Have you ever contemplated how your daily newspaper was crafted? It’s not something we usually rack our brains over, but that bundle of paper you read every day goes through a rather amazing process before it lands on your doorstep.

In fact, each article must go through a strenuous, 9-step series of events before it is printed on paper.

 
Once the story has been etched into a printing plate, a team of people work hard through the night to insure your paper is delivered in time for your morning cup of coffee.

The Lakeland Ledger is equipped with an extraordinary printing press that is phenomenal to watch in action.  Although a shrill, massive machine, it is remarkably gentle on newsprint. This is vital, because the costly paper is sent whirling off huge rolls and must continue through this process without tearing.

This intricate machine not only puts ink on paper, but also assembles the pages of the newspaper in their correct progression, before zooming them on overhead conveyer belts to the packaging department. Once in the packaging department, they are fitted with inserts and wrapped in plastic; ready for their morning delivery.

A crew of contractors then begins the task of delivering each paper to its residence or destination.

Established in 1924, the Ledger staffs 231 full-time and part-time employees. Acquired by the New York Times Co. in 1970, it was recently purchased by Halifax Media Group.

Tags: Bartow Ford, Courtney Benton, Halifax Media Group, Lakeland Ledger, New York Times, Tifany Butterfield