When I think of the old press you describe, I get a mental picture of a couple guys from the fifties, wearing those grey hats and suits all men wore then, smoking stogies while driving a ‘53 Plymouth or Desoto, then speaking with the classic Damon Runyon speech pattern, vocal intonations, and tough phrases into the pay phone they rushed to in order to be first to call in the story by deadline. :)
I think about times when print shops were burned down, a single publisher/reporter was run out of town (or killed).
Maybe it’s due to the abandoned towns I’ve visited and the history I’ve read of the area.
Although, Howie Carr (Boston Herald) has told some stories of his possible encounters with Whitey Bulger in the 60’s/70’s. I think he still has them on a website should you care to look.
Visiting Hearst Castle was not without a history of some of his dealings either.