章 5: Chapter 5 The Crisis
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"No, this photo is too blurry from this angle, and Cherill's face is completely indistinguishable. It's impossible to use it for the layout..."
"But out of all the pictures I took, this is the closest one of Cherill. They kicked me out right after taking it."
"If it's truly not feasible, then we'll have to abandon this report."
"However, if we do that, we won't have enough material for this week. We've been short on the layout for several weeks now, and if this continues..."
Bang!
The sound of the door forcefully swinging open interrupted the discussion in the newsroom.
"Good morning, Colin."
Upon seeing Colin enter the newsroom, Old John adjusted his brass-rimmed glasses and offered a wrinkled smile.
"Good morning, John."
Colin took off his coat and hat, hanging them on a nearby coat rack, and nodded towards Old John, who sat in front of the heavy typesetting machine. Then he turned his attention to the expressionless man standing next to Old John and greeted him with a smile, saying, "And Young John, good morning."
"Good... good morning, Colin."
Young John's face displayed a forced smile as he adjusted the camera hanging around his neck in response to Colin's greeting.
Observing Young John's awkward reaction in front of the typesetting machine, Old John shook his head helplessly and addressed Colin, "Boss, the sales of The Messenger newspaper have declined again this week. The newsboys informed me that over half of the newspapers, we printed didn't sell, and they had to sell the remaining ones at a discount just to get rid of them. If this continues, they won't deliver The Messenger anymore..."
Just like in the alternate world, Colin remained involved in the news media industry.
However, Colin's role had transformed from being a news reporter to becoming the owner of the current "Messenger News Agency."
However, as Old John's words implied, the situation at the news agency was far from promising.
The Great Depression's impact had spread across various industries in the United States.
The "Messenger News Agency," being a newspaper publisher, inevitably fell victim to this fate. Moreover, the introduction of the "Child Labor Protection Measures" resulted in restrictions on child labor and raised the minimum working age for newsboys during the Great Depression. This further undermined the survival prospects of small local newspapers like The Messenger.
The loss of a significant number of affordable newsboys led to a surge in the labor costs associated with newspaper printing and distribution.
The already low sales of The Messenger became even more abysmal.
"I understand."
Colin simply nodded, signifying his comprehension of the situation.
In truth, deep down, Colin himself was somewhat perplexed about the current predicament of The Messenger News Agency.
Based on the clues he had discovered since his time travel journey a week ago, the news agency's operations had already plunged into a crisis.
Even within Colin's desk drawer lay a mortgage certificate from a bank.
However, due to the impact of the Great Depression, numerous banks had been forced to declare bankruptcy.
Among them was the bank where Colin had initially planned to mortgage The Messenger News Agency.
Frowning, Colin took a seat at his desk.
With the boss's silence, an increasingly uneasy atmosphere enveloped the entire news agency.
Sitting in front of the typesetting machine, Old Johnson wore a worried expression as he pressed the keys on the machine. Given his age, if he lost his job at the news agency, there would be no prospect of finding another one.
Furthermore, the impact of unemployment extends beyond John to include his son, Young John. John and Young John are employed at the "Messenger" and happen to be father and son. Consequently, if the newspaper ceases operations, it will have a detrimental effect on their entire family's livelihood.
Observing the uneasiness emanating from his father, Young John glanced at Colin, wanting to speak up, but ultimately bowed his head in disappointment, remaining silent. He questioned, "Is there truly no solution?"
Sitting at his desk, Colin muttered to himself. He genuinely did not wish for the "Messenger" to go bankrupt. Particularly during the ongoing Great Depression, the closure of the newspaper would result in unemployment not only for John and his son but also for Colin himself as the owner. Picturing this outcome, Colin unconsciously shifted in his seat, dreading the possibility of joining the ranks of those aimlessly wandering the streets of New York.
However, personal desires and reality often diverge. Presently, considering the declining newspaper sales of the "Messenger," Colin found himself inching closer to the grim prospect of homelessness. Shaking his head, Colin dismissed these unsettling thoughts and earnestly began contemplating a solution.
As a newspaper company, the options available to overcome this impending bankruptcy crisis were rather limited. Among them, the most dependable approach was to boost newspaper sales. Major newspapers like "Fortune" and "The Wall Street Journal" had successfully navigated the economic challenges of the Great Depression by publishing job recruitment information, attracting desperate job seekers, and stabilizing their sales.
Nonetheless, this method was only feasible for major newspapers due to their extensive networks and resources. As a local newspaper like the "Messenger," focused on the daily lives of New York City residents, such avenues were simply non-existent. It was highly unlikely that businesses would be willing to advertise job vacancies in their weekly publication.
In fact, the original "Messenger" had been a daily newspaper, but in light of the Great Depression's impact, it had resorted to various survival strategies, including cost-cutting measures and transitioning to a weekly format. Unfortunately, the results had been meager.
Exhaling audibly, Colin contemplated the idea of increasing newspaper sales as he shifted his gaze to the stack of old newspapers on his desk. With "Messenger" struggling to attract buyers, the pile of unsold newspapers continued to accumulate. He randomly picked up a newspaper and skimmed through it, stumbling upon an article about the premiere of the silent film "City Lights."
Directed by the comedic genius Charlie Chaplin, who also starred in the film, the production process of "City Lights" had encountered obstacles, particularly with the advent of sound films, which significantly impacted Chaplin's career. In order to complete this film, Chaplin had devoted three years of his life.
Interestingly, at the time, Chaplin had little confidence in the box office success of "City Lights." Yet, to his surprise, the film garnered immense acclaim upon its release. On the premiere day, enthusiastic fans surrounded the theater, causing even shop windows to break from the sheer crowd density. Local police had to be summoned to maintain order. It is important to note that the film debuted during the most severe economic crisis of the Great Depression in the United States. The triumph of "City Lights" under such unfavorable circumstances attested to Chaplin's brilliance as well as the film's quality.
It is worth mentioning that Albert Einstein was invited to attend the screening on the premiere day and was moved to tears by the film's conclusion.
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