–30–
Encyclopedia
–30– has been traditionally used by journalists to indicate the end of a story. There are many theories about how the usage came into being,e.g. from that number's use in the 92 Code
of telegraphic
shorthand to signify the end of a transmission in the American Civil War
era.
In another theory, the "-30-" originated when stories were written in longhand; X marked the end of a sentence, XX the end of a paragraph, and XXX meant the end of a story. The Roman numerals XXX translate to 30.
The expression "No 30" at the end of a page (or a transmitted submission) signifies that the story isn't completed, and the recipient is to expect additional material. This helps to avoid inadvertent truncation.
92 Code
The 92 Code was first adopted by Western Union in 1859. The reason for this adoption was to reduce bandwidth usage over the telegraph lines and speed transmissions by utilizing a numerical code system for various frequently used phrases....
of telegraphic
Telegraphy
Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages via some form of signalling technology. Telegraphy requires messages to be converted to a code which is known to both sender and receiver...
shorthand to signify the end of a transmission in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
era.
In another theory, the "-30-" originated when stories were written in longhand; X marked the end of a sentence, XX the end of a paragraph, and XXX meant the end of a story. The Roman numerals XXX translate to 30.
The expression "No 30" at the end of a page (or a transmitted submission) signifies that the story isn't completed, and the recipient is to expect additional material. This helps to avoid inadvertent truncation.
In popular culture
- -30-, a motion picture about work in a Los Angeles newspaper
- "–30–", the series finale of the television series The WireThe WIREthe WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
. Itself capping a season concerning the media and the Baltimore Sun. - "3030 (Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode)"30" is a sixth season episode of the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Plot summary:In this episode, Detectives Logan and Wheeler investigate when Logan's old friend Josh Lemle , a business reporter who had backed Logan after he been transferred to Staten Island, comes to Major Case...
", an episode of the television series Law & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
about a poisoned reporter. The title employs irony as this is the end of the reporter's life. - In several Superman stories from various titles, failure by a Daily PlanetDaily PlanetThe Daily Planet is a fictional broadsheet newspaper in the , appearing mostly in the stories of Superman. The building's original features were based upon the AT&T Huron Road Building in Cleveland, Ohio...
employee to use this signature proved to be a plot point revealing a character's impersonation, mind control, etc. - The title of –30–: The Collapse of the Great American Newspaper by Charles MadiganCharles MadiganCharles M. Madigan is an educator who has been an editor, journalist and columnist in Chicago, Illinois.-Life:Madigan grew up in Altoona, Pennsylvania and attended Pennsylvania State University....
is taken from this practice. - –30– was the title of the editorial in the 30th and final issue of Steve Jackson GamesSteve Jackson GamesSteve Jackson Games is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and the gaming magazine Pyramid.-History:...
' Roleplayer, a newsletter which supported the GURPSGURPSThe Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
game during the late 1980s. - At the end of the 1952 film, Park RowPark Row (film)Park Row is a 1952 drama film directed by Samuel Fuller. It stars Gene Evans and Mary Welch.-Cast:*Gene Evans as Phinneas Mitchell*Mary Welch as Charity Hackett*Bela Kovacs as Ottmar Mergenthaler*Herbert Heyes as Josiah Davenport...
, about the birth of the New York Globe in 1886, the film ends with the word "THIRTY" displayed instead of "THE END". - In A Hare Grows in ManhattanA Hare Grows In ManhattanA Hare Grows In Manhattan is a 1947 Warner Bros. cartoon in the Merrie Melodies series, directed by Friz Freleng and starring Bugs Bunny and a pack a of bulldogs...
, Bugs BunnyBugs BunnyBugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
, thinking he had dispatched the leader of a pack of dogs, said, "That's -30- for today!" - At the Billy Goat TavernBilly Goat TavernThe Billy Goat Tavern is a chain of taverns located in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1937 by Billy Sianis, a Greek immigrant. It achieved fame primarily through newspaper columns by Mike Royko, a supposed curse on the Chicago Cubs, and the Olympia Cafe sketch on Saturday Night Live.It now has...
in Chicago, pictures of reporters who frequented the place are posted on the walls. If the reporter is deceased a -30- is noted on the picture.