15 Photos That Show the Inner Workings of Old Newsrooms

Written by Erin Kuschner on September 23, 2025

Two black-and-white photos: Left, several people work at desks with typewriters and large stacks of paper in a busy office. Right, a man types alone at a cluttered desk with papers pinned to a wooden wall.

Noisy typewriters, ringing telephones, smoke-filled rooms — these were the hallmarks of old-school newsrooms, a place where computers were but a mere idea and the 24/7 news cycle had yet to exist. There was chaos, urgency, and a commitment to getting the facts right no matter what. Whether you’re a history buff or just someone who wants a peek into the way newspapers used to run, take a look at these photos that depict the hustle and bustle of newsrooms throughout the decades.

1. Dave Karno, Copy Editor at the Chicago Sun-Times (1954)

A man with glasses sits at a cluttered desk, holding two pipes in his mouth, surrounded by papers, pencils, and office equipment, while reaching for a telephone. — Shorpy.com

2. The New York Times Newsroom (1942)

A busy, vintage office scene with men in dress shirts and ties working at large tables covered in papers, typewriters, and stacks of documents under bright overhead lights. — morganmonroe81 / Reddit.com

3. Making Calls and Reading the Paper at the New York Times (1942)

Black and white photo of a busy newsroom with men in dress shirts and ties working at desks with typewriters, papers, and phones; some are typing, others reading or talking on the phone, circa mid-20th century. — Crowe410 / Reddit.com

4. The Newsroom at the New York Amsterdam News in Harlem (1938)

Black and white photo of several people typing at desks covered with papers and typewriters in a busy, crowded office. Shelves of files and papers hang on the walls in the background. — AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

5. So Long, Typewriters: The Copy Desk at the Wisconsin State Journal Newsroom (1981)

Black and white photo of a busy office in the 1980s, with people working at desks using early personal computers, surrounded by papers, books, and bulletin boards on the walls. — AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

6. ‘The World Desk of the Associated Press, Around the End of WWII’ (1945)

A group of men and women work at desks covered with papers and documents in a busy, old-fashioned office setting, possibly from the mid-20th century. Typewriters and filing cabinets are visible in the background. — NorthernSparrow / Reddit.com

7. Cary Williams, Editor of the Greensboro Herald Journal in Greensboro, Georgia (1941)

A man sits at a cluttered desk in an office, surrounded by scattered papers, files, and calendars pinned on the wooden wall behind him. He appears focused as he writes or examines documents. — HellsJuggernaut / Reddit.com

8. Reporters Set Up a Temporary Press Room in a Pub Near Sandringham After the Death of King George V (1936)

Five men in a cluttered office talk on rotary phones, surrounded by newspapers, papers, and old-fashioned office equipment. One man reclines, while others sit or stand, all appearing focused and busy. — pubwithnobeer / Reddit.com

9. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein Hanging Out in the Washington Post Newsroom (1973)

Two men in dress shirts and ties sit in a busy office with fluorescent lighting. One leans back with his hand behind his head, while the other sits forward, engaged in conversation. Office desks and papers are visible in the background. — scottb84 / Reddit.com

10. Babe Ruth Takes the Helm at the Syracuse Herald Newsroom (1922)

Two men in an office: one stands wearing a suit and boater hat, while the other sits at a cluttered desk, writing on papers. Both look toward the camera; office papers and a wire basket are visible. — World-Tight / Reddit.com

11. When Hunter S. Thompson Was a Sports Journalist for The Command Courier, Eglin AFB (1958)

A young man sits at a desk typing on a typewriter in an office. The desk has a nameplate reading "A.V. Hunter Thompson," papers, a model airplane, and a binder. Shelves with books and a window are in the background. — Wu_Oyster_Cult / Reddit.com

12. Journalists at the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Work Through a Power Outage (1958)

Three men work at a cluttered desk, reading and discussing papers by candlelight during a power outage; the scene is dimly lit, with candles providing the only source of light in the dark room. — Shorpy.com

13. Nailing Down the Details (1954)

Black-and-white photo of an old-fashioned office with several men in shirts and vests working at desks filled with papers, typewriters, and phones. The room has a busy, collaborative atmosphere. — Rarecoin101 / Reddit.com

14. Employees at the Cleveland Press Working in the Composing Room in Downtown Cleveland, Ohio (1972)

Three men stand around a table in a print shop, examining a layout. One man points at the table while others observe. Printing equipment and machinery are visible in the background. — AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

15. ‘The Staff of El Progreso Newspaper, Texas’ (Early 1900s)

A black and white photo of men and one woman standing in a print shop with large printing presses and workbenches, wearing early 20th-century work attire. — Dhorlin / Reddit.com

Looking for similar stories?

33 Photos That Perfectly Sum Up the Year 1963 — We rounded up some pictures throughout the year to give a glimpse into 1963.
15 Powerful Photos of Everyday Jobs From Mid-Century America — These snapshots capture the people behind the work, reminding us what real hustle used to look like.
12 Jobs You’ll Probably Never See Again — From switchboard operators plugging in calls to knocker-uppers rapping on windows to wake people up, these jobs have vanished into history.