The Times and the Titanic

I can't let the month end without noting the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic.  But instead of joining the chorus of eulogies for one of the worst disasters in maritime history, I want to note the outstanding news coverage of the event by the New York Times.  The Times devoted remarkable resources to cover the accident in which 1,514 passengers died.  The coverage is chronicled in Meyer Berger's history of the newspaper.

Daily Collegian Goes Old Style

The Daily Collegian, Penn State's student newspaper, celebrated its 125th anniversary today by returning to its roots.  In a historic nod to its predecessor, The Free Lance, which was born on April 18, 1887, the Daily Collegian copied the newspaper's old look.  The nameplate, headline fonts, column rules and other design elements mimic the The Freelance.  It's a clever way for the Daily Collegian to remember where it came from. Kudos to editor Lexi Belculfine and the staff.

Sara Ganim wins Pulitzer Prize

Congratulations to Penn State journalism graduate Sara Ganim and the Patriot-News for winning the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. Sara, who is just 24 years old, and her colleagues were honored for their outstanding reporting of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. The Department of Journalism is extraordinarily proud of Sara.

Another pat on the back to the Philadelphia Inquirer for winning the Pulitzer Prize for public service for its series on the pervasive violence in the city's schools.  During a year in which the newspaper has gone through so much ownership turmoil, it's great to see the Inquirer recognized.

An April Fool's Joke to Remember

The media has pulled plenty of memorable pranks on April Fool's Day, but perhaps none was better than the "Taco Liberty Bell" advertisement in 1996.  The fast food chain placed advertisements in several leading newspapers announcing that it had purchased the Liberty Bell to "reduce the country's debt" and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell." Thousands of people protested before Taco Bell announced that it was a hoax.

The prank was the brainchild of PainePR, a public relations firm.  The advertisements cost $300,000 but generated an estimated $25 million in publicity for Taco Bell. The White House even got in on the joke. The same day press secretary Mike McCurry told reporters that as part of its ongoing privatization efforts, "Ford Motor Co. is joining today in an effort to refurbish the Lincoln Memorial. It will be the Lincoln Mercury Memorial."

Earl Scruggs, 1924-1912

Bluegrass music lost one of it pioneers when Earl Scruggs, who developed the modern banjo sound, died yesterday at the age 88.  Scruggs and his guitar-playing partner, Lester Flatt, were best known for songs such as "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "The Ballad of Jed Clampett."  Flatt and Scruggs were regular guests on the Grand Ole Opry and were heard on the Opry's popular radio broadcasts on WSM.

Great Radio on Hall of Fame Site

The web site of the Radio Hall of Fame is a terrific place for anyone who wants to listen to some of the best personalities and programs in radio history. From Abbot and Costello to Wolfman Jack, and from All Things Considered to Your Hit Parade, the site provides short audio clips of the Hall of Fame inductees. You will be reminded of what made Edward R. Murrow the trusted voice of authority during World War II, and why the Grand Ole Opry is the country's longest-running musical program.

The Artist Revives Lost Art

I finally got to see "The Artist," the black-and-white silent film that is an homage to Hollywood's early years. The charming movie certainly deserves all the accolades it has received, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. "The Artist" is the creation of French writer-director Michel Hazanavicius, who had wanted to make a silent film for years. "A silent film is a very special experience," he said. "It is not intellectual, it's emotional. You take it in the way you take in music. There are times when language reduces communication, when you feel you are losing something when you start talking." "The Artist" revives a lost art and it is indeed a special experience.