The “I Love Lucy” creator learned her craft at this forgotten Indiana journalism powerhouse

Fletcher Wagner’s Daily Echo at Shortridge High School

In 1898, a stubborn high school kid named Fletcher Wagner made history in Indianapolis.

After two failed tries with school papers that fizzled out, he launched the Daily Echo at Shortridge High School on September 27.

The one-page paper ran for just over a month until parents complained about their kids’ long hours. But by January 1899, it was back as a four-page daily with rotating student editors.

The Echo ran for 72 years, helping launch careers of Kurt Vonnegut, a U. S. Senator, and even the writer of I Love Lucy.

The historic print shop at Shortridge still stands as a monument to America’s first daily high school newspaper.

Two Failed School Papers Led to Something Big

The Silent Spectator at Shortridge High School quit after just seven issues. Then The Comet folded after 21 issues.

Student Fletcher Wagner watched both papers fail but didn’t give up. He spotted what went wrong – poor planning, inconsistent staffing, and weak school support.

These early flops showed students wanted school news, but needed a better approach.

Teen Had Big Dreams for America’s First Daily School Paper

In 1898, Fletcher Wagner came up with a plan no high school student had tried before. He wanted to create a newspaper that came out every single day, not just weekly or monthly like other schools.

Wagner spent months planning, talking to teachers, and finding classmates who liked his idea. He knew his plan would take more work than the failed papers before it.

The Daily Echo Made History

On September 27, 1898, the first Daily Echo hit the halls of Shortridge High School in Indianapolis. The paper was just one page with ads on the back.

Wagner and two friends did everything – writing stories, setting type, and printing copies. They worked before school, during lunch, and into the evening.

Students grabbed copies between classes to read about school events and their classmates.

Parents Put a Stop to the New Paper

After a month, the parents of Wagner and his two helpers stepped in.

They complained their sons spent too many hours on the newspaper instead of schoolwork and family time. The boys often stayed at school until late evening finishing the next day’s paper.

On November 3, 1898, just five weeks after starting, the Daily Echo stopped printing.

The School Saved the Student Paper

Soon after the Echo stopped, students and teachers called a school meeting to save the newspaper. They formed a committee with both students and teachers to find solutions.

The group bought a printing press for the school. They also created a system where more students could help with different jobs.

The Echo Came Back Better Than Before

The Daily Echo returned on January 16, 1899, totally changed from its beginnings. The new version had four full pages instead of just one.

The paper now had different editors for each day of the week, so no single student got overwhelmed. Monday’s team handed off to Tuesday’s team, and so on.

The bigger format gave room for more stories, opinions, sports, and announcements.

The School Print Shop Helped the Paper Succeed

Shortridge’s vocational department had a fully equipped print shop that became key to the Echo’s success. Students learned real skills as they set type, designed layouts, and ran printing equipment.

Students who didn’t like writing could join as typesetters, printers, or business managers. Many students later used these skills in their careers.

Shortridge’s Paper Became a Model for Others

For 72 straight years, the Daily Echo came out every school day. Schools from across the country sent teachers to Shortridge to learn their methods.

The daily deadlines taught students to write quickly and clearly. Many schools tried to copy the Shortridge model but found the daily schedule too hard to maintain.

Future Famous People Started at the School Paper

The Daily Echo launched some amazing careers. Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote “Slaughterhouse-Five,” was once the paper’s editor.

Madelyn Pugh Davis wrote for the Echo before creating the TV show “I Love Lucy. ” U.S. Senator Richard Lugar wrote for the Echo long before going to Washington.

Authors Dan Wakefield and Nikki Stoddard Schofield also started at the paper.

Changing Times Forced a New Format in the 1970s

After seven decades as a daily, the Echo switched to a weekly format during the 1970-1971 school year. The new version came out just once a week but grew to eight pages.

Rising printing costs, changing student interests, and competition from other activities all played a part in the decision. The Echo continued to win awards for its quality even after the format change.

The switch reflected broader changes happening in high schools across America as traditional programs adapted to new realities.

The Historic Paper Lives On After A Brief Timeout

When Shortridge became a junior high school in 1981, the Echo stopped publishing completely. The paper stayed dormant for decades until Shortridge reopened as an International Baccalaureate high school in 2015.

Three years later, in late 2018, students and teachers brought the Echo back to life, 120 years after Fletcher Wagner first created it.

Today’s Echo connects modern students with their school’s rich history while giving them the same hands-on journalism experience that benefited generations before them.

The revived paper honors Wagner’s original vision of giving students a daily voice in their school community.

Visiting Shortridge High School, Indiana

You can visit Shortridge High School at 3401 N Meridian St in Indianapolis to see where America’s first daily high school newspaper began in 1898.

The school still publishes the Daily Echo today as an International Baccalaureate program. Campus tours run October through February for up to 20 people.

Check in at Door 13 on Meridian Street and fill out their building tour registration form first.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Cannelton Cotton Mills: Indiana’s half-century child labor machine
• Gene Hackman’s Hoosiers came from this 1954 David versus Goliath upset in Indiana
• How glass companies stole an entire 200-foot Indiana mountain one boxcar at a time in the 1890s