On April 5, 1967, a new feature appeared in NCR. Composed of 20 classified ads, it constituted a quarter of a broadsheet page -- before NCR became a tabloid -- and was called Ad Random. There was even an ad for Ad Random, soliciting ads "for ideas, items and services appealing to our well-educated and ecumenical audience; miscellany; musical and art objects; books; special projects; challenges; personals; jobs wanted; educational or literary items." A warning went with it: "Copy must be in keeping with the character of NCR."

No one would have guessed, given NCR's gung-ho, cerebral, not to mention otherworldly readership, that such ads would become so popular. But even NCR readers have down-to-earth lives, often needing old books or new programs, but especially jobs. The most popular category by far caters to readers interested in a nationwide job search.

In 1992 the heading was changed to NCR Classifieds. They now occupy an average of three to five pages, with more than 40 categories. It's practically a miracle!

But it gets better. As of this July, NCR Classifieds are online on the Web. Now a potential audience of millions of eager browsers will see the advertisement for your workshop or your for-sale brass candelabra. And this added exposure is free to all who advertise in the paper. At least for now. So sell whatever you can before someone puts a price on this added Web exposure.

NCR's home page address is http://www.natcath.com.

To some people commerce is a tainted word, but it has a benign aspect as part of the way we live together. We at NCR are delighted to be of service to readers and advertisers, including cybermerchants.

A tragic accident took the life of an old friend of NCR June 23. Denis Nahum, husband of former NCR reporter Penny Lernoux, was killed in a collision with a truck near Bogota, Colombia, while being driven by his daughter, Angela. On behalf of the many readers who knew the family through Penny's work or otherwise, we extend our condolences to Angela, currently a student at the University of Southern California.

National Catholic Reporter, July 18, 1997

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