, what are you doing? Where are your politeness? Didn't you see that Mr. Samuel and I are in a meeting!"
"Sorry, sir." Only then did James Vaughn realize that he had gotten into trouble. He stammered and explained: "I just found a good manuscript that is of great value, so I can't wait to see you..."
"Extremely valuable? Haha, Mr. James Vaughn, are you kidding me?"
Before Stoner could say anything, Samuel dissed him first. Discussing seniority in the workplace is normal. No matter where you go, old people always discriminate against newcomers. Especially since Samuel graduated from Cambridge, he naturally behaves like an Oxford brat.
Not to deal with it. What's more, James Vaughn was introduced to The Times by his mortal enemy. It is only natural to attack the enemy.
Moreover, Samuel also believed that he was qualified to despise James Vaughn. Editor-in-chief and boss John Walter II was in poor health day by day. Recently, he simply could not come to work. As his close assistant, Stoner was promoted to the position of president.
Editorship should be a sure thing. And Samuel was determined to get the deputy editor position left after Stoner was promoted. As a future deputy editor, what happened to his enemy who was about to be kicked out because his performance was a mess?
James Vaughn was naturally aware of the grievances between him and Samuel, and he didn't bother to pay attention to this annoying old bastard who always relied on his elders. He just handed the manuscript to Stoner respectfully: "Sir, I promise, this
The quality of this manuscript is indeed quite high!”
"As high as you want?" Samuel said sarcastically, "If you were so capable, you wouldn't have accomplished nothing in the past six months!"
James Vaughan endured his anger and continued to say to Stoner: "Sir, this manuscript is indeed of great value. I think there is no problem in being published in the column. I believe it can attract the attention of all London!"
"Joke, Mr. James Vaughn, I think you should be more pragmatic and stop making some gossip to confuse things. Moreover, the recent column has its own ownership. Mr. Stoner and I agree that Petofi and Sender
Le. Yulia's marriage is the focus of attention. "For Yulia", "I am a person in love" and "I Saw the Most Beautiful Flowers in the East" will attract the eyes of young girls all over the UK. That is what
focus!"
James Vaughn was also irritated at this time. He said angrily: "This is just boring tidbits. When has The Times fallen to the level of a street gossip tabloid? We should pay attention to damn politics. Phedofi is getting married."
?Let the damn gossip papers take notice!"
Seeing that the two men were about to fight, Stoner, who had a wrinkled face and half-closed eyes, finally raised his eyelids and roared in his sharp voice: "Gentlemen! Please pay attention to your
Demeanor! This is not a flea market, and you are not lowly peasant women bargaining! This is The Times, the soul of the British newspaper industry, not a wet market for you to indulge in debauchery!"
After teaching his subordinates a lesson, Stoner did not pick up the manuscript from James Vaughn. Instead, he asked slowly and with the arrogance and pride unique to an English elder: "Where did the manuscript come from?"
"Russian News Station."
"Russia?" Stoner's eyelids instantly drooped again, and he asked without interest: "What are you talking about?"
James Vaughn hurriedly said: "A scandal! A shocking scandal involving the Russian army!"