Newsies a Winner

Our family just returned from a short trip to New York where we saw "Newsies," the popular musical about the New York newsboy strike in 1899.  The two-week strike against the New York World and New York Journal forced the newspaper's to increase the amount of money they paid to the newsboys. In "Newsies" the kids only strike against the World and publisher Joseph Pulitzer is the bad guy. Still,  I was impressed with the general historical accuracy of the show, even down to the logo of the World used in the newspapers that were such an important part of many scenes. (The dance scene where the newsies dance on copies of the paper is one of the show's best.)

By the way, I couldn't resist this opportunity to post one of my favorite pictures of newsboys, taken by the muckraking photographer Lewis Hine.  Hine took many photos of newsies as part of his crusade against child labor. 

A Day A Photo

When I struggle to find the time to post regularly on my blog (as I have done this summer), I think about my colleague in the Department of Journalism, Will Yurman.  Will, who joined our faculty from the Rochester (N.Y) Times-Democrat, has a wonderful photo blog, A Day A Photo, where he posts a picture he has taken that day. (The photo above, "Family Devices," is from one day this month.) And the truly amazing thing to me is that Will has posted a picture to the site every day for for nine years without missing a single day. That's a blogger.

Old and new

The New York Times had an interesting story a couple of weeks ago about how films are smaller again. In the early years of film making, movies were shown on little screens because that was the only way technology would permit.  Now, thanks to smart phones, movies are on small screens again.

The Legacy of Watergate

I just finished Jon Marshall's outstanding book, Watergate's Legacy and the Press: The Investigative Impulse. The book provides a concise history of the the Watergate investigation by the Washington Post.  It also gives an overview of earlier investigative reporting, particularly the muckraking era.  But probably it's greatest contribution is in examining the history of investigative reporting after Watergate. The book is part of the excellent series by Northwestern University Press, Visions of the American Press.

Favorite newspaper mottos

After visiting the Newseum, I started thinking about my favorite newspaper mottos. Let's start with one from that historic paper down the road from Washington:

Baltimore Sun: "The Sun Shines for All"
New York Times: "All the News that's Fit to Print"
Chicago Tribune: "World's Greatest Newspaper"
Atlanta Journal: "Covers Dixie Like the Dew"
Tombstone Epitaph: "No Tombstone is Complete Without its Epitaph"
Aspen Daily News: "If you Don't want it Printed, Don't Let it Happen"

And the longest motto, but maybe the best:
Mason Valley News (Yerington, Nev.): "The Only Newspaper in the World that Gives a Damn about Yerrington"

Newseum visit worth the wait

I finally got the chance recently to visit the Newseum in Washington, D.C.  I toured the old Newseum in Arlington, Va., but after visiting the impressive new venue I can't believe it too me so long to get there.  I loved the historic newspaper front pages.  It was also good to see the exhibit of Civil War journalism.

End of Road for Car Talk

The Car Talk brothers announced this week that they will stop doing new shows this fall.  After 35 years on radio, Tom and Ray Magliozzi said they are ready to move on.  Fortunately, Car Talk will continue to broadcast old shows starting in October.

Car Talk debuted in 1977 on WBUR in Boston when the Magliozzi brothers were asked to field calls seeking automotive advice.  After 10 years, the show was picked up by National Public Radio.  Today, the show is broadcast on 660 stations and heard by an estimated 3.3 million listeners weekly. It is NPR's top-rated weekend show.

Car Talk is the kind of quirky, off-beat show that could have only been broadcast on public radio. It's one more example of why we need public radio and why it needs our support.