The tradition of using endmarks in news releases has been around for more than a century. These marks, like “-30-” or “XXX,” helped newsrooms avoid confusion, especially when stories were set in type or transmitted via telegraph.
Editors and printers needed a clear way to know where a story ended.
One of the most well-known endmarks is “-30-.” Its exact origin is a bit of a mystery. Some say it comes from telegraphy codes, where “30” meant “the end.” Others think it might relate to the Roman numeral “XXX,” which also means the end. By the early 1900s, “-30-” was a common way to signal the conclusion of a news story, especially in the U.S.
Other countries and newsrooms had their own ways of marking the end. Some used “XXX” or even just the word “END.” No matter the symbol, the goal was the same: make it clear where the story stopped.
With today’s digital technology, these symbols aren’t as necessary. News releases are shared electronically, so there’s no need to worry about confusing typesetters. Still, some journalists and PR professionals like to keep the tradition alive. Using “-30-” is a nod to the past and a way to stay connected to the roots of journalism.
While not essential anymore, these endmarks remind us of a time when clarity was key in the newsroom. For many, keeping these symbols is a small but meaningful way to honor the history of the profession.
A Question for You
Do you think endmarks like “-30-” are still relevant in the digital age? Why or why not?
NOTES
The framework of this article was based on a previous post of mine, enhanced by ChatGPT. DALL-E created the image using AI.
