Like many great American newspapers before it, The Washington Post is preparing to pick up and move its newsroom to new headquarters. Its current base of operations, the iconic 1150 15th St. NW building, will be razed to make room for a new development anchored by mortgage company Fannie Mae.
Over at Washingtonian magazine, Washington Post kremlinologist Andrew Beaujon has been covering the newspaper’s impending move, including requests from the human resources department to toss out excess paper.
In an effort to make the now-vacant offices at more homey, Washington Post Design Director Greg Manifold is asking employees to nominate headlines to be included in installations that will adorn the walls of the new offices. “Don’t hesitate to send a lengthy list of favorites,” he writes.
By way of example, Manifold cites a quote from legendary Post editor Ben Bradlee and one from photojournalist Michel du Cille, who died last year.
Manifold has a rich tradition of headline writing to draw from. To name a few: the large, all-caps titles that led the paper’s stories on Watergate; the headlines that artfully — and hilariously — captured the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana and the Post’s recent cosmically dirty solar system pun.
Here’s the memo:
As a part of designing the new building, there is an opportunity for the entire newsroom to contribute and make its mark.
We need your favorite headlines from The Post to make several wall installations. We need close to a thousand headlines, so please send a list of your favorites to me by September 1. We’re looking for a cross-section of headlines from various sections and eras. (Bonus points for anything pre-1990). Don’t hesitate to send a lengthy list of favorites.
To be considered, please include the following information:
Newspaper: Headline, Date, Page number (i.e. B4)
or
Website: Headline, URLAlso, we’re looking for memorable sayings about The Washington Post and our journalism. For example:
“The truth is never as dangerous as a lie.” Ben Bradlee
“This is what we do.” Michel du CillePlease send those along to me as well. A citation for where you saw the quote would be ideal if there is one.
Thanks in advance.
