Read Tabloidology for Free Online Page A

punishment to give based upon her vast personal experience?
    Instead of sitting behind her desk as usual, Ms. Baumgartner stood in front and leaned against the edge.
    â€œYou might be wondering why I’ve called you both into my office at the same time,” she said.
    â€œI think that’s a pretty safe thing to say, Ms. Baumgartner,” Trixi said. Martin didn’t say anything. He just stared at the floor.
    â€œWell, let me tell you. I’ll start with you, Martin,” Ms. Baumgartner said. “I certainly have to admire the dedication, hard work and tremendous effort you put into the school newspaper each and every week. However…” Ms. Baumgartner paused and folded her arms.
    Martin lifted his head when he heard Ms. Baumgartner say However . He didn’t like the way she said the word.
    â€œHowever, by my calculations, since taking over the Upland Green Examiner you have printed approximately two thousand copies of the newspaper and sold…twenty. That means one thousand nine hundred and eighty unsold newspapers went into the recycling bin. Through sales of the newspaper, you have earned five dollars, while the cost of printing the newspaper has been approximately eight hundred dollars.”
    Martin jumped to his feet. “I thought you liked the paper! I thought you thought I was doing a good job! I thought you thought I thought—”
    â€œSit down, Martin,” Ms. Baumgartner said. She walked around her desk and sat down. “Here’s the situation, Martin. After the flood in the library, the school needs every penny it can get its hands on to buy replacement books. We have to find ways of saving money.”
    Martin didn’t like the sound of this one little bit. This was definitely not shaping up as a “good news” speech.
    â€œThere are many people in this school who feel we should shut the school newspaper down,” Ms. Baumgartner continued. “I don’t want to do that, Martin. I know how much the newspaper means to you. So instead of shutting the newspaper down, I’m giving you another chance. You may continue to write, copy and sell the school newspaper…but under one condition.”
    Martin gulped and sat up straight in his chair, his hands folded across his lap.
    â€œFrom now on,” Ms. Baumgartner said, “you must sell enough copies of the paper to pay for the costs of photocopying.”
    â€œPay for the costs of photocopying my newspaper?” Martin said.
    â€œYes. In other words, the newspaper must pay for itself,” Ms. Baumgartner said. “If the cost of printing the paper each week is, say, twenty dollars, then you must sell twenty-dollars worth of papers. But if the newspaper can’t pay for itself, we will just have to shut it down. I’m afraid we have no choice in the matter. Do you understand, Martin?”
    â€œYou’re saying that the Upland Green Examiner has to pay for itself?” Martin said.
    â€œYes, Martin. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
    â€œDoesn’t anyone in this school see how important it is to be informed?” Martin said. “Doesn’t anyone see how important it is to know what’s going on around the school? The news of the school may not be entertaining, but it’s important information! Like my Grandpa Wettmore said—”
    â€œYes, Martin, we know what your Grandpa Wettmore said. The plain truth is the school can no longer afford to pay for the printing of your paper. You’ll just have to sell more copies.”
    â€œI will not change the way I write my newspaper just to make it more en…en…entertaining!” he said. “I won’t change the news just to sell more papers. The school newspaper is more important than money!” Martin’s face had turned a deep red and his hands gripped the sides of the chair tightly enough to turn his knuckles white.
    â€œI’m sorry, Martin,” Ms.