NICKOLAS L. OATLEY

Michael Eutsey started working at the Mercury 11 years ago. Eutsey’s experience at a newspaper company started when he was in college at the Chicago Tribune as a field salesman. “This is the old school way of printing. There is more pride in the challenge

Michael Eutsey started working at the Mercury 11 years ago. Eutsey’s experience at a newspaper company started when he was in college at the Chicago Tribune as a field salesman. “This is the old school way of printing. There is more pride in the challenge of running this press and keeping up with today’s papers,” says Eutsey.

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The Manhattan Mercury's printing press is one of four left in the state of Kansas. Four men operate the press throughout the week, printing not only the Mercury but the Smoke Signal, the Fort Riley Post, the Junction City Daily Union and others. Most printing presses in this day and age are ran by computers and have minimal hands on maintenance. Here in Manhattan Kansas, these pressmen are working the same way pressmen did back in the 70's. “This is the old school way of printing. There is more pride in the challenge of running this press and keeping up with today’s papers," said Michael Eutsey, one of the Mercury's pressmen.

From the left, Yesenia Cervantes, Antonio Mondejo and Norman Savoy work in the mailroom
From the left, Yesenia Cervantes, Antonio Mondejo and Norman Savoy work in the mailroom
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Grady Malsbury and Levi Anderson load a roll of paper on the printing press. A fresh rolls of paper can make about 20,000 newspapers.
Grady Malsbury and Levi Anderson load a roll of paper on the printing press. A fresh rolls of paper can make about 20,000 newspapers.
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The Manhattan Mercury runs through the printing press. This press has been used since 1970 when Ed Seaton built the building.
The Manhattan Mercury runs through the printing press. This press has been used since 1970 when Ed Seaton built the building.
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After the paper runs through the press ads are inserted into each paper before being sent out on delivery trucks.
After the paper runs through the press ads are inserted into each paper before being sent out on delivery trucks.
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Michael Eutsey and Levi Anderson replace the aluminum plates that replace each individual page of the newspaper.
Michael Eutsey and Levi Anderson replace the aluminum plates that replace each individual page of the newspaper.
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Grady Malsbury has worked on the press at The Mercury for 3 years, but before that he worked on the press at The Daily Union for 30 years. Malsbury started working in the mailroom at The Daily Union out of high school and five years after that there was a
Grady Malsbury has worked on the press at The Mercury for 3 years, but before that he worked on the press at The Daily Union for 30 years. Malsbury started working in the mailroom at The Daily Union out of high school and five years after that there was an opening as a pressman. “It’s all I’ve been doing ever since,” says Malsbury. “We do it all by and eye and hand here, not with a computer.”
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Michael Eutsey turns up the speed of the press as he is adding water to clean the plates as the paper is being printed.
Michael Eutsey turns up the speed of the press as he is adding water to clean the plates as the paper is being printed.
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Michael Eutsey walks over to his desk to look at the original file of the newspaper, making sure it matches the colors of what they are printing.
Michael Eutsey walks over to his desk to look at the original file of the newspaper, making sure it matches the colors of what they are printing.
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From the left, Bill Schleiger, Antonio Mondejo and Yesenia Cervantes throw bad newspapers into the dumpster as Norman Savoy lifts the stack of papers with a forklift.
From the left, Bill Schleiger, Antonio Mondejo and Yesenia Cervantes throw bad newspapers into the dumpster as Norman Savoy lifts the stack of papers with a forklift.
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Levi Anderson adds more yellow soy-based ink to the press. The printing press runs on CMYK colors and each part of the press adds a different color to the page.
Levi Anderson adds more yellow soy-based ink to the press. The printing press runs on CMYK colors and each part of the press adds a different color to the page.
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Norman Savoy has worked at the Mercury for about a year now. In 1998 Savoy started working in the mailroom at The Daily Union and soon after became a pressman there. “The people is what make it special here(The Mercury), the camaraderie, different persona
Norman Savoy has worked at the Mercury for about a year now. In 1998 Savoy started working in the mailroom at The Daily Union and soon after became a pressman there. “The people is what make it special here(The Mercury), the camaraderie, different personalities. I’ve always liked working for the newspaper,” says Savoy.
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A hand reaches through the mailroom window for a stack of papers.
A hand reaches through the mailroom window for a stack of papers.
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Michael Whitener uses a dolly to take papers from the press to the inserter so advertisements can be added to the paper before being sent out.
Michael Whitener uses a dolly to take papers from the press to the inserter so advertisements can be added to the paper before being sent out.
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Michale Eutsey tries to communicate with the other pressman over the noise of the press.
Michale Eutsey tries to communicate with the other pressman over the noise of the press.
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A Manhattan Mercury newspaper sits covered in ink on the printing press.
A Manhattan Mercury newspaper sits covered in ink on the printing press.
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Levi Anderson started working as a paper carrier for The Mercury at age 11. When Anderson turned 18 he got his first truck route, four years later he worked in the mailroom and now he is a pressman. “I like the routine of it, everyday trying to make color
Levi Anderson started working as a paper carrier for The Mercury at age 11. When Anderson turned 18 he got his first truck route, four years later he worked in the mailroom and now he is a pressman. “I like the routine of it, everyday trying to make color look as good as possible, trying to get all of the colors to line up,” says Anderson.
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John Murphy cleans up the mailroom after the deliveries go out.
John Murphy cleans up the mailroom after the deliveries go out.
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Grady Malsbury looks at The Manhattan Mercury right after the press started to run to make sure there are no errors in the color or alignment on the pages.
Grady Malsbury looks at The Manhattan Mercury right after the press started to run to make sure there are no errors in the color or alignment on the pages.
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