University of Virginia Library

Conversion Not Complete

The Progress, however, did not
at first convert completely to "cold
type". Since August they have been
using a half and half reproduction
method, in which both cold and
hot type is employed. Also in use
was the "new printing process-Dyna
Flex." Used by only two other
papers in the United States. Dyna
Flex is primarily known for being
one of the cheapest and quickest
ways of putting out a newspaper.

Workmen Install Foundation For New Photo-Offset Press

Progress Purchased Half Million Dollar Press After Reader And Advertiser Complaints

As for producing something that is
readable Progress readers soon
discovered that you get what you
pay for; a cheap looking newspaper.

All through the summer and
much of the fall, the Progress kept
running apologetic articles
explaining why people were not
able to read the newspaper. "It will
be a while before we completely
convert to the modern process. And
we will have problems."

These articles also heralded the
day when the entire paper would be
completely done with the "cold
type" process. On August fifteenth
they announced that the next day's
issue would be printed completely
"by the new process." Presumably
it was, but since then they returned
to the half and half method.

It was also during this period
that advertisers and readers began
to complain about the appearance
of the paper. According to the
general manager of Downtown
Charlottesville Inc., the majority of
advertisers were "not happy" with
the "new look" of the Progress, but
that most had adopted a wait and
see attitude, hoping for
improvement but not willing to
desert such a long established
method of publicity.