The Golden Age of American Journalism comes alive for your teen, enriching English, Social Studies, and Journalism curriculum.

These amazing & inspiring true stories are FREE TO
STUDENTS,
 PARENTS,
& EDUCATORS!

History & English Come Alive!

Through Stories from the Rolodex

Ann Welch, M.Ed.

Beverly Stoddart

We have a mission

We want to put in kids’ hands a glimpse into the history of journalism you can’t find anywhere else, of how journalists did their job of reporting the news by investigation and truth-finding at a time before there were cell phones, the internet, and social media.

Stories from the Rolodex is just that. Sixteen important figures of journalism were interviewed, recorded, and their first-hand reporting is told in a question-and-answer format so their voices can be heard in words on the page. Through their words, we hope your students will see what grit, resilience, and mindset looks like in true-life stories.

Our mission is to provide teachers with a copy of the book and discussion questions that accompany the text. We hope these two items will serve as a springboard for discussions about what truth is, where it is, and what it takes to get to the truth. And to help them make a more in-depth connection with their lives now.

By Beverly Stoddart

Stories from the Rolodex

Important Figures of Journalism in Their Own Words

Featuring essays on several local voices from the golden age of journalism:

  • George Regan, Regan Communications, Boston, is the first chapter and he is chairman and CEO of the 6th largest PR firms in the country.
  • John Harrigan is a beloved NH writer known for his Water, Woods and Wildlife column.
  • Joe McQuaid was the publisher of the Union Leader for years. Both men give distinct ways of looking at life in NH.
  • John Milne was a leader of NH media and worked in politics for nearly half a century.

This book focuses on many newsmen and women holding up the fourth estate that never made the headlines.

By Ann Welch & Beverly Stoddard

Discussion Questions: Stories from the Rolodex

Study Guide

Discussion Questions: Stories from the Rolodex is a guide for teachers, professors, homeschool parents, and instructors of all types. Its purpose is to provide learners with questions to provoke critical thinking and a deeper understanding of journalism and the techniques these unique individuals used to get to the truth of the history they were covering. The chapters will provide the instructor with questions about politics, historical events, racism, nature, war and peace, the work of being a journalist, and perseverance.

From InDepthNH.org

The NewHampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism

December 30, 2021

‘Stories From the Rolodex,’ A Conversation

By  

 

Author / Writer / Speaker

Beverly Stoddart

Beverly Stoddart is an author, writer, and speaker. She has published her essays in NH’s largest newspaper, the Union Leader, and the Senior Beacon, and has a monthly column on InDepthNH.org and in the Windham Independent. Stoddart worked for newspapers for over 40 years, including at the Boston Herald and the Union Leader. Her new work is Stories from the Rolodex and tells how United Press International journalists worked in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Educator / Speaker Author / consultant

Ann Welch, M.Ed.

Ann is an experienced educator, curriculum specialist, and educational leader who instructs students of all ages in developing vital skills for achieving success in life. During her more than 30 years in education, Ann has guided students in developing self-motivation, confidence, and a “can-do” attitude. Having worked with children, teens, and adults, in and out of special education, Ann is adept at teaching the 21st-century skills necessary for everyone to pursue their dreams! For the last 12 years, Ann has created and documented curriculum for a school in central NH. Through consulting, workshops, speaking engagements, and online classes, Ann provides engaging and personalized instruction for developing goal-setting skills and fostering resilience and grit. In addition to working with children, Ann is also passionate about working with educators, providing a development, and consulting services on a wide range of topics. Through professional development and mentoring teachers, Ann works to strengthen learning communities. Ann lives with her husband and son in Derry, NH. She is active in her church and in Toastmasters International.

Course Enrichment

Stories From the Rolodex enriches the content for a variety of course areas.

English

English competencies can be met using the stories for reading instruction and as a springboard for research. The Discussion Questions can be used as writing prompts for a variety of essays. 

US History

Historic Events & Topics described in Stories from the Rolodex:

  • Finding the Titanic
  • The meaning of NH Spirit
  • Reporting in Vietnam
  • Desegregation 
  • Anwar Sadat’s historic visit to Jerusalem
  • The return of American POW’s in 1973
  • A discussion of fake news—how it was presented and how it was debunked
  • Reporting and helping the students at the Challenger explosion

Journalism

Featuring essays on several local voices from the golden age of journalism (George Regan, Regan Communications, Boston, is the first chapter and he is chairman and CEO of the 6th largest PR firms in the country. John Harrigan is a beloved NH writer known for his Water, Woods and Wildlife column. Joe McQuaid was publisher of the Union Leader for years. Both men give distinct ways of looking at life in NH. John Milne was a leader of NH media and worked politics for nearly half a century.), this book focuses on many news men and women holding up the fourth estate that never made the headlines.

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Before there were computers, the internet, cell phones, and social media, we had to do things the old fashioned way. We had to use typewriters with carbon paper if we wanted copies. We had to use a phone book or the yellow pages if we wanted to look up a phone number and then dial the phone. We had to write things down. And, if we wanted to keep track of our contacts, we used a Rolodex. Every office of United Press International had, at one time, a Rolodex full of the contacts that a busy wire service would need to reach a connection, a source.

The true stories in Stories from the Rolodex will take the reader into the world of the working journalist at a time when they used rotary dial phones, looked up phone numbers in telephone books and kept their contacts in a metal Rolodex that sat in an office where everyone could access names, home phone numbers, home addresses, and clues about habits in order to get the story. The Boston Bureau’s Rolodex is the junction for the stories in Stories from the Rolodex. The journalists and their words reveal the history and provide anecdotes to major events that took place in the world.

– Stories from the Rolodex

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