On Thursday, December 4th, the Orange and Green Newspaper staff attended a field trip to the Porterville Recorder office. As our news staff entered the office, we were greeted by a wonderful Christmas scent and mountains of gifts for local children. Charles Whisnand, the editor, kindly guided us around the building, answered our many questions, and introduced us to the staff.
The Porterville Recorder was first published on May 21, 1908, making it over 100 years old and a long-standing chronicler of local history.
Getting the opportunity to receive a one-on-one tour at the Porterville Recorder office was very exciting as a journalist. We were able to take in the different types of advice they gave us. However, the most important thing they shared was that ever since COVID-19 happened, the structure they once had is no longer the same. This means that each station that was previously occupied by employees is no longer constantly filled. Many members of the Porterville Recorder office became comfortable working from home and have continued doing so until now. As of December 4th, 2025, there are only five employees working in the office. As the Orange and Green Newspaper staff, we can relate, since we also have a small team.
Charles Whisnand stated, “I don’t really see the Porterville Recorder disappearing overnight, especially with the community that we have. They won’t allow it to leave.” With that being said, I strongly agree with Charles Whisnand that it will not disappear. If you think about it, the community will not allow it to leave because many people are very old-school and still enjoy sitting down, opening a newspaper, and sipping a cup of coffee. However, the newspaper is not only for that purpose. It also gives recognition to people doing important things in our community and individuals who have accomplished significant achievements. The Recorder also offers a plethora of article types.
After receiving a tour from Charles Whisnand, we had the opportunity to see very old books that documented events that happened during each month of the year. The most recent year we saw was 2010. Imagine how incredible it must have been to publish a large book every month during that year. Being able to see those books and look back at how things were in the past was truly eye-opening. Nowadays, most news and updates are accessed through our cellular devices. The idea of opening a newspaper or a large book to learn about daily, weekly, or monthly events seems more interesting than opening multiple tabs and staring at a screen for updates about the world.
As our trip came to an end, we took time to ask questions and receive tips so that we could improve as young journalists. The trip was not just about observing the Porterville Recorder office but about taking in as much advice and feedback as possible. As young journalists, we realized after this trip that we must be determined to finish a story and avoid procrastination. We should take the time we have and use it wisely. The trip to the Porterville Recorder office was an opportunity to better understand our role as journalists and responsible citizens in our community. We left feeling inspired.
Thank you to Mr. Whisnand and the Porterville Recorder staff for warmly hosting us. We encourage all of our readers to start reading the Porterville Recorder. Check out their website here: https://www.recorderonline.com/
