ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Freedom Forum  2008 Today's Front Pages archive</title> </head> <body> <a name="top"></a> <img src="year_top.gif" usemap="#map2" border=0><br> <img src="calendar_08.gif" usemap="#map1" width="630" height="500" border=0> <MAP NAME="map1"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="265, 462, 278, 472" HREF="#103108"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="248, 462, 261, 472" HREF="#103008"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="231, 462, 244, 472" HREF="#102908"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="214, 462, 227, 472" HREF="#102808"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="197, 462, 210, 472" HREF="#102708"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="265, 448, 278, 458" HREF="#102408"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="248, 448, 261, 458" HREF="#102308"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="231, 448, 244, 458" HREF="#102208"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="214, 448, 227, 458" HREF="#102108"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="197, 448, 210, 458" HREF="#102008"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="265, 433, 278, 443" HREF="#101708"> <AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="248, 433, 261, 443" 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name="#103108"></a> <b>October 31, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A future for front page? It s all in the magic</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Each day, streams of people pause along Pennsylvania Avenue to gaze at newspaper front pages displayed outside the Newseum. <P>They read. They laugh; they frown. They nod in agreement; they shake their heads in disbelief. They share; they connect. <P>But mostly, they linger. <P>Circulation is declining, and free content on the Internet is booming. But yet, few things can be as personal as a newspaper front page.  Where s <CITE>my page</CITE>? we re often asked. <P>Sometimes the front page is predictable. Often it s overly gloomy. And in too many cases, it s inconsistent. <P>But every day it has an opportunity to touch people by: <P><B>Sharing what people are talking about:</B>  They never thought they d see the day, the <CITE>Detroit Free Press</CITE> said today about African-Americans feelings about Barack Obama s run for the White House. And the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> looks at  One more role for the cellphone: matchmaker. <P><B>Seeing the big picture:</B> With its state in an economic crisis and its governor in a scandal, the <CITE>Las Vegas Sun</CITE> examined the state of the state:  Nevada Turns 144, But What s To Celebrate? <B>But not forgetting important details:</B> The <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> pursued police documents that showed  Missed opportunities hours before slaying of the editor of the <CITE>Oakland Post</CITE>. <P><B>Looking beyond the headlines:</B> In a different kind of election story, <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> reported on  A risky conversation. Said the <CITE>Post</CITE>:  Politics naturally divides people, but this election cycle has highlighted the divide. Now, simply talking about the presidential candidates seems like a wedge issue. <P><B>Providing news that readers can t get anywhere else:</B> <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> of Wilmington, Del., noted that late Wednesday night its city matched its record for the number of homicides in a year. <B>And owning what they know:</B>  Shuttle set for Nov. 14 liftoff, said <CITE>Florida Today</CITE> in Melbourne, which swamps the space beat. <P><B>Writing good headlines:</B>  We Shopped Till We Dropped, the <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis said in summarizing GDP data.  Plumb Job, said the <CITE>New York Post</CITE> with a photo of Joe the Plumber on the campaign trail. And in writing a label headline that actually works, the <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> described the path of a high school football team:  From Cream Puff to Cinderella. <P><B>Presenting good stories and images:</B> In an eye-catching  To Catch a Cyber-Thief presentation, the <CITE>Kitsap Sun</CITE> in Bremerton, Wash., said:  A Bainbridge Island couple recovered a stolen $2,700 bicycle through sting tactics  online and with police. <P><B>Taking a different look:</B> Halloween stories are everywhere today, but <CITE>The Post-Crescent</CITE> of Appleton, Wis., breathed new life into a stale story with Rob Kaiser s <A class=chan href="http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081031/APC0101/810310551&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG> Houdini works his magic column</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> about  Legendary artist offers lesson on escaping troubles. Harry Houdini, who lived in Appleton, died on Halloween 1926. <P>What will the future hold for the front page? Will it escape its troubles? To editors, I d say: Don t stop thinking about tomorrow, but don t stop thinking about print. <P>Make me laugh. Make me cry. Move me to share my opinion. Move me to take action. Make me want to pick up tomorrow s front page. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#103008"></a> <b>October 30, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>World champs, not worldwide coverage</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>Newspaper editors in the mid-Atlantic region had a field day with their front pages after the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3, last night to win baseball s World Series. <P>Devoting its cover to a staff photograph of the closing pitcher and catcher in an exuberant bear hug, the <CITE>Philadelphia Daily News</CITE> exclaimed:  FROM CURSED TO FIRST & SEND IN THE CROWN! <P><CITE>The Morning Call</CITE> in Allentown, Pa., and the <CITE>Burlington County Times</CITE> in Willingboro, N.J., dedicated the entire page to the event. The layout was different, the headline the same:  Phinally! (Props to <CITE>The Morning Call</CITE> for using the team s signature script.) <P> WORLD CHAMPS! declared <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE>, which gave the top two-thirds of Page One to the victory and one spectacular photograph capturing pitcher Brad Lidge s and catcher Carlos Ruiz s joy at winning. The subhead:  28 years later, Phillies again are baseball s best. <P>Nearby, the <CITE>Courier-Post</CITE> in Cherry Hill, N.J., announced:  WE DID IT!  saving the particulars for six pages of game coverage inside. <P><CITE>The Press</CITE> in Atlantic City, N.J., <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., and <CITE>The Times-Tribune</CITE> in Scranton, Pa., made the news their daily centerpiece. <CITE>The Press</CITE> incorporated a story and photo of celebrating fans, who apparently braved the cold and riots  yikes!  outside the ballpark. <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> smartly included a celebratory photograph from the Phillies last World Series win in 1980. It s been a long time, boys. <P>Of course, there s another side to the story. Interestingly, <CITE>The Tampa</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Tribune</CITE> and competitor <CITE>St. Petersburg Times</CITE> provided similar coverage of their team s loss by pairing a single front-page photograph and sports column. <P> MAGIC ENDS, reads the <CITE>Times</CITE> headline about the amazing worst-to-first team.  Rays miracle season is now just great memories. Not to mention a few front pages. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#102908"></a> <b>October 29, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Reporting on the Dow: Does<BR>what goes up must come down?</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Is the glass half full or half empty? <P>Newspaper front pages couldn t decide today as they reported on a rally that added 889 points to the Dow. <P> Optimism sends stock soaring, the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> said across its front page.  Dow takes stunning jump  2nd-best ever, <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> said. <P><CITE>The News &amp; Observer</CITE> of Raleigh, N.C., charted the upturn inside its nameplate. <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> explained how it happened:  Bargain hunters pounce amid signs of credit thaw. <P>Like many, the <CITE>Orlando</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE> charted the stock market s gain. But it said:  Dow soars  but hold applause. Explained <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> of Colorado Spring, Colo.:  Soaring Dow is Simply Another Day of Volatility. <P>Indeed, <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> of Wilmington, Del., said,  Rocketing Dow fails to spread much joy.  Wall Street on edge despite Dow s surge, <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> noted. <P><CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> charted  Mixed Signals  the Dow rebound and a decline in consumer confidence. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> gave the stock market an up arrow but used a down arrow to describe consumers mood. <P>The <CITE>Lincoln</CITE> (Neb.) <CITE>Journal Star</CITE> was one newspaper that was both optimistic and pessimistic:  Stocks surge 889 points, the lead headline said.  But analysts don t expect rally to last in this volatile market. <P>In advance of today s expected cut in the interest rate by the Fed, <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> said:  Cut in rate to take aim at pessimism. <P><B>Today s campaign news:</B> The <CITE>Lexington</CITE> (Ky.) <CITE>Herald-Leader</CITE> described a  A whinnying ticket. Horse owners through the thoroughbred registry, it reports, are reserving such names as  Joe the Plumber and  First Dude. <P>Speaking of Joe, he s on the campaign trail, reports <CITE>The Cincinnati Enquirer</CITE>, which printed a photo of Joe Wurzelbacher stumping for the McCain-Palin ticket in southwest Ohio. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#102808"></a> <b>October 28, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Some dailies play up Stevens <BR>conviction; others put story inside</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>It took a federal jury to do it but the newspaper of record  <CITE>The New York Times</CITE>  and the major daily in the nation s capital  <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE>  agree that the conviction of Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska tops the economy and the election as THE story of the day. <P> Stevens found guilty on 7 counts, reports the <CITE>Post</CITE>, and  Senator is guilty over his failures to disclose gifts, reports the <CITE>Times</CITE> in their lead stories this morning. The smaller capital daily, <CITE>The Washington Times</CITE>, banners  Stevens guilty on all 7 counts. <P>In Alaska, the <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> has a two-line banner head reading  Stevens guilty on all counts:  It s not over yet, he says. <P>For the rest of the nation s dailies, there was varied coverage of the verdict in the trial of the Senate s longest-serving Republican. Stevens is the fifth U.S. senator ever convicted of a crime, and his name is on next Tuesday s ballot. <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> leads with a one-column headline  Alaska s Stevens is found guilty, while <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> in Louisville, Ky., <CITE>West Hawaii Today</CITE> in Kailua Kona, and <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., all felt the story worth top-of-Page-One play. Then the story fades away from some Page One stories to teases to nothing. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> has an above-the-fold picture and story that  Corruption conviction doesn t daunt Stevens, the <CITE>Casper</CITE> (Wyo.) <CITE>Star-Tribune</CITE> has the story at the bottom of the page, as do the <CITE>Deseret News</CITE> in Salt Lake City, the <CITE>Las Vegas Review-Journal</CITE>, the <CITE>Gazette-Times</CITE> in Corvallis, Ore., the <CITE>Great Falls</CITE> (Mont.) <CITE>Tribune</CITE>, <CITE>The Lewiston</CITE> (Idaho) <CITE>Tribune</CITE>, <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE>, <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> and <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE>. <P>Then there were dailies that teased an inside story about Stevens, starting with our friends at <CITE>The Monitor</CITE> in McAllen, Texas, with photo and tease next to the masthead, as high up as possible without going off Page One. <CITE>The Commercial Appeal</CITE> in Memphis, Tenn., runs a tease and photo at the bottom of the page, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> does it at the top of column one, <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> in Cleveland and the <CITE>Omaha</CITE> (Neb.) <CITE>World-Herald</CITE> do it in the middle of that column, while <CITE>The News &amp; Observer</CITE> in Raleigh, N.C., teases at the top of the page next to the lead story. <P>The longest list would be of the U.S. dailies carrying nothing about Stevens on Page One. At least we didn t see any maps showing where to find Alaska. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#102708"></a> <b>October 27, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Middle East squeezed off Page One<BR>by politics, economic mess, sports</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Have you noticed that the upcoming election, the world economic situation and the World Series and other sporting activities have pretty much squeezed U.S. involvement in the Middle East off Page One? Three Middle East stories broke during the weekend that may have missed the front page of your local newspaper. <P> U.S. launches rare attack inside Syria is the headline on the lead story of <CITE>The Charleston Gazette</CITE> in West Virginia,  US special forces hit Syria is squared off at the top of <CITE>American Press</CITE> in Lake Charles, La., and  U.S. raid kills eight in Syrian territory, <CITE>Cape Cod Times</CITE> in Hyannis, Mass., tells its readers. <CITE>The Daily Gazette</CITE> in Schenectady, N.Y., combines the headlines of the first two dailies with  U.S. kills eight in rare attack inside Syria, while the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> suggests that  U.S. raid in Syria raises tensions. <P>The story is at the bottom of Page One of the <CITE>Rochester</CITE> (N.Y.) <CITE>Democrat and Chronicle</CITE>, <CITE>The Cincinnati</CITE> (Ohio) <CITE>Enquirer</CITE> and <CITE>The Herald Journal</CITE> in Logan, Utah. It leads <CITE>The Birmingham News</CITE> in Alabama and is the tease for  Today s Quick Read in the <CITE>Greensboro</CITE> (N.C.) <CITE>News &amp; Record</CITE> and is teased in the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE>. <P>Then there is the U.S. threat to Iraq to make a deal or, as <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> in Newark, N.J., puts it in the lead story  U.S. vows to cut off Iraq if no new deal. The <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise squares off  U.S, gives  shocking threat to Iraq, the <CITE>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</CITE> gives similar play to the story with  U.S. warns Iraq on deal and <CITE>The Columbian</CITE> in Vancouver, Wash., reports,  U.S. threatens Iraq with withdrawal. <P>Finally, the third story. The biggest daily in this country  <CITE>USA Today</CITE>  leads with unhappy news for the troops abroad and their families   Extended war tours likely to continue through 2009 in spite of pledges made earlier. The story was picked up here and there. Indeed, out in Iowa, the <CITE>Iowa City Press-Citizen</CITE> plays up the story with the same headline noted for <CITE>USA Today</CITE>. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#102408"></a> <b>October 24, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Former Fed chairman takes<BR>his lumps on front pages</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P>A close-up picture of a dour-looking Alan Greenspan sporting a severe hangdog expression is the lead photo on many of today's front pages this morning. <P>And you wonder why people aren't buying newspapers. <P>The former Federal Reserve chairman appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill yesterday and was at the receiving end of criticism from some members of Congress who blamed his economic policies for the financial mess we are in today. <P>"Alan Greenspan  Called on the Carpet," is the headline in the <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE> featuring not one, not two, but thee closeups of Greenspan, looking more and more miserable as the photos progress. <P><CITE>The Dallas Morning News</CITE> went one way with its assessment: "'I made a mistake,' Greenspan admits," while <CITE>The Columbian</CITE> in Vancouver, Wash., opted for a different interpretation: "Greenspan: Don't blame me for mess." <P><CITE>The Lima</CITE> (Ohio) <CITE>News</CITE>, which goes with a photo that can only be described as an extreme close-up, sums it up in more neutral terms. "Flaw in the model," the headline says in reference to Greenspan's admission that mistakes were made during his 18 years of service. <P>Meanwhile, some papers are looking at presidential polls in their states. Barack Obama may have the lead in many places, including key battleground states, but don't tell that to the folks in Kentucky or Arkansas. "McCain's lead in state is safe," blares the <CITE>Lexington Herald-Leader</CITE>. <CITE>The Morning News</CITE> in Fayetteville, Ark., also shows John McCain leading Obama in a story under the headline "Poll Gives State Pulse." <P>But it's too close to call in Montana according to the <CITE>Great Falls Tribune</CITE>, which asks "Montana: Red or Blue?" <P>In Connecticut, the <CITE>New Haven Register</CITE> cautions against poll-watching under the banner headline "Polls Apart" with an AP story looking at dueling results of recent major polls. <P><EM>John Maynard is a Newseum exhibits writer.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#102308"></a> <b>October 23, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>There s Page One news besides<BR>the economy and the election</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>They did it again. They being the stock markets; again being yesterday s precipitous drop. We decided to look for non-economic and non-election stories this morning, stories such as  1st snowfall brings 6 inches to The County that tops Page One for the <CITE>Bangor Daily News</CITE> up in Maine, our friends at <CITE>The Monitor</CITE> in McAllen, Texas, playing up the fifth anniversary of the Dodge Arena with a story, photos and numbers, even as <CITE>The Tampa Tribune</CITE> in Florida whoops up  The World s Stage and the World Series game at Tropicana Field. <P><CITE>The Honolulu Advertiser</CITE> tells its readers that  Traffic better, but still worst in nation, while <CITE>The Times</CITE> in Munster, Ind., reports that a voter-registration drive (there s the election story) is one of the  Worst in the nation and the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> dug out its second-coming type for the number 13%, adding that  The governor s approval rating among Illinois voters is even lower than Bush s. The <CITE>Duluth News Tribune</CITE> in Minnesota uses much of Page One to report about  Our bridge to nowhere, with a story noting the county  spent $48,000 to restore a bridge, then placed it over a storm water pond. The <CITE>Herald Times Reporter</CITE> in Manitowoc, Wis., reports on  WWII through one man s eyes, thereby localizing the last good war, while <CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE> does the same about the suicide bomber who killed more than 200 in  Beirut blast still resounds and the <CITE>Leader-Telegram</CITE> in Eau Claire, Wis., reports about a local National Guard unit  Reporting for duty. The <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise plays up the  Results of the Idaho Outdoors/Idaho Camera photo contest, complete with a pleasant picture on Page One, while <CITE>The Dominion Post</CITE> in Morgantown, W.Va., reports with story and photos about  Mom makes human a shield at bus stop because  some folks aren t stopping when school buses flash their red lights. <P>We ll mention only one first page about the economy. It s the <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> reporting  You ll laugh, you ll cry, reporting the good news about gas prices dropping and the bad news about  Financial markets predicting the worst of all worlds. That leads us to our first prize for today s Page One. India has just sent a rocket to the moon. The banner headline in <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Calcutta says it all:  TO MOON: Right now, it looks a better place than our Earth. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#102208"></a> <b>October 22, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>More than election news<BR>in your local newspaper</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Watch television and the upcoming election seems to be the big story that we all care about. Not so. Indeed, we started the day skipping through the European dailies, but we found precious little U.S. election coverage. <CITE>Jurnal de Caras-Severin</CITE> in colorful Resita, Romania, has a small picture of John McCain, but it s only to tease a story on Page 2. Our friends at <CITE>SME</CITE> in Bratislava, Slovakia, have a large Page One photo of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But that s about it for Europe, so we turned to U.S. coverage. <P><CITE>The Anniston Star</CITE> in Alabama plays up  Area gas prices finally return to lower levels, and the <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> in Alaska squares off at the top of Page One the trial of the senior U.S. senator, wondering  Which Stevens will jury judge? The <CITE>Arizona Daily Star</CITE> in Tucson grumbles that  we re all paying more in taxes, while <CITE>The Sentinel-Record</CITE> in Hot Springs, Ark., gives major play, with photo, to the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra playing for students. <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in San Bernardino, Calif., leads with plans for a new 12-story court building, the <CITE>Connecticut Post</CITE> in Bridgeport whoops up the tried-and-true picture of  Elephants on parade and the circus coming to town, and <CITE>Florida Today</CITE> in Melbourne puts possible re-starting of the Hubble telescope in space at the top of the page and the birth of twin jaguars at the bottom. The <CITE>South Bend Tribune</CITE> in Indiana uses the top of its Page One to ask whether  Consumers addicted to plastic?  credit cards, that is. <P>The <CITE>Iowa City</CITE> (Iowa) <CITE>Press-Citizen</CITE> has a colorful  Colors of fall Page One reporting on leaf-turning time, <CITE>The Kentucky Enquirer</CITE> in Fort Mitchell warns that  Some firms refusing to hire smokers, the <CITE>Times Herald</CITE> in Port Huron, Mich., confirms to its readers what they probably know, that  Roads make  worst list, and the <CITE>Times Herald-Record</CITE> in Middletown, N.Y., uses most of Page One for a picture and a story about  SUV stolen, abandoned with 3-year-old inside. <P>Finally, two dailies play up local library censorship problems. The <CITE>Gazette-Times</CITE> in Corvallis, Ore., tells its readers that  Library items raise eyebrows, warning that  Not even Muppets safe from patron complaints, while the <CITE>Independent Record</CITE> in Helena, Mont., reports  Library board votes to keep controversial book on hand, and the book is <CITE>The Joy of Gay Sex</CITE>. <P>If you re looking for an escape from all the election coverage, read your local newspaper. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Form media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#102108"></a> <b>October 21, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Two weeks and counting:<BR>Crisscrossing contested states</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>With two weeks to go until the presidential election, pivotal states are getting additional attention from the campaigns. And the campaigning is drawing the attention of the front page. <P><B>Colorado:</B> Sarah Palin campaigned in the state Monday and labeled  Obama a socialist, the <CITE>Fort Collins Coloradoan</CITE> said. The <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE>, which is not endorsing a candidate for president, pictured the vice presidential candidate and said,  Fight to the finish. <P><B>Florida:</B> The <CITE>South Florida Sun Sentinel</CITE> of Fort Lauderdale mapped the travels of the candidates and their surrogates in the Sunshine State:  For now, they all just love Florida. Hillary Clinton appeared with Barack Obama, who called for   Jobs, Baby, Jobs,  said the <CITE>Orlando Sentinel</CITE>, which has endorsed Obama. <CITE>The Tampa Tribune</CITE>, which endorsed John McCain, pictured Obama with members of the Tampa Bay Rays, who introduced him at a rally. <P><B>Missouri:</B>  Vote seekers blitz tossed-up state, said the <CITE>Springfield News-Leader</CITE>, which is endorsing state and local candidates but not a candidate in the presidential race. The <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> called it  Marching Across Missouri and noted that McCain was Monday s visitor. It has endorsed Obama. <P><B>Pennsylvania:</B>  McCain is pulling out all the stops in Pa., said <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE>, which has endorsed Obama. But the bigger focus in some places is the World Series-bound Phillies. <P>Meanwhile, <CITE>The Honolulu Advertiser</CITE> reported that Obama is returning to Hawaii Thursday to visit his grandmother, who is ill. <P>Early voting got under way in many places.  First day totals for early voting reach new heights across area, said the <CITE>Austin</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>American-Statesman</CITE>, which has endorsed Obama.  Early voting center opens in Fargo/Auditor predicts more than 4,000 to use site during the next 2 weeks, said <CITE>The Forum</CITE>, which endorsed McCain. <P><CITE>The Virginian-Pilot</CITE> in Norfolk noted heightened emotions about the election and reported,  Some cities to tighten Election Day security. <P><B>Wasted in Wisconsin:</B> The <CITE>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</CITE> is examining alcohol use in the Badger State in a <A class=chan href="http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=2&aid=152423" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>five-part series</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> that includes 72 profiles of victims of drunken driving. Today s package outlined the tab for one drunken driver s 10 offenses. The newspaper s <A class=chan href="http://www.jsonline.com/" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Web site</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> includes an interactive graphic and a chat about the state s drinking culture. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#102008"></a> <b>October 20, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Football, politics, baseball<BR>compete for headlines</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Hicks Wogan</P> <P>Whatever other news is breaking, on Mondays in the fall you can expect front pages across the country to tackle pro football. Yesterday the National Football League played 13 headline-grabbing games. <P>In St. Louis the Dallas Cowboys played without their starting quarterback, Tony Romo, and, man, did they look lost. The Rams battered them 34-14, and the <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> heralded the win with the headline,  Suddenly Potent Rams Stun Cowboys. <CITE>The Dallas Morning News</CITE> sang of  St. Louis Blues. <P>The Carolina Panthers shredded the New Orleans Saints, 30-7, and <CITE>The Charlotte</CITE> (N.C.) <CITE>Observer</CITE> boasts with a front-page banner that plays on a New Orleans nickname:  Big Easy Win. <P>In Chicago the hometown Bears outgunned the Minnesota Vikings, 48-41.  O is for Offense and this morning, on the cover of a 12-page  Bears Extra section, the <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> exclaims,   O My! Da Bears intercepted Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte four times, and the <CITE>Duluth</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>News Tribune</CITE> announces above its nameplate that  Vikings Crumble. <P> Chargers Short-Circuited in Buffalo, reads <CITE>The San Diego</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Union-Tribune</CITE> after the local team lost to the Bills. With the 23-14 win, Buffalo improved its record to 5-1. <P>The NFL s only undefeated team, the Tennessee Titans, rushed for a franchise-record 332 yards on Sunday and destroyed the Kansas City Chiefs, 48-10.  Mighty Titans stay perfect, notes <CITE>The Tennessean</CITE> of Nashville. The team moved to 6-0. <P>Oakland Raiders placekicker Sebastian Janikowski bombed a 57-yard field goal to beat the New York Jets in overtime. Across the Bay, the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> has a clever headline:  Raiders Give Jets the Boot. But not so sure-footed were the Cleveland Browns, who missed a late field goal to hand a 14-11 victory to the Washington Redskins. The  Skins were led by Clinton Portis s 175 yards rushing and improved their record to 5-2. It was their fifth win by seven or fewer points, and <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> duly calls it a  Close Encounter of the 5th Kind. <P>Washington is also home to NBC's long-running program "Meet the Press," where on Sunday morning former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Obama s biggest Republican endorsement to date paired with news of his biggest fundraising haul yet  $150 million in September. Fittingly, then, <CITE>The Washington Times</CITE> couples the two items with the headline  Obama Gains $150 million, Powell s nod. <P>But the election is far from over, said Republican nominee John McCain: "I love being the underdog." <P>So, it seemed for a while, did baseball s Boston Red Sox. They fell behind three games to one in their American League Championship Series with the Tampa Bay Rays and pushed the series to a Game 7 before losing last night, 3-1. The Nashua, N.H., <CITE>Telegraph</CITE> bemoaned that, for the Sox, the  Magic runs out, while in Florida reality trumps magic. <CITE>The Tampa Tribune</CITE> proclaims:  It s For Real! <P>The Rays advance to play the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, which begins Wednesday. <P><EM>Hicks Wogan is a staff assistant at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#101708"></a> <b>October 17, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A few cracks in story<BR>of Joe the Plumber</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P>While the economy remains <CITE>topic du jour</CITE> in the nation s newspapers, it s a bald plumber named Joe who s clogging up a lot of front-page space today. <P>Wall Street continues to perform like a wildly gyrating elevator with the Dow Jones shooting up over 400 points yesterday. A front page headline on <CITE>The Day</CITE> (New London, Conn.) reads positively frantic:  It s down. No, it s up again! No, it s down&  <P>Seniors got some good news yesterday with the announcement that Social Security checks are going up almost 6% next year and several papers take note.  Seniors secure a raise, blares <CITE>The Oklahoman</CITE> in Oklahoma City.  Social Security gets pay raise, reads the banner headline in <CITE>The Post-Crescent</CITE> (Appleton, Wis.). <P>But Ohio plumber Joe Wurzelbacher is <CITE>the man</CITE> today. In Wednesday s presidential debate, John McCain said the plumber would be negatively affected by Barack Obama s tax plan. Obama disagreed and, from there, Joe s name was volleyed back and forth like a cheap rubber gasket. <P>His 15 minutes arrived. <P> Move over, Britney, writes the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> above a story about the plumber s new-found fame.  Much ado about Joe, declares <CITE>The Morning Call</CITE> (Allentown, Pa.). <P>Upon further review, though, it turns out that Joe doesn t have a plumbing license, owes back taxes to the state of Ohio and might not be hurt by Obama s tax plan after all. <P> Joe the Plumber? His tale has a few leaks, is how <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> put it.   Joe the plumber story springs a few leaks, counters the <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise. <P>Some papers focused on their own  Local Joes. The <CITE>Ventura County</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Star</CITE> profiles plumber Joe Lara, who recalls how media from around the world contacted him Wednesday night mistakenly thinking he was the plumber referenced in the debate. <P>A <CITE>Providence Journal</CITE> story headlined  Just Ask Joe interviews plumbers in Rhode Island  named Joe  about their presidential picks. <P>Finally, this Red Sox fan would be remiss not to note the team s miraculous and historic comeback last night from a 7-0 deficit against the Tampa Bay Rays in game 5 of the American League playoffs.  Heartbreaker, writes the <CITE>St. Petersburg</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Times</CITE> about its team s 8-7 loss. <P>As any Red Sox fan can tell you, we know all about heartbreak. <P><EM>John Maynard is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#101608"></a> <b>October 16, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Not debatable: Gloves off, Dow down</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>There was little debate in newsrooms about the top news today: The final presidential debate and the stock market s second-worst plunge. <P>In GOP candidate John McCain s home state of Arizona, <CITE>The Dispatch</CITE> reported  Both take off the gloves with a sidebar called  Check their facts inside. (On the same page, a story about a debate among candidates for the state House said,  Politicians turn from kitty cats to pit bulls. No mention of lipstick, however.) <P> Final debate gets tough and personal, said the <CITE>North County Times</CITE> in Escondido, Calif., with a dramatic photo of the candidates and debate moderator Bob Schieffer. The lead story was  Yet another precipitous Dow plunge. <P> McCain doesn t seal the deal, said the <CITE>Los Angeles Times s</CITE> front-page analysis. <P> Verbal fisticuffs, said the Los Angeles <CITE>Daily News</CITE>, with a boxing theme that was echoed in other newspapers. <P><CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE> presented the debate facial expressions of Democratic candidate Barack Obama and McCain, with  As McCain presses, Obama parries in sharp exchanges. <P> Red October, said the <CITE>San Jose</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Mercury News</CITE>, with a simple yet elegant graphic reflecting the grim stock market month atop its debate package labeled,  Offense &  for McCain and  & Defense for Obama. <P>Many newspapers concluded it was Joe the Plumber, a man whose question to Obama about tax policy became a debate theme, who was the star of the debate.  Battle for Average Joe, said the <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE>. <P>That would be Joe Wurzelbacher of Ohio, and Toledo s <CITE>Blade</CITE> had a story on his thoughts about the debate. <P><CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE> summed up Joe s significance:  Who is Joe the plumber? An Ohio man looking to buy a business became a symbol of the middle class. <P>The <CITE>Yakima Herald-Republic</CITE> in Washington took a cue from Eastern religious philosophy, tagging the final debate  The Tao of Joe. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is a project editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#101508"></a> <b>October 15, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Rays score a win, Californians<BR>lose homes, debate up for grabs</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Today s front pages declare some winners and losers. Let s take a look. <P><B><U>Winners</U></B> <P><B>Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party:</B>  Déjà vu: Tory minority, the <CITE>Toronto Star</CITE> declared after Harper was re-elected in Tuesday s federal election. Explained <CITE>The Globe and Mail</CITE> of Toronto:  Canadians give the Tories a stronger mandate to steer the country through stormy economic times  but they deny Harper total control. <P><B>Motorists:</B> Amid the economic gloom and doom, gas prices are a bright spot.  Gas at less than $3 per gallon stops Salem drivers in their tracks, said the <CITE>Statesman Journal</CITE> in Oregon. <P><B>Tampa Bay Rays:</B> The <CITE>St. Petersburg</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Times</CITE> called it  Phenomenal after the Rays beat the Red Sox, 13-4, and came within one win of advancing to the World Series. <P><B><U>Losers</U></B> <P><B>Southern Californians:</B> They have lost homes and businesses to wildfires in what the <CITE>Press-Telegram</CITE> of Long Beach called a nightmare.  34 square miles and counting, <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> reported.  Three blazes have killed one, destroyed dozens of homes. <P><B>Boston Red Sox:</B> In a photo caption, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> reported that the misery began in the first inning of last night s game against the Rays. The neighboring <CITE>Concord</CITE> (N.H.) <CITE>Monitor</CITE> was less polite about the Sox performance:  Uninspired. Lethargic. Pathetic. <P><B><U>Another tie?</U></B> <P>Will there be a winner in tonight s final presidential debate? The <CITE>Daily News</CITE> of New York used a caricature of John McCain and said,  Tonight s debate is do-or-die for McCain s campaign. <CITE>The State</CITE> of Columbia, S.C., asked:  Will there be smoke  or fire? Some are expecting last McCain-Obama debate to generate few details but lots of heat. One winner might be debate host Hofstra University.  All eyes on LI, said <CITE>Newsday</CITE> of Long Island. <P>Today s biggest winners might just be readers who were entertained by this morning s <CITE>Plain Dealer</CITE> of Cleveland. The newspaper analyzed 2.7 million voter-registration records of Ohioans who declared a party affiliation before the spring primary. What did they find?  A name tells a lot about a person s political leanings. Barbie? She s  a left-leaning glam gal & while boy-toy Ken runs conservative. You can find out which way your name leans on <A class=chan href="http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG><CITE>The Plain Dealer s</CITE></A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> Web site. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#101408"></a> <b>October 14, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>U.S. bolsters banks,<BR>giving bounce to the Dow</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>How quickly fortunes can change. <P>After a brutal week on Wall Street, the Dow was up 936 points on Monday, the largest point gain ever. That prompted relief from Wyoming ( Relief at last! said the <CITE>Tribune-Eagle</CITE> in Cheyenne.) to North Carolina ( A sigh of relief, <CITE>The Charlotte Observer</CITE> said.). <P>The <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE> called it  A reversal of fortune, while the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> in Denver described it as a  U-turn on Wall St.  Stocks leap back from the edge, said <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> in Portland. <P>While some front pages focused solely on the Dow, the news behind the news was the move by the government to invest $250 billion in banks. The news was so significant that <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> and <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> each devoted two-line banner headlines to the news.  U.S. Forces Nine Major Banks To Accept Partial Nationalization, <CITE>The Post</CITE> said. In fewer words, <CITE>The Sacramento</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Bee</CITE> said:  U.S. tosses lifeline to banks. <P>Many headlines responded to cause and effect and tied the banking move and Dow surge.  Plans to stabilize banks delight Wall St., the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> said.  Bold move sends stocks soaring, the <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> said. <P>There was a hint of optimism in the air.  New plan lifts market, hopes, <CITE>The Honolulu Advertiser</CITE> said. But the <CITE>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</CITE> asked the question we all have:  Stocks soar, but will it last? <P>The U.S. is following in the steps of Europe, which took action on its banks on Monday.  Nations act, markets soar, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> said. Said <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> of London:  Day the markets breathed again. <P><B>Voting today:</B> The U.S. presidential campaign still has three weeks to go. But Canadians go to the polls today in a federal election. <CITE>The Hamilton Spectator</CITE> told its readers:  After 141 years and 39 parliaments, today you decide who will be the next prime minister of Canada. The <CITE>Toronto Star</CITE> pictured four candidates with the label  Why I deserve your vote. But noting economic challenges and internal rifts, <CITE>The Globe and Mail</CITE> of Toronto said,  Leaders face tough fight beyond finish. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#101308"></a> <b>October 13, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Searching for relief from economic gloom</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>Weary of news on the financial front? On today s front pages there s a little relief, with articles that take the mind away from that 401k. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> injects levity with  Satellite radio sweeps Stern off cultural radar, an update on shock-jock Howard Stern, who apparently is not shocking as many as he used to. <P>In  Bottled water company steamed about radio ad, <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> reports that the maker of Zephyrhills was none too pleased about a recent advertisement touting the virtues of Miami-Dade s (free) tap water.  It may have sounded innocuous to most listeners, Curtis Morgan writes,  but the 30-second spot left the nation s largest purveyor of bottled water boiling mad. You don t say. <P>From <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE>, there s this intriguing item:  Bid to canonize girl draws mixed reaction, in which readers learn of a movement to make a saint out of a dead Massachusetts girl who nearly drowned when she was 3. In other religious news, <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> asks:  Is the Pope s Newspaper Catholic? Stacey Meichtry reports that the Vatican s 147-year-old <CITE>L Osservatore Romano</CITE> is forgoing religious tracts for honest-to-goodness articles.  There was a really precise request from the paper s publisher, Editor-in-Chief Giovanni Maria Vian told Meichtry;  in this case, the publisher just happens to be the pope. <P>Internet domain names are changing, according to today s <CITE>Orlando Sentinel</CITE>.  The change is part of perhaps the biggest expansion ever to Internet addresses, with the makeover of so-called  top-level domains beginning perhaps as early as next year, Etan Horowitz reports.  But it won t come cheap ? getting a new domain will likely be at least $100,000. Yikes. <P>In the <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE>, a heartwarmer about a community rallying to give a young couple a $60,000 dream wedding takes up three-quarters of the page.  The flowers? Free. The cake? Gratis. The hotel suite? On the house, the subheadline reads.  After a year of recovering from injuries suffered in the Interstate 35W bridge collapse, Mercedes Golden is about to marry Jake Rudh. How nice. <P>Finally, when all other news fails to lift the gloom, look for the tried-but-true animal tale. Today s installment comes from <CITE>The Charlotte Observer</CITE>, where under  HE S JUST A BIG, HAIRY CINDERELLA the newspaper tells readers:  When Beau came to Polkton, he could hardly stand up. Now he s a handsome, lovable champion. <P>If a puppy dog doesn't take your mind off your money, nothing will. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#101008"></a> <b>October 10, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Panic selling brings another<BR>emotional day on stock market</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>They look worried. <P>On Thursday&nbsp; for the seventh business day in a row  the stock market was down, down, down. With the Dow dragged below 9,000 for the first time in five years, front pages look worried.  Another losing day, said <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> of Louisville, Ky. <P>In Casper, Wyo., Tacoma, Wash., and Fort Worth, Texas, the word  panic was on the front page. Red down arrows were printed the width of the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE>:  All signs pointing to panic. <P>Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the stock market s all-time high, and the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> charted the descent from  Peak to bleak.  What a difference a year makes, <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Nashua, N.H., said in a graphic.  And it just gets worse, <CITE>The Burlington</CITE> (Vt.) <CITE>Free Press</CITE> said. <P>GM was one stock that got pummeled.  Auto Fears Grow, <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> said, adding,  Market Drop Revives Talk of Bankruptcy. <P>Headlines had a sense of helplessness.  Running out of options, <CITE>The Record</CITE> of Hackensack, N.J., said, adding,  Finding a cure for financial crisis proves elusive. <P>The <CITE>San Antonio</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Express-News</CITE> optimistically looked ahead in its coverage of options:  World gearing up to cool meltdown. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> examined the economic toolbox available to the government:  Standard options have failed to shore up unstable markets. <P>Even as <CITE>The Sun</CITE> of Baltimore called it  Uneasy Street and others reported panic, <CITE>Newsday</CITE> on Long Island offered advice from experts:  Even Now, Don t Panic (Really). <P>Amid the gloom, <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> of Newark, N.J., began a series on happiness,  the most sought-after human emotion. Offered the newspaper:  How to get happy? Thinking positive is a good start. <P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">J</SPAN> <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#100908"></a> <b>October 9, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>At the intersection of Wall Street<br>and Main Street, the financial crisis</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Hicks Wogan</P> <P>On the presidential campaign trail both major-party tickets have been using the global financial crisis to draw a distinction within America, a distinction between haves and have-nots, between wealthy  Wall Street and everyday  Main Street. <P>On both streets, however, the crisis is front-page news. <P><CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> takes money matters seriously. Today it notes that the United States, Canada and countries throughout Europe cut interest rates yesterday, trying to slow their market declines. <CITE>AM New York</CITE>, also in Manhattan, has a different focus. The paper profiles a number of  Stress Busters, ways in which  The wealthy indulge in guilty pleasures to deal with the Wall Street crisis. Photos on this front page suggest Wall Streeters are still spending money on desserts, spa treatments, credit-card shopping sprees and  seriously?  lap dances. <P>Back on the campaign trail, the vice-presidential nominees like to tout themselves as blue-collar Americans, as a son and a daughter of Main Street. Democrat Joe Biden was born in Scranton, Pa., where today s <CITE>Times-Tribune</CITE> notes yesterday s Dow Jones drop of 189 points. Biden lives in Wilmington, Del., where the biggest headline on the front page of <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> reads,  Market s painful plummet continues. <P>Say it ain t so, Joe! <P>Republican Sarah Palin hails from tiny (but Main Street) Wasilla, Alaska, about 45 minutes from Anchorage, where today the <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> refers readers looking for financial news to the B section, the paper s Nation/World section. <P>Here s a different approach: If Main Street is synonymous with Middle America, is Main Street located at the middle of America? The geographic center of our 50 states sits just north of Rapid City, S.D., and today the <CITE>Rapid City Journal</CITE> asks,  When will the financial meltdown hit bottom? In Newark, N.J., <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> uses a banner atop its front page to ask the similarly rhetorical  How Low Will It Go? <P>Finally, not on Main Street but on a Maine street, the <CITE>Portland Press Herald</CITE> highlights its state s lobster industry, which is suffering. Right about this time of year Maine should be entering its usual high season for lobsters. But this year, because fuel and bait are expensive and lobsters are a luxury food item, demand has fallen off. <P>That s bad news. But eating lobsters in Maine? That s not news. That s nearly as clichéd as a politician s talking about Main Street. <P><EM>Hicks Wogan is a staff assistant at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#100808"></a> <b>October 8, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Presidential debate: Community<BR>paper makes national story its own</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>For 90 minutes Tuesday night, John McCain and Barack Obama answered questions in a town-hall debate at Belmont University in Tennessee. <P>The presidential debate was the first ever to be held in Nashville, and the question for the community newspaper, <CITE>The Tennessean</CITE>, was: How are we going to own the story? <P><CITE>The Tennessean</CITE> started by providing readers information in the days leading up to the debate. A <A class=chan href="http://tnelection.blogspot.com/" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>blog by a higher education reporter</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> shared all things debate and was republished in the next day s print edition. By Tuesday afternoon, a <A class=chan href="http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=NEWS0206" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>debate splash page</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> reported political appearances and media and celeb sightings, along with traffic updates and how-to-navigate-town information. A slideshow examined past candidates visits to the area, a game asked viewers to match a candidate s face with a quote, and video highlighted comments from a women voters roundtable held earlier at the Freedom Forum s <A class=chan href="http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>First Amendment Center</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG>. <P>By 6 p.m. Eastern time, the site posted  Debate Day photos, a story noted Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander s advice for McCain, and the blogger signed off to head to debate hall. By 7 p.m., pundits and Nashvillians weighed in, and the site noted excitement by Belmont neighbors. At 8 p.m., new photos and streaming video from a debate event at the Ryman Auditorium were added. When the presidential candidates appeared on stage with moderator Tom Brokaw at 9 p.m., streaming video of the debate began. <P>By 10 p.m., <CITE>The Tennessean</CITE> posted an AP story on candidates comments on the causes and cures for the economic crisis. When it was all said and done, <A class=chan href="http://www.mogulus.com/tnlive" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>debate reaction</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> was reported in more streaming video by 11 p.m. <P>By the time the printed <CITE>Tennessean</CITE> was dropped at doorsteps, Tennessean.com s homepage was divided into thirds to report on  Nashville,  The Main Event and  Yesterday in Review. Stories included an analysis and fact-checking; yesterday s events around Belmont were reported on <A class=chan href="http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-nashville-056-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=articleplayer&amp;maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&amp;maven_referralObject=881093464&amp;maven_referrer=staf" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>video</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG>; the <A class=chan href="http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DN&amp;Dato=20081007&amp;Kategori=NEWS01&amp;Lopenr=810080802&amp;Ref=PH" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>night s festivities</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> were chronicled in photos; polls tallied  Who won and <A class=chan href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=DRkg5BKfMG37qaz43Gb1ZA_3d_3d" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG> Who had the best answer; </A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> and comments from four undecided voters were charted in <A class=chan href="http://www.tennessean.com/assets/pdf/DN119573107.PDF" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG> Did they change any minds? </A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>But the Web features weren t the only special treatment given the debate. A large photo and the headline  Seeking Trust filled <CITE>The Tennessean s</CITE> front page.  Barack Obama and John McCain, in their Belmont debate, paced the floor, exchanged barbs and tried to connect with worried voters, said <CITE>The Tennessean</CITE>, referring to images and reaction inside. <P>And, as if to promise more, it added at the bottom of the page:  27 days until election. <P><B>Economy as the key word & </B> As <CITE>USA Today</CITE> reported  $2 trillion wiped out of retirement funds in the last 15 months, newspapers noted that the failing economy was the main debate headline.  Town hall questions make it clear & It s the economy, senators, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> said.  Economy rules, pronounced the <CITE>Hattiesburg</CITE> (Miss.) <CITE>American</CITE>. <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> of Newark, N.J., called it  Wrestling over the economy.  Economy in the spotlight, noted the <CITE>Springfield</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>News-Leader</CITE>. And said the <CITE>Omaha</CITE> (Neb.) <CITE>World-Herald</CITE>:  Tottering economy at center stage. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#100708"></a> <b>October 7, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Financial worries the world over<BR>lead newspapers the world over</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The first line of the headline on the lead story in today s <CITE>Washington Post</CITE> says it best and says it for and to all:  Global Stocks Sink as Crisis Spirals. Newspapers the world over are reporting on the financial problems that seem to be truly universal. <P><CITE>The Wall Street Journal Europe</CITE> in Brussels leads with  Markets plummet around the world, while <CITE>The Wall Street Journal Asia</CITE> in Hong Kong tells its readers that  Fear puts chokehold on global markets. In Paris, <CITE>La Tribune</CITE> says there is panic in the stock market, while <CITE>The Jerusalem Post</CITE> leads with  Dow s wild ride shakes globe. <CITE>Gulf News</CITE> in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has an all caps banner  BOOM & AND GLOOM, and <CITE>The Times</CITE> in Johannesburg, South Africa, reports the drop in value of the local currency and that  Investors flee markets. <P><CITE>Financial Review</CITE> in Sydney, Australia, banners  Markets slide as contagion spreads through Europe, <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, says,  Wall Street tumbles in global sell off, <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Calcutta, India, notes a  Ripple of terror across markets, <CITE>Portafolio</CITE> in Bogota, Colombia, reports on  another day in the red and the <CITE>The Press</CITE> in Christchurch, New Zealand, also sees red with  Treasury books  sea of red ink.  Meanwhile, <CITE>Iran Daily</CITE> in Tehran advises the free world that  Free economic theories doomed. <P>In the United States, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> banner headline reports  Fears of world recession deepen, <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> reports on  Global sell-off with a drop headline noting that  Markets tank worldwide as fears of a wide-scale recession spread, and <CITE>The Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise also says,  Investors fear worldwide recession. <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> has a two-word banner:  Worldwide worry, and <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> in Newark N.J., also tells it all in a two-word banner but makes plural with  Worldwide Worries. <CITE>The Birmingham</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>News</CITE> reports,  Fed weighs radical move in debt market, and <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> in Cleveland tells its readers about  Scary day on the stock market. <P>The tabloid <CITE>New York Post</CITE> takes a different approach, reaching back to President Franklin D. Roosevelt s first inaugural address in 1933 to quote in a head that almost fills the page to advise that  The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself, adding that  FDR was right then. And he s right now. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#100608"></a> <b>October 6, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Financial crisis reaches Europe<BR>and rates front-page coverage</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>We are not alone. <CITE>The New York Times </CITE> lead headline today reports that  Financial Crises Spread in Europe, a situation reflected in a sampling of west European newspapers. <P>The immediate problem is with banks in Germany, with <CITE>The Wall Street Journal Europe, </CITE>published in Brussels, Belgium, telling its readers in a banner headline that  Germany backs deposits as crisis grows. Two Brussels dailies  <CITE>De Morgen </CITE>and <CITE>Het Nieuwsblad  </CITE> lead with the troubles of Fortis, an insurance and banking firm based in Belgium but active in much of Europe. <P>In Germany itself, <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel </CITE>and <CITE>Die Welt </CITE>in Berlin play up the state guarantee of savings accounts as do our friends at the <CITE>Heilbronner Stimme </CITE>in Heilbronn and at the <CITE>Suedwest Presse </CITE>in Ulm. The <CITE>Financial Times Deutschland </CITE>in Hamburg has a banner headline for the state guarantees with a price tag of 568 billion Euros. In neighboring Austria, the <CITE>Salzburger Nachrichten</CITE> in Salzburg offers a new sound of music, reporting that the government will guarantee bank accounts, while the <CITE>Kurier </CITE>in Vienna leads with  More protection for the saver and the competing <CITE>Der Standard </CITE>plays up  Full protection for the saver, linking it to the action in Germany. But the <CITE>Kleine Zeitung </CITE>in Graz asks whether there will be a full guarantee of savings. <P><CITE>La Stampa </CITE>in Torino leads with  Berlin: guarantee for savings, and <CITE>La Repubblica </CITE>in Rome does the same. <CITE>El Pais </CITE>in Madrid, Spain, also leads with the German guarantee of savings, while <CITE>Trouw </CITE>in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the <CITE>Basler Zeitung</CITE> in Basel, Switzerland, play up the increasing financial crisis in Europe. <CITE>The Daily Telegraph </CITE>in London reports  Treasury planning to take shares in banks, but <CITE>The Guardian </CITE>in London says,  Treasury anger at German savings move, with  UK under pressure to match guarantee. <P>But our favorite lead headline is in <CITE>La Tribune, </CITE>the Paris financial daily, reporting  Crisis: America acts, Europe discusses, a somewhat rare nod in praise of something done in the United States. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#100308"></a> <b>October 3, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Spirited but cordial:<BR>One heckuva debate? </SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Lloyd Bentsen jabbed Dan Quayle with  You are no Jack Kennedy. George H.W. Bush lectured Geraldine Ferraro on foreign policy, and she struck back. But Thursday night s debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin was devoid of a zinger like in 1988 or the hand-to-hand combat of 1984.</P> <P> Spirited and  pointed described the debate, but  cordial and  courteous also appeared in headlines.  Spirit of St. Louis? <EM>The Plain Dealer</EM> of Cleveland asked.  Polite. </P> <P>That s a bit of a yawn for the front page.</P> <P> Biden-Palin debate lacks expected fire, the <EM>Times-Picayune</EM> of New Orleans said.</P> <P>The only 2008 vice presidential debate was held in St. Louis, where the <EM>Post-Dispatch </EM>said,  Candidates accomplish their missions. The <EM>San Antonio</EM> <EM>Express-News</EM> offered a debate scorecard, the <EM>Omaha</EM> (Neb.) <EM>World-Herald</EM> declared:  There s no loser in expectations game. </P> <P>Many headlines focused on Palin, who, when asked earlier by Katie Couric what newspapers and magazines she read regularly, said:  I ve read most of them. Phrases such as  held her own and  stands her ground were common. Said <EM>The Journal News</EM> in Westchester, N.Y.,  Palin tops low expectations. The <EM>Daily News</EM> of New York declared:  No Baked Alaska. In a front-page commentary, the <EM>Orlando</EM> (Fla.)<EM> Sentinel</EM> instructed,  Republicans can wipe sweat from brows. </P> <P>Palin s folksy style rubbed off on headline writers.   Heck of a show, <EM>The Oregonian</EM> of Portland said.  Debate?  Darn right,  noted the <EM>San Jose </EM>(Calif.)<EM> Mercury News</EM>. <EM>The Hartford</EM> (Conn.) <EM>Courant</EM> broke out quotes   Best Digs,  The Folksy Touch and  Maverick, Shmaverick. </P> <P>From Biden s home state, Delaware, <EM>The News Journal</EM> of Wilmington noted the focus on the middle-class vote. Said <EM>The Wichita</EM> (Kan.) <EM>Eagle</EM>,  Candidates aim for middle-class touch in debate. </P> <P>In Detroit, the debate was secondary news after the John McCain campaign pulled its forces from Michigan.  Decision alters strategy in race for White House, <EM>The Detroit News</EM> said. Barack Obama campaigned in the state on Thursday, and the <EM>Free Press</EM> had an  exclusive interview with the Democrat on  What keeps Obama awake at night. Last night, it wasn t the debate.</P> <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#100208"></a> <b>October 2, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A bailout, by any other name, <BR>is still the same</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Emily Hedges</P> <P>Last night, the Senate passed a bill to help out the U.S. financial markets. Although, according to <A class=chan href="http://blogs.afp.com/?post/2008/09/30/White-House%3A-Your-status-is-wrong" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>this story</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG>, the White House does not prefer the term "bailout," many newspaper editors used this word on their front pages. Let's take a look at the language.</P> <P>The headlines of <EM>The Birmingham </EM>(Ala.) <EM>News, </EM>"Senate Passes $700 Billion Bailout Bill," and the Tucson&nbsp;<EM>Arizona Daily Star,</EM> "Senate OKs Bailout Plan," are good examples of what most newspapers did -- straightforward headlines with the word "bailout."</P> <P>Some editors preferred "rescue" to "bailout." New Orleans's <EM>Times-Picayune </EM>preferred "rescue" in its headline, "Senate Passes Rescue Proposal." The <EM>Telegram &amp; Gazette </EM>of Worcester, Mass., called the major backers&nbsp;of the bill "Rescue squad."&nbsp;Fort Myers, Fla.'s <EM>News-Press</EM> pictured a cozy time on the Senate floor: "Senate Embraces Rescue Plan."</P> <P>Mary Poppins said a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, and many editors agree. Sugary language dripped from many headlines including those of Melbourne's <EM>Florida Today, </EM>" 'Sugar' helps Senate swallow bailout bill," and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.'s <EM>Sun Sentinel</EM>, "Senate's Recipe to Make Bailout Palatable: Add Sweeteners."</P> <P>Many headlines featured numbers. The <EM>Laramie</EM> (Wyo.) <EM>Boomerang</EM> made "Yea 74, Nay 25" its headline, with a nod to local news by noting that both Wyoming senators voted against the bill. The amount of the bailout was referenced in many headlines, though the figure varied. Jackson, Miss.'s <EM>Clarion-Ledger</EM> called it a "$700B Bailout," while the <EM>Pittsburgh Tribune-Review</EM> noted an updated -- and inflated -- figure: "Senate passes fat $810B fix."</P> <P><EM>The Charlotte</EM> (N.C.) <EM>Observer </EM>was one of few papers to note in its headline that the bailout bill includes tax cuts. The <EM>Portsmouth</EM> (N.H.) <EM>Herald</EM> quoted a knowledgeable source, "Experts: Rescue vital."</P> <P>One of our favorite places to read the news is the tabloids. The New York tabloids had a field day with the news. Long Island's <EM>Newsday</EM> used a pun: "Senate to House: Bail's in Your Court." The <EM>Daily News</EM> said, "It's on the House," and the <EM>New York Post</EM> headline read "Oink! Oink! Senate OKs rescue deal full of pork."</P> <P>No matter what you want to call the bill, the bottom line and the front-page news is that the Senate&nbsp;approved it. The <EM>Times-Republican</EM> of Marshalltown, Iowa, cut to the chase with a big&nbsp;stamp-of-approval graphic on the top of&nbsp;its front page.&nbsp;&nbsp;</P> <P><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG><EM>Emily Hedges</A></SPAN></EM></FONT></STRONG><EM> is an assistant editor at the Newseum</EM>.</P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#100108"></a> <b>October 1, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Baseball playoffs: Eight<BR>teams, eight dreams</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>While Washington lawmakers might not be able to agree on a financial bailout, there s no disagreement among fans of eight baseball teams: Let the playoffs begin! <P><CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> has  Visions of an elusive I-5 series between the Dodgers and Angels. The <CITE>Daily News </CITE>of Los Angeles promotes a 12-page baseball preview section and tonight s  Windy City vs. City of Angels (Cubs vs. Dodgers) game. <P>The Angels meet the Boston Red Sox tonight.  For Sox owner Henry, the joy comes daily, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> said in a profile of billionaire owner John Henry. There is less joy in the <CITE>Cape Cod Times</CITE>:  Angels ready as Sox limp into L.A. <P>The Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins, 1-0, last night in a one-and-done playoff. From northwest Indiana, <CITE>The Times </CITE>of Munster said,  Thanks, Danks! a reference to pitcher John Danks, who threw eight scoreless innings. <P>With both the White Sox and the Cubs in the playoffs, the<CITE> Chicago Tribune</CITE> celebrated the  once-in-a-lifetime event, noting  the last time this happened was in 1906. The <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> proclaimed:  Worth the Wait. The <CITE>Daily Herald</CITE> of suburban Chicago provided equal treatment with a  Black &amp; Blue package. <P>The White Sox meet the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, and the <CITE>St. Petersburg Times</CITE> pictured a teen, Zac Giparas, who will be sitting above third base. Zac also was in the stands 10 years ago at the Rays first game. <P>With the Twins  Outta There, Minnesotans face the long, cold months until spring training with Midwest optimism.  Someday & they will look back and realize what a remarkable season they had, the <CITE>St. Paul Pioneer Press</CITE> said of the Twins. <P>Chicago wasn t the only city in waiting.  It has been 9,478 days since the Brewers & lost Game 7 of the 1982 World Series, the <CITE>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</CITE> reminded readers. From Wisconsin s capital, the <CITE>State Journal </CITE>also had 1982 on its mind. Pairing photos from 1982 and today, the front page said,  Brewers fast forward, with 26 years of perspective. <P>The Brewers face the Philadelphia Phillies today, and the <CITE>Bucks County Courier Times</CITE> in Levittown, P a., was  Looking for something to hate about the Brewers. <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> of Wilmington, Del., compared Philly and Milwaukee:  Blue-collar cities share little more than a thirst for a champ. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target= blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#093008"></a> <b>September 30, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>'Dark Day' makes<BR>news all over the world</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>No matter where you are, chances are good that the newspaper you pick up today will have major Page One coverage of the House of Representatives failure to pass financial rescue legislation to help resolve the economic problems. <P><CITE>The Morning Call </CITE>in Allentown, Pa., reports about a  Dark Day, and <CITE>The Dallas Morning News </CITE>banners the dollar amount of the stock market drop because the $700 million bailout failed   $1.1 trillion lost. <P>The <CITE>Press-Register </CITE>in Mobile, Ala., leads with  Shock, then a drop, and <CITE>The Press-Enterprise </CITE>in Riverside, Calif., reports  Derailed rescue triggers chaos. <P>Many U.S. newspapers use much of their front page in creative packages, often charting the downward spiral of the Dow in red ink. The <CITE>St. Petersburg Times </CITE>in Florida asks in second-coming type  NOW WHAT? The <CITE>Chicago Tribune </CITE>also has a question, this one about the stock market   How low will it go? <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> incorporates a chart, four stories and four solemn photos in a  Crashing Down package. The <CITE>Las Vegas Review-Journal</CITE> and <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> in Portland incorporate 777  the stock market s largest one-day point drop ever  into their design. <P>The <CITE>Bangor </CITE>(Maine) <CITE>Daily News </CITE>uses a one-word banner: Meltdown, while <CITE>The Forum </CITE>in Fargo, N.D., also uses a one-word, all-caps headline:  FAILOUT. <P>But we will give today s prize to the editor of <CITE>Newsday </CITE>in Long Island, N.Y., for the Page One that you have to see to appreciate, with the BIG head proclaiming  WELL, THAT DIDN T WORK. <P>The economic problems that started in the U.S. and cut deeply into the stock market have affected markets abroad. <P><CITE>South China Morning Post </CITE>in Hong Kong leads with  Markets fall as European banks falter, <CITE>Lidove Noviny </CITE>in Prague, Czech Republic, has a photo of President Bush that is anything but happy, and <CITE>La Tribune </CITE>in Paris says,  The banks crack. <P>U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is the Page One poster boy for <CITE>Nepszabadsag </CITE>in Budapest, Hungary, while <CITE>La Vanguardia </CITE>in Barcelona, Spain, says it in one big English word   Crash! In London, <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> s banner reports  Panic grips the world s markets, and <CITE>Clarin </CITE>in Buenos Aires, Argentina, tells its readers about the  worldwide crisis. <P><CITE>The Times </CITE>in Johannesburg , South Africa, says it all with a photo of a troubled trader labeled  Nightmare on Wall Street. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#092908"></a> <b>September 29, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Election surprises in Europe<BR>are major stories for many</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>While American dailies are focusing on the economic bailout plan and who will be the next president, elections yesterday in other countries are making headlines in Europe today. <P>In national elections in Austria, the far-right political parties made major gains, although the Social Democrats won the most votes. <CITE>Kurier</CITE> in Vienna tells it all with a banner about the  Radical swing to the right, and <CITE>Der Standard</CITE>, also in Vienna, has a two-line banner headline reporting on the  debacle for the great coalition and the  triumph for the right. Another Vienna daily, <CITE>Die Presse</CITE>, trumpets the  Victory of the third camp. <CITE>Kleine Zeitung</CITE> in Klagenfurt has a couple of sad-looking politicians taking up most of the page with a lead headline about the Christian Socialists falling off, while the <CITE>Vorarlberger Nachrichten</CITE> in Vorarlberg reports that the  election brings a swing to the right and the <CITE>Salzburger Nachrichten</CITE> in Salzburg tells its readers that  Despite historic defeat, the great coalition hopes to remain in power. <P>Moving next door to the German state of Bavaria, yesterday s state election was a shocker that might have countrywide repercussions in next year s national elections. That is why the story rates top coverage in most of Germany. <P>The Christian Socialist Union (CSU) has ruled Bavarian in unchallenged fashion with an absolute majority since 1962. Indeed, in the last major election four years ago the CSU had 60.7% of the vote, which dropped down to about 43.5% yesterday. The <CITE>Sueddeutsche Zeitung</CITE> in the Bavarian capital of Munich says it all with the headline  Devastating defeat for the CSU. The <CITE>Augsburger Allgemeine</CITE> in Augsburg, also in Bavaria, reports  Political earthquake in Bavaria, adding that  The CSU needs a coalition partner. Even the <CITE>Heilbronner Stimme</CITE> in Heilbronn in Baden-Wuerttemberg leads with  Historic debacle for the CSU. Up in Berlin, <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> reports that  After 46 years: End of the CSU myth, and <CITE>Die Welt</CITE> leads with  Bavarian election: Heavy losses for the CSU. <P>There was another election of sorts yesterday in another country, Belarus, which has been ruled since 1994 by Alexander Lukashenko, the man often referred to as  the last dictator in Europe. The election was for the 110-seat Belarus parliament in the capital, Minsk. Lukashenko promised a free and fair election, hoping to ease his strained relations with the West. There were indeed opposition candidates, but somehow only pro-Lukashenko candidates won all 110 seats. We don t have any front pages from Belarus, but we thought that the Polish dailies might cover the election and, indeed, it s the lead story in the major Warsaw daily, <CITE>Gazeta Wyborcza</CITE>. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#092608"></a> <b>September 26, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Washington s bailout plan:<BR> Hello, Goodbye </SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> Day of Chaos Grips Washington. <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE> had that right. A tentative deal on an economic bailout was announced and denounced in a 12-hour soap opera that included a half-joking plea for cooperation from the Treasury secretary, who got down on one knee. <P>In the end, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> noted,  Talks Falter. Said USA Today,  House GOP defies Bush on bailout hours after pact seemed near. <CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE> aptly said,  Day starts with promise, ends with finger-pointing. <P>Some invoked the name of the popular TV show.  Deal or No Deal? asked the <CITE>Orlando Sentinel</CITE>. <P><CITE>USA Today</CITE> included a tick-tock of the bailout breakdown and pictured players in the negotiations. Among the players: <UL> <LI><B>Sen. Christopher Dodd</B>, chairman of the Senate banking committee, who hails from Connecticut, where the <CITE>Record-Journal</CITE> of Meriden pictured a sign at a small business:  Mailman, Send Bills to the White House. <BR><BR> <LI><B>Sen. Richard Shelby</B>, ranking committee member, who is from Tuscaloosa, Ala., where the <CITE>News</CITE> noted that  negotiators planned to meet into the night to try to revive proposal  unintentionally suggesting readers look elsewhere this morning for news. <BR><BR> <LI><B>Rep. Barney Frank</B>, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who represents Massachusetts, where <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> reported,  Economic data point to recession. <BR><BR> <LI><B>Rep. John Boehner</B> of Ohio, who, in representing House Republicans, offered an alternative plan.  Earlier deal turns out to be no deal; Boehner delivers the bad news, <CITE>The Cincinnati Enquirer</CITE> said. <BR><BR> <LI><B>Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson</B>, who earlier was Goldman Sachs chairman. From Wall Street, the <CITE>Journal</CITE> reported the  largest failure in U.S. banking history Thursday and the sale of Washington Mutual to JPMorgan Chase.</LI></UL> <P>With conflict raging in Washington, a chorus of  Give Peace a Chance went out in Tel Aviv, as Paul McCartney performed 43 years after the Beatles were banned from Israel.  Fab McCartney wows Israel, <CITE>The Jerusalem Post</CITE> said. <P>As for tonight s planned presidential debate,  Ole Miss stage prepared if McCain, Obama show up, <CITE>The Clarion-Ledger</CITE> of Jackson, Miss., said. Barack Obama said he would be there; John McCain said maybe. Asked the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE>,  Who d win in a one-man debate? <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#092508"></a> <b>September 25, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Bush s  dire message tops news<BR>from presidential campaign</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P>There were some tough calls to be made last night in the nation's newsrooms. Lead with President Bush s dreary address to the nation on the economic crisis or go with Sen. John McCain's call to delay Friday's debate with Sen. Barack Obama in light of the financial situation? <P>A scan of the front pages shows that most newspapers went with the Bush speech. "Our Entire Economy is in Danger," reads the headline in the <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE>, <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> and many others, quoting the president. (And with headlines like that, who needs coffee?) <P>It appears headline writers might have dug into their thesauruses last night to convey the news that things aren't good right now. Two popular words? "Dire" and "peril." "Bush makes dire appeal for fast bailout," reads the top of <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix. The <CITE>Tulsa</CITE> (Okla.) <CITE>World</CITE> leads with "Bush warns of economic peril." <P>Meanwhile, the <CITE>Quad-City Times</CITE> (Davenport, Iowa) makes Bush's plea sound like an office memo from your cranky boss. "Bush: Enact Bailout ASAP." And the one headline that White House spin-meisters might put in their scrapbook is from the <CITE>Reno</CITE> (Nev.) <CITE>Gazette-Journal</CITE>, which declares "Bush's Talk Gets High Marks." <P>No doubt Mississippi will be plenty disappointed if tomorrow's debate is canceled. Its front pages reflect that gloom: "Debate or Bailout?" screams the headline of <CITE>The Clarion-Ledger</CITE> in Jackson, while <CITE>The Commercial Appeal</CITE> from neighboring Tennessee asks, "Debate on Hold?" <P>A few papers put the debate question in a term that any sports fan  or disciplining parent  can relate to. "Time Out?" asks the Stamford, Conn., <CITE>Advocate</CITE>. "Calling a Timeout," writes <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> on McCain's announcement. <P>The <CITE>San Jose</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Mercury News</CITE> manages to get both issues up front with the aesthetically pleasing, side-by-side headline that reads "Debate Or No Debate?" and "Bailout Or No Bailout?" <P>And we know that it's more than a month before Halloween, but we are really digging the <CITE>Duluth</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>News Tribune</CITE> headline on the economy that reads simply "Meltdown" in a ghoulish, green font that is a must-see. <P><EM>John Maynard is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#092408"></a> <b>September 24, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A hard sell on bailout;<BR>Congress not buying it</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Although the Bush administration and Congress spent much of Tuesday talking about an economic bailout, it took front pages only a few words to sum up the day. <P>The <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> of Denver called the $700 billion rescue plan a  Hard sell, while <CITE>The Salt Lake</CITE> (Utah) <CITE>Tribune</CITE> described it as a  tough sell. <P>As one editor noted, the word  bailout dominated today s pages. <P> Bailout doubt, pronounced <CITE>The Sun</CITE> of Baltimore, while <CITE>The Hartford</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Courant</CITE> declared,  Bailout backlash. <P> Congress not buying it, the <CITE>Waco</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Tribune-Herald</CITE> said.  Bailout proposal runs into buzz saw, the <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> said. <P>That buzz saw was lawmakers interest in including oversight and limits on executive compensation. <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> pictured major players in the negotiations and said,  Bailout Face-Off. <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> of Cleveland broke out the sticking points. The <CITE>Times-Republican</CITE> in Marshalltown, Iowa, noted that in the disagreement,  Nobody is Happy. <P>Some front pages noted dire predictions by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.  Pass bailout or face recession, <CITE>The Times</CITE> of Shreveport, La., quoted Bernanke. Some reported an FBI investigation into four financial institutions, while others included Warren Buffett s investment in ailing Goldman Sachs. And many front pages provided reaction from local congressional delegations.  Area lawmakers concerns about bailout unite some who are often on opposite sides of issues, the <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> said. <P>A few newspapers paired news from Capitol Hill with interesting sidebars. The <CITE>Lexington Herald-Leader</CITE> said,  Ky. delegation of one voice in  99 / All voted to deregulate Wall Street. <P><B>Tragedy in Finland:</B> A student gunman killed 10 at a trade school northwest of Helsinki before killing himself. <CITE>Iltalehti</CITE> in Helsinki pictured a makeshift memorial, which also was shown on the front pages of <CITE>Helsingborgs Dagblad</CITE> and <CITE>Dagens Nyheter</CITE> in neighboring Sweden. <CITE>The Daily Telegraph</CITE> in London noted,  School gun killer quizzed over YouTube video. Startling still images from his video appeared on a few front pages in Europe, including <CITE>DAG</CITE> of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and <CITE>Politika</CITE>, of Belgrade, Serbia. <CITE>El Periódico de Catalunya</CITE> in Barcelona, Spain, printed a photo from the video with similar images from gunmen in earlier school shootings. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#092308"></a> <b>September 23, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Wall Street and Washington problems<BR>are Page One news around the world</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The Wall Street problems and the delay in resolving such issues as oversight of the bailout are Page One stories here, there and everywhere. <P>The <CITE>Wall Street Journal Asia</CITE>, published in Hong Kong, leads with  Japanese suitors swoop in on U.S. investment banks, while adding below,  Wall Street era comes to an end, a reaction with echoes elsewhere. <P><CITE>The South China Morning Post</CITE>, also published in Hong Kong, reports that a Japanese firm  snaps up Lehman s Asia operation, <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Calcutta, India, tells its readers,  Era of banking high-rollers ends, while <CITE>DNA</CITE> in Mumbai, India, notes the  Death of investment banking on Wall St. even as <CITE>Manila Standard Today</CITE> in the Philippines says,  Goldman, Morgan: End of an era. <P>In Europe, <CITE>Die Presse</CITE> in Vienna has a banner headline simply stating,  End of an era on Wall Street. That is also noted in <CITE>The Wall Street Journal Europe</CITE> in Brussels with the lead  Goldman, Morgan moves end an era on Wall Street, while reporting that that  Russian crisis may fuel wave of acquisitions. In Paris, <CITE>La Tribune</CITE> pulls out some of its biggest type to lead with  Non, la crise n est pas finie, which sounds almost as bad in English   No, the crisis is not finished. <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> in Berlin says that  America must help itself, while <CITE>Financial Times Deutschland</CITE> in Hamburg leads with Wall Street burying an era. <CITE>El Pais</CITE> in Madrid leads with the end of the investment banking era in Wall Street. <P>Meanwhile, in Istanbul, <CITE>Today s Zaman</CITE> sees a rainbow with words from the prime minister believing that the  global crisis will bring opportunities for Turkey. <P>In Sydney, Australia, the <CITE>Financial Review</CITE> plays up  US bail-out fuels relief rally and <CITE>The New Zealand Herald</CITE> in Auckland agrees with its lead story  Big bailout puts shares on road to recovery. <P><CITE>The Vancouver Sun</CITE> in Canada tells U.S. neighbors to the north that  Washington and Wall Street complicit in financial crisis, which we ve read from time to time in the Lower 48. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#092208"></a> <b>September 22, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Proposed solution to financial crisis<BR>rates Page One attention all over</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The bailout of U.S. financial institutions, as proposed by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., coupled with congressional Democrats coming up with their own terms to end the crisis, is Page One news for dailies across the country. Indeed, we thought that we would check some of the smaller newspapers in our exhibit. <P>The <CITE>Dothan Eagle</CITE> in Alabama focused on the congressional problems with headlines noting  Complicating the bailout and  Paulson resists calls from Democrats to add more help for households, <CITE>The Tribune</CITE> in San Luis Obispo, Calif., reports in its off-lead  Tax funds flashpoint in bailout debate, the <CITE>Fort Collins Coloradoan</CITE>, noting time being critical, squares off  Fed urges quick action, while the <CITE>Star-Banner</CITE> in Ocala, Fla., leads with  Paulson: No delay on bailout. <P>Moving to middle America, the <CITE>Journal Star</CITE> in Peoria, Ill., and the <CITE>Quad-City Times</CITE> in Davenport, Iowa, along with <CITE>The Hutchinson</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>News</CITE>, play up the need for  quick or  fast action. The <CITE>St. Cloud Times</CITE> in Minnesota banners  Fed OKs banks status change, noting that  Finance giants now able to create new financial entities. <CITE>The Courier</CITE> in Findlay, Ohio, leads with  Quick action urged on $700 billion bailout plan. <P>In New England, the <CITE>Cape Cod Times</CITE> in Hyannis, Mass., tells us,   Mother of all bailouts pushed, while the <CITE>Bangor Daily News</CITE> in Maine uses a quiet  Paulson pushes $700B bailout headline. <P>It s much the same no matter where you go. <P>In Texas, the <CITE>Killeen Daily Herald</CITE> also runs with  Mother of all handouts, the <CITE>Bozeman Daily Chronicle</CITE> in Montana has as its off-lead  Paulson urges quick action on bailout, while <CITE>The Daily Times</CITE> in Farmington, N.M., has Paulson at the bottom of the page while playing up the local situation with  City set for financial crisis. The <CITE>Tri-City Herald</CITE> in Kennewick, Wash., pins the financial crisis to the election with  Campaigns scramble for economic advice, <CITE>The Daily Progress</CITE> in Thomas Jefferson s preferred city of Charlottesville, Va., reports on Paulson s push for urgent action, as does the <CITE>Rochester Democrat and Chronicle</CITE> in upstate New York. In Pennsylvania, the <CITE>Erie Times-News</CITE> uses a word one doesn t see that often, leading with  Haste urged on debt bailout. <P>There are other stories today, but nothing really tops the financial crisis, the proposed solution and the counter-proposals. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#091908"></a> <b>September 19, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Biggest bailout yet gets biggest headline</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> You need to go no farther than your morning newspaper, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut told <CITE>Good Morning America s</CITE> Diane Sawyer today at the Newseum when discussing the gravity of the planned government rescue of banks. <P>From Boston and Philadelphia to Portland and Los Angeles, the proposed intervention by the federal government to shore up the country s financial woes was today s lead headline. <P> Citing Grave Financial Threats, Officials Ready Massive Rescue, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> said.  Treasury says it eyes options for protection from bad debts, <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> said in a three-story package. <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> called the proposal  A plan to stop the bleeding. <P><CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE> asked:  Biggest bailout ever? Newsday on Long Island described it as  The Bailout to End All Bailouts. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> analyzed the proposed solution to the financial crisis and asked,  Is a relief agency the right answer? <CITE>The Salt Lake</CITE> (Utah) <CITE>Tribune</CITE> used an illustration to explain the  Economic balancing act. <P>Reaction to the plan was a  Crazy day on Wall Street, <CITE>The Cincinnati Enquirer</CITE> said, noting a 410-point gain in the Dow. <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> of Portland said,  Wall Street bounces back as officials consider relieving lenders of bad mortgages in what would be the biggest U.S. bailout yet. <P><B>A year later:</B> An aerial view of the new Mississippi River bridge was pictured above the nameplate of the <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis. It s been about a year since the old I-35W bridge collapsed, prompting nationwide concerns about infrastructure. <P><B>Moving on, moving in:</B> <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> divided its page in half vertically to report on the last day of a mayor  brought down by scandal and the first day of the city s new leader. <P><B>Waiting, wondering:</B> Six days after Hurricane Ike hit Texas, residents in Galveston and Houston remain  uncertain, frustrated trying to put lives back in order, the <CITE>Galveston County Daily News</CITE> said. The newspaper, which has served its readers despite struggles, said in a front-page note that home delivery is returning. The <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> promoted four online chats about dealing with the storm aftermath. Its centerpiece story focused on cleaning up:  Have chain saw, will work. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#091808"></a> <b>September 18, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Red ink and a stressed-out broker</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>An Associated Press photo of stressed-out New York Stock Exchange trader Christopher Crotty told the story of Wednesday s financial crisis for newspapers across the country. <P> What a mess, said the Los Angeles <CITE>Daily News</CITE>, with a powerful package that laid out in words and images what the news meant to homeowners and investors.  Prices plummet to record levels throughout Southern California, with foreclosures accounting for almost half the sales. <P> And you thought Monday was bad, <CITE>The Oakland</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Tribune</CITE> said of the second-biggest drop in the Dow since Sept. 11, 2001. Both of the drops occurred this week. <P> New lows usher in new era, said <CITE>The Sacramento</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Bee</CITE>, with a package of charts and graphs on the bad news s ripple effects  from the rising price of gold to how many Americans will be able to afford retirement. <P><CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE> was more animated.  RUNNING SCARED, said the banner headline, with the pullout quote,  It s like having a fire in a cinema. Everybody is rushing to the door. <P>Looking for a bright spot, <CITE>The Washington Times</CITE> quoted former presidential candidate (and millionaire) Steve Forbes as saying that the  Crisis Could  Quickly Pass.  <P> Wall Street Wallows in Financial Quagmire, said <CITE>The Daytona Beach News-Journal</CITE> in Florida. <P>Fort Lauderdale, Fla. s <CITE>Sun Sentinel</CITE> had an innovative if unnerving front page with lots of jagged red ink to reflect the Dow s decline and three ominous headlines at the top of the page:  Lockdown drama in Boca,  We re the front line in AIDS war and  Ike victims might have washed out to sea. That s before you even get to  Crisis on Wall Street: The Dow s wild ride. <P>The <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise warned that  Highway projects could fall victim to tough times. The <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> said the stock market turmoil, gas prices and losses by the Cubs and Sox added up to one big  STRESS FEST. <P>Outside the world of finance, the <CITE>Detroit Free Press</CITE> scored the first interview with Elizabeth Edwards since her husband, John, confessed to having an affair:  Former political wife is Mom first. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#091708"></a> <b>September 17, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Insurer AIG makes national<BR>headlines with historic bailout</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>The federal government took control of insurer AIG late Tuesday in a move that generated top headlines across the U.S. <P>In its lead story, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> noted American Insurance Group s ties to subprime home mortgages. The move by the Feds, the newspaper said,  effectively nationalizes one of the central institutions in the crisis that has swept through markets this month. <P>As to why the government took action, <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> said,  Fed sought to avert a global financial crisis.  Emergency loan intended to stave off wider economic collapse, <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix said. <P>In a reference to recent bailouts of Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> said,  Fed rides to rescue yet again. <P>Word came after the evening news in the East, giving front pages an advantage in reporting the action. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> illustrated  A.I.G. s Troubles and Why They Matter. The <CITE>Hartford</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Courant</CITE> broke out the terms of the bailout. With AIG less than a household name, <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> of Cleveland answered the question,  What is AIG? ( It s the largest insurance company in the world. ) <P><CITE>The Providence</CITE> (R.I.) <CITE>Journal</CITE> localized the story by reporting on a  State SWAT team formed to protect $130 million with AIG. <CITE>The Honolulu Advertiser</CITE> said,  Rescue loan eases fears of Hawai i units, for now. From Delaware, <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> of Wilmington did a staff-written story and broke out the number of AIG employees and subsidiaries incorporated in its state. <P><CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> noted the  Historic Move Would Cap 10 Days That Reshaped U.S. Finance. <P>Besides reporting the $85-billion AIG bailout, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> bulleted daily economic developments, including a slight stock market rebound and a Federal Reserve decision not to lower interest rates. <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> of Newark, N.J., offered  Three reasons to feel good about yesterday &   And three reasons to not feel so good&  <P>Stripped across the bottom of <CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE> was a primer on the financial crisis and  How we got here. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#091608"></a> <b>September 16, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>U.S. stock market, economic<BR>problems make headlines worldwide</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P><CITE>The Washington Times</CITE> banners  A nightmare on Wall Street and then offers a small listing of the  Global Meltdown, showing how what happened in the U.S. affects markets elsewhere because it s more than an American story. And indeed that s true, affecting markets around the world. <P>The <CITE>South China Morning Post</CITE> in Hong Kong tells its readers that  Meltdown in US spooks markets, <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Calcutta, India, leads with  Belly Up, adding  Lehman goes bankrupt, Merrill in distress sale, Tata (an Indian company) ally AIG seeks cash, <CITE>DNA</CITE> in Mumbai, India, warns that  Failing US banks trigger crisis, <CITE>The Jakarta Post</CITE> in Indonesia reports  Stock markets plunge as U.S. titans collapse and the <CITE>Manila Standard Today</CITE> in the Philippines says,  Wall St. in  tectonic shift as Merrill, Lehman fall. <CITE>The Australian Financial Review</CITE> in Sydney has a banner proclaiming  Bloodbath for Wall Street banks, and <CITE>The Age</CITE> in Melbourne leads with  Gloom spreads as US financial giant collapses. <P>In another part of the world, <CITE>The Jerusalem Post</CITE> in Israel leads with  Credit crisis topples US financial icon, <CITE>Today s Zaman</CITE> in Istanbul says,  Turkey alarmed by Lehman fallout, and <CITE>Gulf News</CITE> in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, plays up  Lehman bankruptcy sparks market chaos. <P>In Europe, <CITE>La Tribune</CITE> in Paris banners an Alan Greenspan quote:  I ve never seen anything like this. <CITE>Die Welt</CITE> in Berlin reports a  Black day for the banks, the <CITE>Liechtensteiner Volksblatt</CITE> in postage stamp-sized Liechtenstein headlines its story  Black Monday, while <CITE>The Daily Telegraph</CITE> in London prefers  Meltdown Monday and <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> in London calls it  Nightmare on Wall Street. The European edition of <CITE>Stars and Stripes</CITE>, published in Griesheim, Germany, for American servicemen abroad, reports  Financial breakdown, with the drop head  Collapse of 2 Wall Street firms sends markets tumbling around the world, adding brief comments from the two candidates for president. The <CITE>International Herald Tribune</CITE> in Paris accurately notes in its lead headline that  Crisis rattles markets and nerves. <P>Looking at our South American neighbors, <CITE>El Pais</CITE> in Montevideo, Uruguay, reports that  The earthquake in Wall Street shoots the dollar, while <CITE>Perú.21</CITE> in Lima has a big  Black Monday over a graph-type arrow heading way down. Wall Street is big news today. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#091508"></a> <b>September 15, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Weather, Wall Street top the news<BR>for many U.S. daily newspapers</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Wall Street and weather top the news for many of the U.S. dailies this morning, with <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> leading with  Bids to halt financial crisis reshape landscape of Wall St. and a lead about  one of the most dramatic days in Wall Street s history, referring to the problems of Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers. Its off-lead was the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in Texas. <P><CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> does much the same, with a banner about  Massive shifts on Wall St. and a large photo of hurricane destruction near Galveston, Texas. <P>A sampling of the Texas newspapers finds the <CITE>Austin American-Statesman</CITE> bannering  Returning to find ruins, <CITE>The Beaumont Enterprise</CITE> telling evacuees  Don t rush back, the <CITE>Corpus Christi Caller Times </CITE>reporting  Unprecedented effort saves 2,000, and <CITE>The Dallas Morning News</CITE> quoting the mayor with  Do not come back to Galveston. <P><CITE>The Houston Chronicle </CITE>leads with  After the shock, reality, while warning in a Page One editorial that  It s not over, yet. <P>The Midwest also had major weather problems. The <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> reports  More rain more pain, illustrated with a couple of young men paddling their boat past a partially submerged car on what was a street. The <CITE>South Bend Tribune</CITE> says it all with a head about  One weekend, 11 inches  of rain that is. <P><CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> in Louisville, Ky. reports  Winds maul area, with schools closed and 279,000 without power in the city, and <CITE>The Cincinnati Enquirer </CITE>says,  90% suffer outages as winds smash area. <P>In the rest of the country, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> leads with  Wall St. scrambles as banks teeter, while playing up the train accident in the area that killed 25. <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> and <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> give top treatment to Wall Street but both report the same about Galveston:  You cannot live here now. <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> and <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> lead with Wall Street but also report the 2,000 rescued from Hurricane Ike in Texas. <P>Meanwhile, the upcoming election can t be forgotten up in Alaska, where the <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> squares off  Governor s use of 2 e-mail accounts questioned while leading with  Turmoil shocks financial markets. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#091208"></a> <b>September 12, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>The anniversary, the hurricane<BR>and the Palin interview</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Emily Hedges</P> <P>On the day after the seventh anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, many editors all over the U.S. decided to use the front pages to remember the tragedy. Denver's <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> had a large photo of the two presidential candidates together in New York with the headline "Common ground zero." The <CITE>Orlando Sentinel</CITE> reported on the New York, D.C. and Pennsylvania 9/11 memorials and the status of each. Long Island's <CITE>Newsday</CITE> used a touching photo of a firefighter holding his infant son at "Ground Zero 9/11/08," and the suburban Chicago <CITE>Daily Herald's</CITE> headline said what we were all thinking: "It's Still With Us." <P>Hurricane Ike is raging in the Gulf of Mexico. The effects have been felt all along the Gulf Coast, including Florida, where the <CITE>Pensacola News-Journal's</CITE> clever headline read "Surf's Way Up." The <CITE>Sun Herald</CITE> in Biloxi, Miss., had "Y<B>IKE</B>S!" above the newspaper's nameplate. But, of course, Texas will feel the strongest effects of Ike. Most of the Texas front pages have coverage of the hurricane today, including the <CITE>Fort Worth Star-Telegram</CITE> which quoted the National Weather Service warning of "certain death" in its front-page headline. The <CITE>Waco Tribune-Herald</CITE> showed the back-up of evacuees on the highway under the headline "Texans stream north." <P>Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska and GOP vice presidential nominee, sat down yesterday for her first major interview since accepting the nomination. Her home state's <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> headline read "ABC tests Palin on foreign policy." <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> repeated Palin's assertion "I'm ready" for its headline. The <CITE>New York Post</CITE> called her interview a "Call to Arms" and said "Sarah talks tough as son goes to war." Not all papers focused on her interview though. Cheyenne, Wyo.'s <CITE>Tribune-Eagle</CITE> used its front page to talk about Sarah's spectacles. "Palin's glasses are hot, hot, hot!" cried the lighthearted headline. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:ehedges@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Emily Hedges</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#091108"></a> <b>September 11, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>9/11: Seven years and counting</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>Anniversaries of historic events are curious affairs. Sometimes they re a big deal to newspaper editors, sometimes they re not. Exhibit A: The seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is front-page news in some communities, and not in others. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE>, <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE>, and the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> all produced fresh Page One news today by tying the date to current headlines, including the presidential campaign, trials of military detainees and the troubling economy. Others, like the <CITE>San Jose</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Mercury News</CITE> and the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE>, marked the day with front-page photos, but referred readers to apparently less-important anniversary stories inside. <P><CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE>, Baltimore s <CITE>The Sun</CITE> and <CITE>The Columbus</CITE> (Ohio) <CITE>Dispatch</CITE> gave their 9/11 articles the centerpiece treatment and local angles  as did the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> in Denver, <CITE>The State</CITE> in Columbia, S.C., <CITE>The Anniston</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>Star</CITE>, <CITE>Hernando Today</CITE> in Brooksville, Fla. and the <CITE>Norwich</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Bulletin</CITE>, which asked in an emotion-filled headline:  When, if ever, does the mourning end? <P>Several, including papers in towns far from the coordinated air attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., approached today as many newspapers did the first anniversary: with unexpected and untraditional designs. Among them, the <CITE>Asbury</CITE> (N.J.) <CITE>Park Press</CITE>, <CITE>Bluffton</CITE> (S.C.) <CITE>Today</CITE>, and the <CITE>Daily Journal</CITE> in Tupelo, Miss. <P>While visitors to the Newseum s 9/11 gallery can reflect on the still-terrifying news any day of the year, there s no denying whether New York s <CITE>Newsday</CITE> considers Sept. 11, 2008, to be an important anniversary. The tabloid s front cover is dominated by a full-page, bold No. 7. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#091008"></a> <b>September 10, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Big Bang Experiment<BR>Is Big Story in Europe</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Hicks Wogan</P> <P>Early this morning, around 2:30 a.m. EST, scientists in Europe launched a hugely ambitious and controversial experiment. Today s European newspapers announce the project s start with front-page stories. <P>The Large Hadron Collider is the biggest particle accelerator ever constructed. Located in a 27-kilometer-long tunnel beneath the earth s surface at the France-Switzerland border, the LHC is designed to smash together atomic particles and simulate the Big Bang that created our universe. About a month from now, particles like those test-fired today will begin colliding and scientists hope to start learning about how the universe developed. <CITE>La Repubblica</CITE> in Rome notes the news with the headline,  Oggi il Big Bang in un tunnel di 27 chilometri, così nacque l universo, which translates roughly as,  Today the Big Bang in a 27-kilometer tunnel, like this the universe was born. (Please pardon my Italian, Roman friends. <CITE>Mi scusi</CITE>.) In Spain, Madrid s <CITE>Público</CITE> features a photo of the LHC, along with the time it was set to launch, and  Europa inicia la búsqueda del origen del universe (or,  Europe begins the search for the origin of the universe ). <P>The LHC has been in construction for 14 years, has cost about $9 billion, and has involved the work of more than 10,000 scientists. <CITE>Nuernberger Nachrichten</CITE>, a paper published in Nurnberg, Germany, carries the headline,  Gigantisches Forschungsprojekt startet (or,  Giant Research Project launches ). Two Romanian papers  the <CITE>Jurnal Aradean</CITE>, published in Arad, and Cluj-Napoca s <CITE>Informatia de Cluj</CITE>  have impressive photos showing the size of the LHC. Look for the hardhat-wearing men dwarfed by the collider. <P>Also in Madrid, <CITE>El Pais</CITE> notes that the project is  En busca de la  partícula Dios,  or,  In search of the  God particle.   God particle is the nickname given to the Higgs boson, a theoretical particle that could unlock the secret of why matter has mass. <P><CITE>Deus ex machina</CITE> indeed. <P>As excitement has grown in the scientific community, doomsday theories have arisen outside of it. Critics of the project have argued it might create black holes capable of swallowing the Earth. <CITE>Il Tirreno</CITE> in Livorno, Italy, profiles the  Big Bang in laboratorio and has a sub-headline that reads,  Tranquilli, non sarà la fine del mondo ( Don t worry, it won t be the end of the world ). In recent interviews renowned British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, like the editors at <CITE>Il Tirreno</CITE>, has sought to ease worries. London s <CITE>The Daily Telegraph</CITE> kids the doomsday notion by placing the headline,  If it s 8.31 and you re still reading this &  above a photo of the LHC. Below the photo:  & then Professor Hawking was right. <P><EM>Hicks Wogan is a staff assistant at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#090908"></a> <b>September 9, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>With national elections a year away,<br>German newspapers whoop up politics</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The United States is not the only country where an upcoming election rates Page One attention. Germany has a national election due a year from now but every one of the 16 daily newspapers on our Web site from that country today has a Page One story bearing on the election, generally involving the selection of a new leader for the SPD, the Socialist Party, and the challenge facing current Chancellor Angela Merkel. And the challenger will be Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, an SPD leader in Merkel s coalition government. <P>The <CITE>Augsburger Allgemeine</CITE> in Augsburg has a picture of Steinmeier with the new Socialist leader and the head  New SPD-Duo goes on the offensive, <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> in Berlin focuses on the ousted SPD leader who  will continue to fight, <CITE>Die Tageszeitung</CITE> in Berlin has a big photo of the candidate and the new party leader and a commentary headed  Back to the future, while the third Berlin daily, <CITE>Die Welt</CITE>, also whoops up the SPD change. In Bielefeld, the <CITE>Neue Westfaelische</CITE> reports the SPD is ready to take on Merkel, the <CITE>Braunschweiger Zeitung</CITE> in Braunschweig reports about the new SPD leader and the two dailies in Bremen  <CITE>Bremer Nachrichten</CITE> and the <CITE>Weser Kurier</CITE>  do the same. <P>Even the <CITE>Financial Times Deutschland</CITE> in Hamburg has a photo of the two, with a head reporting that the SPD will not follow a course to the left, the <CITE>Fuldaer Zeitung</CITE> in Fulda focuses on SPD party discipline, the <CITE>Sueddeutsche Zeitung</CITE> in Munich reports on the SPD and the economic situation, the <CITE>Nuernberger Zeitung</CITE> in Nuernberg quotes the SPD leader about surprises to come while the <CITE>Passauer Neue Presse</CITE> in Passau leads with Merkel congratulating Steinmeier on being selected to challenge her in next year s election. The <CITE>Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten</CITE> in Potsdam and the <CITE>Suedwest Presse</CITE> in lovely Ulm focus on the new  duo leading the Socialist Party while the <CITE>Wolfsburger Nachrichten</CITE> reports about the new SPD leader to its readers in one of the newest towns in Germany, Wolfsburg, built only about 70 years ago to house the workers of the then-new Volkswagen factory. <P>For the American readers who might complain about coverage overkill of an election two months away, try the German press for an election a year away. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#090808"></a> <b>September 8, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Dailies report mortgage giants takeover<br>while worrying about another hurricane</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Two stories rate special attention today  the federal takeover of the two mortgage giants and the weather  the weather that was, the weather that is and the weather that may be. <P>Looking at the Florida dailies, the storm that is today and possibly tomorrow s big story is Hurricane Ike, which has been slamming Cuba and seems headed for Florida. Harking back to the 1952 election, when supporters of Dwight D. Eisenhower wore buttons with the slogan  I LIKE IKE, <CITE>Hernando Today</CITE> in Brooksville speaks for just about everyone in the state with the head  We don t like Ike, while the <CITE>Bradenton Herald</CITE> banners  Government seizes mortgage giants but plays up the  Danger Zone with a photo and map, noting that  Authorities beg Key West residents to evacuate. The <CITE>Charlotte Sun</CITE> leads with  Keys residents weigh evacuation but also reports  Government takes over mortgage giants ; <CITE>The Daytona Beach News-Journal</CITE> takes on  Hurricane Season 2008 with a map and  Keys residents weigh evacuation ahead of Ike but doesn t forget the mortgage story; and the <CITE>Sun Sentinel</CITE> in Ft. Lauderdale banners  U.S. mortgage takeover above the nameplate but leads with  Ike slams into Cuba and a report about South Florida being  frazzled but lucky after the storms. <CITE>El Nuevo Herald</CITE> in Miami leads with  Ike desata su furia, or  Ike unleashes its fury. <P>With Louisiana another state that may be hit by the hurricane, <CITE>The Times-Picayune</CITE> in New Orleans banners  State keeps close eye on menacing Ike while updating the problems of the previous storm with a couple of stories, including one about  More lights flicker to life. <CITE>The Advocate</CITE> in Baton Rouge reports  Keep watch on Ike but also notes that  Many still waiting for power after the last storm while <CITE>The Times</CITE> in Shreveport plays up that the previous storm  drained coffers with  Local non-profits feeling the pinch. <P>In North Carolina, hit by the previous storm and concerned about the next one, <CITE>The Fayetteville Observer</CITE> reports that  Officials in Ike s path worry about hurricane fatigue setting in, <CITE>The Daily Reflector</CITE> in Greenville leads with  Powerful Ike churns towards Gulf of Mexico and the <CITE>Winston-Salem Journal</CITE> reports  Ike pointed at Havana, Dumps on Haiti. <P>We re not there but we agree with the folks at <CITE>Hernando Today</CITE>  this time we don t like Ike. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#090508"></a> <b>September 5, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>McCain s acceptance speech<BR>uses words of reformer, maverick</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>John McCain s speech accepting the Republican nomination for president was almost 4,000 words long. Two of those words stood out in today s headlines: Fight and change. <P> McCain issues a call to fight for country, <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix said about the Arizona senator who has made his maverick style a campaign theme. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> noted that McCain used the word  fight 43 times during the speech. The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> and <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> used one of those references:   Stand up and fight.  <P>Florida newspapers seized on the use of the word  change by the four-term senator.   Change is coming, McCain promises GOP, <CITE>The Tampa Tribune</CITE> said.  McCain wows audience at RNC, says  change is coming,  the <CITE>Tallahassee Democrat</CITE> said.  Change coming, McCain pledges, said <CITE>Florida Today</CITE> in Melbourne.   Change is coming in D.C., nation, McCain promises, <CITE>The Florida Times-Union</CITE> in Jacksonville said. <P><CITE>The Kansas City</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>Star</CITE> and <CITE>The Wichita</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>Eagle</CITE> combined the use of the two words.  McCain says he ll fight for change, the <CITE>Eagle</CITE> said. In reverse type, <CITE>The Kansas City Star</CITE> printed the quote   Fight for what s right  and added below,  Change is coming, nominee vows. <P>Beyond coverage of the speech, the U.S. s largest newspapers took different approaches to sidebars. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> said in an analysis,  The Party in Power, Running as if It Weren t. The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> examined how the Republican Party  portrays itself as in sync with America. <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> took a more broad view, looking at the next 60 days for both Republicans and Democrats. <CITE>USA Today</CITE> suggested  Seismic shifts in demographics & could reshape America s political system. <P>McCain s photo appeared in the center of the <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE>, but the three stories were about his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. The <CITE>St. Paul</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> reported that hundreds more anti-war protesters were arrested in the convention city. Its Web site included a <A class=chan href="http://extras.twincities.com/car/jail/Default.aspx" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>database</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> of county jail bookings. <P>In his speech, McCain, a veteran, mentioned his support of the military  surge in Iraq. <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> (prompted by a report by Fox News) previewed Bob Woodward s new book <CITE>The War Within: A Secret White House History, 2006-2008</CITE>. The <CITE>Post</CITE> quoted the book as saying  the U.S. troop  surge & was not the primary factor behind the steep drop in violence there during the past 16 months. <P>In Detroit, the <CITE>Free Press</CITE> and <CITE>The News</CITE> reported McCain s speech on their regular front pages. They also responded to their mayor s resignation after pleading guilty to felony charges in a perjury case. The <CITE>Free Press</CITE> published a 20-page section.  Scandal that crippled city ends with 2 felony convictions, 4 months in jail, it said. <CITE>The News</CITE> printed an eight-page section that was highlighted by the word  Surrender. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#090408"></a> <b>September 4, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Palin fires back after questions<BR>about her qualifications</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>VP nominee Sarah Palin came out swinging  against her critics, her political rivals and the media  Wednesday night in a prime-time speech to the Republican convention. <P>Headline writers used varying verbs to describe her actions: <UL> <LI> Palin pulls no punches  the <CITE>Billings</CITE> (Mont.) <CITE>Gazette</CITE><BR><BR> <LI> Palin dissects opponents  <CITE>Las Vegas</CITE> (Nev.) <CITE>Review-Journal</CITE> <BR><BR> <LI> Rallies delegates by skewering media, Washington establishment  <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> </LI></UL> <P>The <CITE>Anchorage Daily</CITE> in Palin s home state of Alaska devoted the entire front page to convention events and said,  Governor goes on the offensive while introducing herself to nation. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> said Palin s speech  Electrifies Convention. Said <CITE>The Sun</CITE> of Baltimore,  Republican VP choice is roundly cheered as she defends her executive experience, mocks Obama. <P>Other headlines also used the word  mocks to describe her comments about Democrat Barack Obama.  GOP running mate mocks Obama as out-of-touch elitist who would  forfeit on Iraq, <CITE>The Commercial Appeal</CITE> of Memphis, Tenn., said. <P>Fresh off covering the Democratic convention, the Denver newspapers showed they still had spirit. <CITE>The Rocky Mountain News</CITE> called the speech  A fine how do you do, and the Post borrowed from Palin s remarks for its headline:   Pit bull Palin. The <CITE>Daily News</CITE> in New York went even further with Palin s remarks   Pit Bull in Lipstick. <P>Palin calls herself a hockey mom, and that label gave headline writers inspiration.   Hockey mom Palin uncorks bruising shots, <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> declared. From Canada, where hockey is king, the <CITE>Toronto Star</CITE> said,  Palin aims, fires. <P>From the convention city of St. Paul, the <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> looked at why Palin  and not Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty  was John McCain s choice:  She has a greater reputation for reform and conservatism  and plenty of human interest. <P>Looking ahead to McCain s acceptance speech tonight, the <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis pictured the senator and said,  Today, it s his town and his party. But in an analysis of Palin s speech, the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> said,  Running mate s sudden celebrity threatens to eclipse star of the show. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#090308"></a> <b>September 3, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>GOP gets down to business<BR>after hurricane delay</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P>With that pesky Hurricane Gustav behind them, the Republicans finally got their party started last night on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention. And judging from this morning s front-page headlines, the GOP came out swinging. <P> McCain Hailed, Obama Assailed, read the same headline in three separate newspapers  the <CITE>North County Times</CITE> (Escondido, Calif.), the <CITE>Times Daily</CITE> (Florence, Ala.) and <CITE>The Times-Tribune</CITE> (Scranton, Pa.). <P>Countless papers also led with  McCain  Ready to Lead   including the <CITE>Richmond</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Times-Dispatch</CITE>  quoting President Bush s speech via satellite from the White House praising the Arizona senator. <P>Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., played good cop/bad cop last night, simultaneously praising McCain while launching into Sen. Barack Obama. In Lieberman s home state, the <CITE>New Haven Register</CITE> accentuated the positive with the headline  Lieberman Leads GOP Cheers, while the <CITE>Hartford Courant</CITE> classified his speech as  Lieberman s Risk. <P>Several newspapers also preview tonight s speech by controversial vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.  Can She Deliver? asks the Washington, D.C., <CITE>Examiner</CITE>.  Tonight, It s Palin s Show, bellows <CITE>The Sacramento</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Bee</CITE>. The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> calls it  Palin s Big Test. <P>The <CITE>Boston Herald</CITE> wins the coveted  Newseum Front Page of the Day award with its picture of Palin pointing an assault rifle at readers with the headline,  Back Off. <P>Meanwhile, newspapers in Florida have one eye on the convention but another twitchy eye on another serious weather threat.  Here They Come, warns the <CITE>Sun Sentinel</CITE> of Fort Lauderdale about the hurricane trifecta of Hanna, Ike and Josephine, which are making their way toward the East Coast. "Republicans can breathe a sigh a relief, though. These babies aren t expected to hit until the weekend." <P><EM>John Maynard is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#090208"></a> <b>September 2, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Hurricane, pregnancy take the play<BR>from GOP convention opening</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The grand opening of the convention of the Grand Old Party yesterday should have been the big story today, but two other events took the play on many front pages. <P>One was the Gulf Coast hit by Hurricane Gustav, whose wrath varied with how far you were from the scene. The other was the announcement that Sarah Palin, presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee, has an unmarried pregnant teenage daughter. And although even the Democratic Party s presidential candidate suggested that reporters  back off the pregnancy story, no one really agreed that  people s children are especially off-limits, as suggested by Barack Obama. <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE> leads with  Spared a direct hit, New Orleans exhales, with the off-lead  Palin disclosures spotlight McCain s screening process, reporting that a vetting team is now in Alaska to check out the candidate. <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> leads with  Hurricane, Palin Roil the Start of GOP Convention but  New Orleans Levees Tested as Gustav Lashes Gulf Coast rates a bigger head. Both dailies have storm photos on Page One. <P>In Alaska, the <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> runs a banner headline  Pregnancy steals spotlight, although one of the drop heads notes that  Both campaigns call it a private family matter; Palin retains GOP popularity. <P>Down where the hurricane hit, the storm was big news. Starting with Louisiana, <CITE>The Times-Picayune</CITE> in New Orleans banners  SAFE AT HOME, adding  No flooding, but massive power outages as Gustav weakens with a big photo dominating the page. <CITE>The Town Talk</CITE> in Alexandria banners  GUSTAV MARCHES IN and all the rest of the page is about the storm, and <CITE>The Advocate</CITE> in Baton Rouge reports  BR pounded and warns that  Paper s delivery may be late. <P>In Mississippi, according to the <CITE>Sun Herald</CITE> in Biloxi, a one-word banner says it all:  HAMMERED. <CITE>The Clarion-Ledger</CITE> in Jackson goes with  BLOWING THROUGH, <CITE>Daily Journal</CITE> in Tupelo tells its readers that  Gustav slams Gulf Coast, and <CITE>The Mississippi Press</CITE> in Pascagoula heaves a sigh with the banner  County escapes major damage. <P>Parts of Texas in the path the storm also played it up, with the <CITE>Temple Daily Telegram</CITE> leading with  Waiting for Gustav to fade away, <CITE>The Beaumont Enterprise</CITE> asking  Gustav who?, adding that  Residents trickle back into town after mandatory evacuation order, and <CITE>The Lufkin Daily News</CITE> warning its readers that  Hard winds and heavy rain expected as hurricane s effects likely to hit Angelina County. <P>Meanwhile in the convention city, the <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> in St. Paul, Minn., calls it all  Composed& chaotic, while the <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> in Minneapolis leads with  For GOP, a day of distractions. The <CITE>West Central Tribune</CITE> in nearby Willmar, Minn., offers some hope with the banner  Normal convention could start today. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#082908"></a> <b>August 29, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Front pages embrace change<BR>to report acceptance speech</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P><CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> in Portland said it was a  Nomination like no other, and the <CITE>St. Petersburg</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Times</CITE> called it a  Dream Night. <P>And so a special night deserved a special page. <P>Many front pages changed their formats to incorporate large photos, large headlines, pulled quotes and other special treatments to share news from Barack Obama s speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president. <P> Obama s Promise, <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> said. With just one story on its special convention front page, it added:  On historic night, nominee vows path to prosperity, justice. <P>Two-thirds of <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> of Cleveland was a dramatic Getty Images photo of Obama on stage at Denver s Invesco Field. The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> used an AP photo with flags waving. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> and <CITE>The Kansas City</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>Star</CITE> showed Obama before a sea of  Change placards. The <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> printed a photo of the Obamas and the Bidens the width of its page. <CITE>The Virginian-Pilot</CITE> of Norfolk pictured a crowded stadium and said,  Amid a Sea of Support, Obama Accepts Nod. <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> managed to include eight photos to illustrate convention news. <P>Headlines focused on Obama s words.   America, now is not the time for small plans,  <CITE>The Burlington</CITE> (Vt.) <CITE>Free Press</CITE> quoted Obama. California front pages alone showed the range of quotes from the speech before more than 75,000. <CITE>The Sun</CITE>, San Bernardino:   It s about you.  <CITE>Daily Breeze</CITE>, Torrance:   Eight is Enough.  <CITE>The Oakland Tribune</CITE>:   Now is the time.  <CITE>Inland Valley Daily Bulletin</CITE>, Ontario:   I get it.  <P><B>What wasn t on the front page:</B> News of John McCain s GOP running mate wasn t leaked. McCain will appear today with his choice in Dayton, Ohio, where the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> said,  McCain arrives, stays mum about VP. <P><B>Of things to come:</B> On the front page of <CITE>The Times-Picayune</CITE> of New Orleans, convention news shared the stage with a potential hurricane targeting the Gulf of Mexico.  Evacuation order  very probable for Saturday, it said ahead of Tropical Storm Gustav.  State, federal agencies prepare united response, <CITE>The Times</CITE> of Shreveport, La., reported. Today is the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and the timing of Gustav s arrival put the coastal areas on edge.  Nerves Tighten, the <CITE>Sun Herald</CITE> of Biloxi, Miss., said. Florida front pages also were keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Hanna in the Atlantic.  Storms Flank Florida, <CITE>The Tampa Tribune</CITE> said. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#082808"></a> <b>August 28, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Page 1 records Obama<BR>nomination for history</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> A night for history. <P><CITE>USA Today</CITE> said it best after Democrats made history by being the first major party to nominate an African-American for president. <P>It was unbelievable news for some, including a California delegate who 45 years ago marched on Washington and listened to Dr. Martin Luther King s  I Have a Dream speech.  45 Years Later, Witnesses to Dr. King s Dream See A New Hope, <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> said. <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> of Cleveland printed a Newsday piece that began,  So many Americans thought this moment would never come. The <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> used two words:  Believe it. <P><CITE>The Virginian-Pilot</CITE> in Norfolk pictured its former governor  the U.S. s first African-American governor  and said Douglas Wilder and other black politicians went to the convention  to witness the moment. <P><CITE>The Dallas Morning News</CITE> said,  Obama s nomination has the nation in unfamiliar territory. <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> noted a  Changing of the Guard, in reporting that a new generation of civil rights leaders was given prime-time speaking slots at the Democratic National Convention. <P>At the end of the night, nominee Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the convention, joining VP nominee Joe Biden on stage. Photos of the two appeared almost everywhere. <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> called it  Nominees Night. <P><CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> said,  Candidate Gets Boost From the Clintons and offered an analysis of former President Bill Clinton s endorsing speech. <P> Historic, by acclamation, <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> said, noting that Obama gained the nomination after Sen. Hillary Clinton stopped a roll-call vote after 30 states and territories and called for nomination by acclamation.  Clinton interrupts roll call to direct all  ayes on him, the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</CITE> of Little Rock said. <P>In a treatment that stood out from others, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> used a sketch of Obama with a profile in advance of tonight s acceptance speech.  Barack Obama, half black and half white, fights the undertow of race, it said. The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> noted tonight s challenge for Obama:  Not only inspire us but reach us where we live. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#082708"></a> <b>August 27, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Hillary story unites front pages</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>When we want a jazzy headline, we turn to New York s tabloids, which didn t disappoint in reporting on Hillary Clinton s swan song to her presidential bid at the Democratic convention. <P> Heal-ary, blared New York s <CITE>Daily News</CITE>  but with a teaser to a story inside that indicated a touch of doubt:  What she said and what she <CITE>really</CITE> meant. <P>The <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> took a bottom-line approach atop a photo of a smiling Sen. Barack Obama watching the speech:  Obama s Verdict:  She Delivered.  <P> Clinton closes the book on her historic quest, wrote <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., with a subhead using one of Clinton s funniest quips,  She urges  sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits to get behind Obama. <P> Team Obama was how the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> in Denver saw it. <P> Clinton Puts Obama First, Only, said Clinton s former home-state paper, the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat-Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock. Its subhead referred to a local Democratic leader who was killed just before the Democratic convention:  Speech praises Gwatney, takes jabs at McCain. <P> Reaching across the great divide, said <CITE>The Dispatch</CITE> in Casa Grande, Ariz., in GOP rival John McCain s home state.  Clinton salutes Obama, Democrats rip McCain, it added. <P><CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> had Clinton in glorious orange under the headline  A Plea for Unity with a subhead that quoted from her speech  & the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. <P>No translation was necessary for <CITE>La Opinion s</CITE> headline, quoting Clinton:  Obama es mi candidato. <P> Clinton claims moment, said the Merrillville, Ind., <CITE>Post-Tribune</CITE>, atop a lovely AP photo of Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea.  Runner-up to Obama in bitter primary makes case for her rival with eye on own political future. Phew, that about covers it. <P>But  Some aren t over the Hill, reported <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Colorado Springs, reflecting Clinton supporters who aren t sold on Obama. <P><CITE>The Honolulu Advertiser</CITE> was simpatico.  A bittersweet day for some, it said. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#082608"></a> <b>August 26, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Ted Kennedy snags some headlines<BR>as Democratic convention opens</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Michelle Obama might have been the headliner, but Ted Kennedy also netted some of the headlines from last night s opening of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Some editors twinned up Michelle Obama and Sen. Kennedy, and others gave the play to the presidential candidate s wife. <P>The <CITE>East Valley Tribune</CITE> in Scottsdale, Ariz., has a big photo of the smiling senator and the headline  Ailing Kennedy electrifies convention, the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock leads with  Kennedy fires up Democrats, while the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> has as its off-lead  Rousing salute as Kennedy passes torch and <CITE>The Lewiston Tribune </CITE>in Idaho banners  Kennedy calls upon party faithful. The tabloid <CITE>New York Post</CITE> fills Page One with a Kennedy photo and the headline  Old lion roars. And <CITE>The Boston Globe </CITE>said,  Kennedy s speech sets the agenda for all the speeches to follow. <P>The<CITE> Palm Beach Post</CITE> in Florida gives primary play to  Wife reveals Obama s soft side, urges lesson from  improbable rise, with a separate story that  Kennedy s speech galvanizes crowd. <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> seems to combine the two with  Wife: Obama believes in American dream and the drop headline   Hopes rise again, Kennedy says in praising candidate. The <CITE>Corvallis</CITE> (Ore.) <CITE>Gazette-Times </CITE>banners  Kennedy, Michelle Obama rally Dems, even as <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> in Louisville, Ky., reports,  Obama, Kennedy urge Democrats to unite. For the <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times,</CITE> it s all Michelle, referred to as  South Side pride, and our friends at <CITE>The Monitor </CITE>in McAllen, Texas, lead with  Michelle wows  em. <P>What about the newspapers in Colorado where all this is happening? Well, that s a special case. <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> s convention front page, separate from its regular front page, carries the nameplate <CITE>The Denver Post & Politico</CITE> and is all about the political doings and the banner head  Michelle s view. The <CITE>Aurora Sentinel</CITE> has a big photo of the delegates assembled and the headline  Dems pack the house ; <CITE>The Gazette </CITE>in Colorado Springs plays up Michelle Obama s  Family, values and a dream speech with a bigger picture of a teen delegate to the convention; the <CITE>Fort Collins Coloradoan</CITE> plays up opening night with photos and a story; and <CITE>The Daily Sentinel</CITE> in Grand Junction focuses on Western states being a key to election victory while reporting Michelle Obama s speech, with picture. <P>Finally, perhaps we missed others but we found only one Tammy Wynette fan among today s editors. The Washington, D.C., edition of <CITE>The Examiner</CITE> has a big picture of today s heroine with the head  Michelle stands by her man. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#082508"></a> <b>August 25, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Olympics end, convention s start<BR>make for lively, newsy Monday</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The Olympics ended yesterday, and the Democratic National Convention begins tonight in Denver, giving big and small U.S. dailies more Page One news than might be hoped for on a Monday morning in August. <P><CITE>The Tuscaloosa News</CITE> in Alabama squares off a hometown angle to  Local Dems head for Denver, while asking,  After glow of games, what s next for China? The <CITE>East Valley Tribune</CITE> in Mesa, Ariz., answers that with much of the front page devoted to  Games impact enduring, and  McCain rips Obama s choice of Biden for VP. The <CITE>North County Times</CITE> in Escondido, Calif., takes a middle-of-the-road approach to the games with  Mixed legacy likely for China s Olympics, while leading with  Obama aims for vote of blue-collar workers, a head similar to many seen this morning. <P>Closer to the convention scene, the <CITE>Aurora Sentinel</CITE> in Colorado has a big front page photo of cops at the ready with the caption  IT S SHOWTIME! Protests snarl traffic ahead of opening day of the Democratic convention in Denver. Its Olympics story is inside but teased on Page One with  USA closes out Olympics with hoops redemption. <CITE>The Day</CITE> in New London, Conn., has an Olympics photo and asks,  What s the next act for China? while noting that  Democrats heading to Denver see that there is work to do. <P>VP candidate Joe Biden is the lead story in his home state daily, <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., with  Biden s test: female voters, while also reporting that  China garners praise for Olympics. <CITE>The Ledger</CITE> in Lakeland, Fla., tells its readers that  All Fla. delegates in place and expected  to be key again, while still playing up the Olympics with a picture and a look to the 2012 games in London. <P>In Marietta, Ga., the <CITE>Daily Journal</CITE> leads with  Obama, Clinton focusing on unity, and also reporting,  Olympics take final bow in Beijing. The <CITE>Journal Star</CITE> in Peoria, Ill., leads with the familiar  Obama targets middle class but the big picture goes with  Celebrating Olympic success. The <CITE>Times-Republican</CITE> in Marshalltown, Iowa, uses about a quarter of its front page to say  Farewell Beijing, while also noting Obama s blue-collar approach. <P>The <CITE>Lansing State Journal</CITE> in Michigan uses much of Page One to report  16  glorious days of Olympic feats go out with superstar-studded bang, and noting that  Dems in Denver pursue harmony, history, humility. We ll see about that later in the week. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#082208"></a> <b>August 22, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A little housekeeping<BR>before political conventions</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> How many houses do you and Mrs. McCain have? <CITE>Politico</CITE> asked what seemed like a simple question of John McCain. But his response  that his staff would provide an answer  created a round of campaign sparring  and headlines. <P>The senator and his wife, Cindy, a beer heiress, have homes in several locations: <P><B>Arizona:</B> <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> pictured a Phoenix condominium tower:  Homing in on McCain Slip. <P><B>Metro Washington, D.C.:</B>  Houses Add Up to A Snag for McCain, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> said. Its Style section offered,  Take the McCain House Tour! adding  With Places to Hang His Hat On Two Coasts  and a Few in Between  the Candidate is Living Large. <P><B>California:</B>  How many homes? the <CITE>Contra Costa Times</CITE> in Walnut Creek asked.  McCain isn t sure. <CITE>The Tribune</CITE> in San Luis Obispo noted the fallout,  Obama quick to pounce on McCain s home gaffe. <P>McCain s stumble and his opponent s reaction opened doors for headline writers. <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE>:  McCain blunder leaves him looking for political shelter. <CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE>:  Candidates sparring hits closer to home. <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE> noted that the political rivals are  Sparring Over Wealth, Seeking Tie to Voters. The <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis said,   Rich becomes four-letter word on the campaign trail. And from <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> in Portland:  Candidates vie for common-man credential. <P><B>What s not on the front page:</B> Barack Obama s choice for VP. All week, VP stories like the one today from the <CITE>Quad-City Times</CITE> in Davenport, Iowa, have been appearing on front pages.  VP pick a secret, said the <CITE>Post</CITE> in Denver, which hosts the Democratic convention beginning Monday. <P><CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington pictured reporters camped outside the Delaware home of Sen. Joe Biden, often mentioned as a possibility.  Betting on Biden, but no peep on veep. <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> aggregated its coverage in an online <A class=chan href="http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS02/51129004/1006&amp;theme=BIDEN&amp;template=theme" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Joe Biden page</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG>. <P>From Sen. Evan Bayh s home state, <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> summed it up:  Obama s pick: For him to know, us to find out. Obama and his VP choice will appear Saturday in Springfield, Ill. Advised <CITE>The State Journal Register</CITE>:  Be prepared to be patient for Obama. We already have been. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#082108"></a> <b>August 21, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Lightning Bolt strikes<BR>in Beijing; storm wallops Fla.</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>A newspaper s mission is to inform, enlighten, entertain and engage. With disaster on the front page, today s priority is to inform. <P>In Florida, where Tropical Storm Fay is about to make its third landfall, <CITE>Florida Today</CITE> broke out numbers as   Catastrophic flooding hit the Space Coast. The newspaper promoted online extras and invited readers to contribute their stories, saying:  Help us keep you informed. <P> Lingering storm drenches coast, <CITE>The Daytona Beach News-Journal</CITE> said. In promoting inside coverage, it added,  Find out what s closed, where to get sandbags and other important information. <P>After first moving through Key West, Fay made landfall near Naples, where the <CITE>Naples Daily News</CITE> paired a state and a local story today, along with a map charting Fay s course. The <CITE>Orlando Sentinel</CITE> tallied rainfall totals. <CITE>The Palm Beach Post</CITE>, which pictured a resident chest-deep in water, promoted the more than 100 additional photos on its Web site and invited readers to submit their pictures. <CITE>Highlands Today</CITE> in Sebring reported the first Fay-related fatality. <P><CITE>USA Today</CITE> noted that the crash of a Spanair plane on Wednesday has  drawn worldwide attention in a time of unprecedented aviation safety improvements. The crash that killed 153 people dominated Spain s front-page news, including on <CITE>El Mundo</CITE> and <CITE>Público</CITE> in Madrid, where the flight originated. <P><CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> of Cleveland devoted much of today s page to the death of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio. <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> was among many news organizations that prematurely reported the death of the Democratic congresswoman from a brain aneurysm Wednesday afternoon. Tubbs Jones family announced her death Wednesday night. <P><B>Today s photo:</B> Usain Bolt of Jamaica set a world record in the 200-meter dash in Beijing, and images of the world s fastest man appeared on many front pages. <CITE>The Times</CITE> of Johannesburg, South Africa, said:  Lightning Bolt Strikes Again. <P><B>Today in history:</B> Aug. 21 marks the 40th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, ending the country s democratic reform movement called the Prague Spring. <CITE>Hospodarske Noviny</CITE> and <CITE>Lidove Noviny</CITE> in Prague marked the anniversary, and <CITE>Mladá Fronta DNES</CITE> reprinted a photo from the time and referred to a special magazine. Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia, and <CITE>SME</CITE> in Bratislava also noted the anniversary in photo and text. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#082008"></a> <b>August 20, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Local Olympians are front-page news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Emily Hedges</P> <P>The Beijing Olympics are almost two weeks old, and yet, all over America, newspapers are still putting photos and stories from the games on their front pages. Today, let's focus on the "local athlete" angle that many papers are playing up on their front pages. <P>Olympic wrestler  and son of illegal immigrants  Henry Cejudo won gold by defeating Japan's Tomohiro Matsunaga. <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> featured Cejudo on the front page, identifying him as a former wrestling champion of Maryvale High School in Phoenix. "Precious Mettle" was the headline for the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> story on Cejudo, who was identified as a Coloradoan here, as he wrestled at a Colorado high school also. <P>Santa Ana, Calif.'s <CITE>Orange County Register</CITE> identified several local female athletes and their accomplishments on the front page under the headline "Women Rule." <CITE>The Advocate</CITE> (Baton Rouge, La.) also had photos of several local athletes in Beijing mentioned on their front page. Not all have been successful, though  Baton Rouge resident Lolo Jones tripped on a hurdle, relinquishing her lead and a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles  as evidenced by the headline, "Olympic Highs &amp; Lows." <P>Anna Tunnicliffe became the first South Floridian to win a gold medal in Beijing, according to <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE>. (Tunnicliffe was also mentioned in Hampton Roads, Va.'s <CITE>Link</CITE> because she is an Old Dominion graduate.) Another Floridian, Tampa native Damu Cherry, lost her medal bid in the 100-meter hurdles by ".01 Seconds" according to the headline of <CITE>The Tampa Tribune</CITE>. The winner of that 100-meter hurdles race, Dawn Harper, was featured under the headline "Golden Dawn" on the front page of her home state's <CITE>Belleville</CITE> (Ill.) <CITE>News-Democrat</CITE>. <P>Ever hear of Klamath Falls, Ore.? Well, Olympian Ian Dobson has  he's from the area, and his photo and a blurb were put above the nameplate of the local <CITE>Herald and News</CITE> even though he hadn't yet competed at press time. The <CITE>Tulsa</CITE> (Okla.) <CITE>World</CITE> celebrated former University of Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton's silver medal on the horizontal bar, and <CITE>The Salt Lake Tribune</CITE> had a photo of Olympic volleyball player Logan Tom on the front page. Bet she's not often referred to as a "Highland High School graduate" anymore, but she was on her hometown front page. <P>The more well-known Olympians may be front-page news all over the country, and they are front-page staples in their home states as well. Shawn Johnson, Iowa native and face of U.S. gymnastics, won gold on the balance beam and the story was on many Iowa front pages, including the <CITE>Sioux City Journal</CITE>, which also ran a front-page story on how Johnson was inspiring other local gymnasts. The Baltimore native and winner of eight gold medals in Beijing, Michael Phelps, was still on the front page of <CITE>The Examiner</CITE> in Baltimore, and today he was pictured with another local sports hero, Cal Ripken Jr. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:ehedges@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Emily Hedges</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#081908"></a> <b>August 19, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Pakistan s Musharraf resigns,<BR>making Page 1 news in many places</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The thinking person s Big Story today is the downfall of strongman Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and the confusion that may reign, even if briefly, in his place. And that story choice goes for editors and readers who might not be able to pick out Pakistan on an unlabeled map of the world. <P>It s the lead story in <CITE>The New York Times</CITE>   Musharraf out, leaving factions to vie for power; <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE>   Musharraf exits, but uncertainty remains; <CITE>The Washington Times</CITE>   Musharraf leaves doubts; <CITE>USA Today</CITE>   Pakistan s transition could be rocky; and <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE>   Musharraf resigns, leaving a shaky Pakistan in his wake. <P>Even <CITE>The Herald</CITE> in Miami, where Floridians are worried more about a tropical storm than almost anything else, leads with  Pakistan upheaval clouds future for U.S. <P>Many of the rest of the U.S. dailies pointed up other aspects of the Pakistan story. For <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE>, it s  Musharraf s resignation boosts worries over Pakistan s nuclear arsenal, Taliban, <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> in Portland reports in its off-lead story that  Musharraf resignation puts U.S. in a bind, <CITE>Valley News</CITE> in West Lebanon, N.H., says  Musharraf exit raises new issues, and <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> in Newark, N.J., leads with  Pakistan tiptoes into a cloudy future without Musharraf. <P>The <CITE>Star-Tribune</CITE> in Minneapolis has an unchallengeable off-lead   Pakistan troubles outlast president. The <CITE>Yakima Herald-Republic</CITE> in Washington notes at the bottom of Page One that  Pakistani leader s exit brings new problems, <CITE>The Birmingham News</CITE> in Alabama anchors the bottom of the page with a photo and  Musharraf leaves leadership void, <CITE>Bangor Daily News</CITE> in Maine reports that  Musharraf s exit poses challenges and the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> observes that  Musharraf leaves a nation at crossroads. <CITE>The Press-Enterprise</CITE> in Riverside, Calif., leads with  U.S. faces quandary in Pakistan, and the <CITE>Richmond</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Times-Dispatch</CITE> notes with photo and story that  Musharraf departs, but problems remain. <P>Other dailies played it straight, such as <CITE>The Bismarck</CITE> (N.D.) <CITE>Tribune</CITE> squaring off  Musharraf resigns, the <CITE>South Bend Tribune</CITE> in Indiana leading with  Musharraf announces resignation, <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix reporting at the top of the page  Pakistan s Musharraf resigns, and the lead headline in <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE>   Pakistan leader, a key ally, resigns. We ll look for the stories about the Pakistan problems later. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#081808"></a> <b>August 18, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Asian newspapers play up<BR>Olympics with photos, stories</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Do Asian newspapers care about those Olympic Games in China? Yes, indeed, and not just in China.</P> <P>The <CITE>Borneo Bulletin</CITE> in Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalem (which is a mouthful for a place name), has a Page One photo of swimming champion Michael Phelps and a story reporting  8 out of 8  Phelps phenomenal feat. The off-lead story in <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Calcutta, India, also is about Phelps and here he is the  Eighth wonder of the water world, while <CITE>DNA</CITE> in Mumbai, India, has Phelps  Lucky 8 plus a story asking about  False start in sprint? <CITE>Anandabara Patrika</CITE> in Calcutta, India, offers a photo of the American hero in the water. <P><CITE>The Jakarta Post</CITE> in Indonesia leads with the local win in badminton, <CITE>Asahi Shimbun</CITE> in Tokyo has Olympics photos, while the English edition of the <CITE>Asahi Shimbun</CITE> figures its readers get sports news elsewhere and ignores the Olympics on Page One. <P><CITE>Stars and Stripes</CITE> Pacific edition, published in Tokyo, devotes much of the front page to the Olympics, the <CITE>Star</CITE> in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has a photo of a local badminton star who won a silver medal with a caption about  So near yet so far, while <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in the same city whoops up  King Phelps and his wins. All the Seoul dailies on our Web site have front-page Olympics stories. <P>As for China itself and Hong Kong, much of Page One of <CITE>The Beijing News</CITE> is about Phelps. <CITE>Oriental Morning Post</CITE> in Shanghai plays up a Chinese gold medal winner, <CITE>The Wall Street Journal Asia</CITE> in Hong Kong tells the business community and others that  Phelps seeks gold out of the water, while the <CITE>South China Morning Post</CITE> in Hong Kong makes East and West happy winners with a banner head reporting  Double happiness as history made, noting  8 Phelps sets record for most golds won by an athlete at a single Games and  8 China secures biggest single-day gold medals haul, taking tally to a record. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#081508"></a> <b>August 15, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A thousand words, and then some more</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>Imagine how boring your hometown newspaper would look if it were filled only with text. It s the photographs that add life to those black-and-white pages. <P>This week, the Olympics in Beijing have been a visual smorgasbord for photojournalists and a bonanza for newspaper editors looking to liven Page One. <P>Today, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> and <CITE>The Sacramento</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Bee</CITE> both carry whimsical staff photographs of newly minted gold-medalist Nastia Liukin on the front page. <CITE>The Times</CITE> captures the American gymnast in a mid-air split, while the <CITE>Bee</CITE> catches her in the midst of a back-flip. <P>How does she do that? <P>Other newspapers found fanciful photos closer to home. Photojournalists at <CITE>The Register-Guard</CITE> in Eugene, Ore., <CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE> in Washington and <CITE>The Columbian</CITE> in Vancouver, Wash., turned their lenses to the region s summer heat wave with pictures of, respectively: a 5-year-old fairgoer dousing his head with a cup of cold water; a goggle-eyed swimmer happy to be underwater at the local pool; and a disgruntled toddler who just can t keep her popsicle from melting. <P>Can you feel the heat? <P>Down in Miami, it s not heat but the return of school that s bringing the blues. As <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> shows, those vaccination shots sure do hurt  for both mother and daughter. In Melbourne, <CITE>Florida Today</CITE> goes after another fear: alligators. It s safe to say that picture is as close as you should get to those toothy beasts. <P>Drama ruled the day in Colorado, where a <CITE>Fort Collins Coloradoan</CITE> photograph of a menacing storm looked like a scene from  The Wizard of Oz. But it was the quiet poignancy of a Haitian pastor facing deportation, as depicted in Connecticut s <CITE>Republican-American</CITE>, that really lent credence to the saying: Pictures are worth a thousand words. <P>Sometimes more. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#081408"></a> <b>August 14, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Athletes on Global Stage,<BR>Local Front Pages</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Hicks Wogan</P> <P>The Olympics are maintaining a presence on front pages the world over, but for some newspapers the Summer Games in Beijing are a local news story. <P>The biggest story thus far has been American swimmer Michael Phelps, but with Phelps not racing on Wednesday, what were newspapers to do? Some chose to stand by their man anyway, especially those in his hometown of Baltimore. There, <CITE>The Examiner</CITE> doesn t have a front-page article but notes that  Phelps earns a rest while teasing readers to pages 6 and 7. Meanwhile, <CITE>The Sun</CITE> is running an article about the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where Phelps, along with female swimmer Katie Hoff, trained. The <CITE>Sun</CITE> calls Baltimore the current  cradle of American swimming. <P>On the other side of the globe, down under the equator, Australians love their swimmers, too. Stephanie Rice, a native of Brisbane, won the 200-meter individual medley for her second gold medal of the Games. Her hometown paper, <CITE>The Courier-Mail</CITE>, heralds her success today with a full-page photo and a headline that notes Rice is  Twice as Nice. <P>American beach-volleyball duo Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor have won so much in recent years  their undefeated streak stands at 104 matches, including their latest win over a pair of Norwegians  that it s hardly news anymore. Both women grew up on California s Pacific Coast, but most local front pages passed on them. An exception: the <CITE>Press-Telegram</CITE> in Long Beach, which is very near May-Treanor s home community of Costa Mesa and which uses a front-page corner to refer readers to the sports section. <P>Also yesterday was the men s all-around gymnastics championship, where American Jonathan Horton finished ninth. The <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> shows  Jonathan Horton of Houston competing on the pommel horse. Taking the gold was China s Yang Wei. He lives in Beijing, but <CITE>The Beijing News</CITE> still seems to be celebrating, with six front-page photos, the Chinese women s team victory from the night before last. <P>In Iowa, papers are looking not to the past, but the future. <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Cedar Rapids previews the women s all-around gymnastics final, slated to air tonight on NBC. Iowan Shawn Johnson, whom <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> refers to as  Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, is headlining both the event final and the front page. The <CITE>Times-Republican</CITE> in Marshalltown, Iowa, has a big photo of the petite Johnson and a story on poll results that show 55 percent of Americans approve of China s hosting the Games this year, despite the country s human-rights issues. <P>And many newspapers, it seems, approve of the Olympics stories. <P><EM>Hicks Wogan is a staff assistant at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#081308"></a> <b>August 13, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Phelps collects more gold;<BR>ceasefire promised in Georgia</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Battles in Asia and Europe continued to monopolize front-page photos and stories. <P>From Europe came news of a brokered Russia-Georgia truce even as fighting and troop movement continued. <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> of London illustrated the tone of the ceasefire in its headline:  Surrender, or else, Russia tells Georgia. <P>From Asia came news of swimmer Michael Phelps continued battle for a record eight gold medals in one Olympics.  More records fall in Phelps wake, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> said over a stand-alone photo of Phelps, who won his fourth and fifth gold medals in Beijing  his 10th and 11th career gold medals. <P><CITE>The Kansas City</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>Star</CITE> was among U.S. newspapers that included both Georgia fighting and the Olympics on their front pages.  Cease-fire message: Russia is boss again, the <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis said in an off-lead. Its centerpiece:  Phelps has most golds ever; U.S. gymnasts capture silver. <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> in Newark, N.J., labeled its Olympic centerpiece  The Unstoppable Mr. Phelps and said lower on the page,  Russia agrees to halt military action in Georgia. <P>In a sign of the significance of the Russia-Georgia story, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> published three related stories on its front page, including:  U.S. experts say Russia s goal in the Georgia battle has been to lay claim to a sphere of influence. Said the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE>:  Russia-Georgia clash leaves lasting damage. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> reported a cyberwar against Georgia that coincided with the Russian assault on the former Soviet country. <P>Three journalists have been reported killed covering the fighting. In the Netherlands, <CITE>DAG</CITE> in Amsterdam and AD in Rotterdam pictured Stan Storimans, an RTL television cameraman, who was reportedly killed in the bombing. <P>The <CITE>Toronto Star</CITE> called Beijing  The Olympics of Illusion after accusations of lip-synching and fake fireworks marred what was considered a fantastic opening ceremony. In this age of fake, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> had its culture critic survey the reaction to the lip-synching of the unofficial Chinese anthem by a girl  prettier than the singer:  Oh well, whatever, never mind. <P>With world records being smashed, the <CITE>Orlando</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE> looked at the new Speedo suit and asked:  Is it the swimmer or suit? Dave Barry suggested on <CITE>The Miami Herald s</CITE> front page that the solution to the U.S.-China medal rivalry might be beer pong:  We would KILL China in beer pong. And from South Africa, <CITE>The Times</CITE> pictured a beach volleyball player  Kicking butt.  Yes, it is a sport, <CITE>The Times</CITE> noted about beach volleyball. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#081208"></a> <b>August 12, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Russian invasion of Georgia<BR>continues to dominate coverage</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Russia s invasion of the democratically inclined former Soviet republic, now the independent country of Georgia, continues to dominate the news. This is not the first time Russia has used force to end democratization. Indeed, 40 years ago this month, on August 20, 1968, tanks of the Soviet Union and some of its Warsaw Pact allies crushed Czechoslovakia s 200-day effort to democratize communism, to offer  socialism with a human face. The Prague Spring was over. <P>Although early morning news reports today state that Russia is halting military action, it isn t clear whether Russian troops will withdraw. After all, those troops have been told to  destroy any  hotbeds of resistance or any aggressive actions. Those reports didn t make the morning newspapers, and we thought we would focus on European coverage. <P><CITE>Der Standard</CITE> in Vienna, Austria, leads with  Open controversy between USA and Russia about the fighting while featuring a photo of the Georgian president being protected when a Russian military helicopter appeared over the capital  a photo that several newspapers used. <CITE>De Morgen</CITE> in Brussels, Belgium, tops Page One with a photo of Russian soldiers in Georgia, and the European edition of <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE>, published in Brussels, leads with a three-column headline reporting  As Russia pushes deeper, Georgia appeals for help. <P><CITE>Dnevnik Daily</CITE> in Sofia, Bulgaria, has a large war photo at the bottom of the page, while <CITE>Lidove Noviny</CITE> in Prague, Czech Republic, has its war story and the photo of the Georgian president being protected. Three other Prague dailies  <CITE>Mlada Fronta Dnes</CITE>, <CITE>Denik</CITE> and <CITE>Hospodarske Noviny</CITE>  also give Page One play to the fighting. <P><CITE>Aripaev</CITE> in Tallinn, Estonia, has a big Page One picture of the Russian leaders to top their coverage, and the situation gets major play in <CITE>La Tribune</CITE> in Paris. <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> in Berlin reports on  Russian troops near Georgia s capital," <CITE>To Vima</CITE> in Athens has an army action shot anchoring the front page, <CITE>La Stampa</CITE> in Torino, Italy, banners  The Russians smash in, while <CITE>AD</CITE> in Rotterdam, Netherlands, devotes most of the front page to war coverage, with photo and story. <P>In Poland, <CITE>Dziennik Polski</CITE> in Krakow and <CITE>Dziennik Lodzi</CITE> in Lodz play up the fighting. <CITE>Jurnal Aradean</CITE> in Arad, Romania, has a protest photo with someone carrying a poster reading, in English,  Stop the war in Georgia, which seems appropriate since Romania did not participate in the Czechoslovak invasion mentioned earlier. <CITE>Moskovskaya Pravda</CITE> in Moscow plays up the war, but we can t read Cyrillic, which is probably just as well. <CITE>Danas</CITE> in Belgrade, Serbia, leads with the war and uses the Georgian president photo. <P>Finally, <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> in London banners  Russians march into Georgia, which sounds like a take-off of the U.S. Civil War song  Marching through Georgia, the state, not the country. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#081108"></a> <b>August 11, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Russian invasion of little Georgia<br>is news here, there and everywhere</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>An undeclared war that will have no winners is Page One news here, there and almost everywhere. Pro-western President Saakashvili of Georgia said he was going to regain control of the tiny separatist region of South Ossetia, where many, if not most, of the people carry Russian passports. Do that and it will mean war, Russia warned. Georgia moved and so did Russia. Georgia, about the size of West Virginia with almost three times the population, is at war. The million-man-plus Russian army moved against the 37,000-man Georgian army. Russia seems to have lost the public- and international-relations battle; Saakashvili may lose his job as part of the price of peace. And another would-be separatist enclave in Georgia, Abkhazia, is in the mix. <P>We find that <CITE>The Birmingham</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>News</CITE> reports,  Russia bares teeth in Georgia as blitz expands on land, sea. <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix squares off  Russia turns up heat on Georgia, and the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock leads with  Russia advances into Georgia, while the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> in Los Angeles tops the page with  Thousands fleeing Georgia. The <CITE>Iowa City Press-Citizen</CITE> in Iowa reports  Bush: Violence unacceptable as he raps Russia, and the <CITE>Rochester Democrat and Chronicle</CITE> in upstate New York says,  Russia expands military action. <CITE>The Bismarck Tribune</CITE> in North Dakota reports,  Russia expands fight in Georgia, the <CITE>San Antonio Express-News</CITE> in Texas notes that  Russia ignores pleas for cease-fire and <CITE>The Columbian</CITE> in Vancouver, Wash., tells its readers that  Russia escalates blitz in Georgia. And that s the way it goes. <P>In Europe, closer to the action, <CITE>Die Presse</CITE> in Vienna, Austria, squares off at the top of Page One  Chain reaction in the Caucasus, the <CITE>Suddeutsche Zeitung</CITE> in Munich, Germany, plays up  Russia bombs Georgia, and <CITE>Trouw</CITE> in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, uses a similar headline. The story gets heavy Page One play in <CITE>Lidove Noviny</CITE> in Prague, Czech Republic, in <CITE>De Morgen</CITE>, Brussels, Belgium, in <CITE>Corriere della Sera</CITE>, in Milan, Italy, in <CITE>Nepszabadsag</CITE> in Budapest, Hungary, in <CITE>Gazeta Wyborcza</CITE> in Warsaw, Poland, in <CITE>Dagens Nyheter</CITE> in Stockholm, Sweden, in <CITE>Jurnal de Caras-Severin</CITE> in Resita, Romania, and in <CITE>El Mundo</CITE>, in Madrid, Spain. <CITE>The Daily Telegraph</CITE> in London puts a more frightening headline on its top story:  Thousands flee as Russia  starts ethnic cleansing.  <P>It s a story that will be with us for a while, taking some of the glint off the Olympics coverage. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#080808"></a> <b>August 8, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>It s show time for China,<BR>Beijing  and front pages </SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> Let the games begin! <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> pronounced. <P> Our Olympic Dawn appeared in a photo illustration on the <CITE>South China Morning Post</CITE> in Hong Kong. From Jakarta to Brussels to Johannesburg, images and stories in advance of today s opening ceremony made front-page news. <P> First day, <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> said, adding:  The Olympic Games begin today, and Beijing is hoping they will stay free of pollution, protests and drugs. <P>All eyes are on China, host of the Summer Games. <CITE>USA Today</CITE> reported on an East-West rivalry for gold, and <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> said:  China will be flexing muscle of its emerging Olympic sports power. Said <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE>:  China, embracing both tradition and change, is looking for victory. <P>Beyond athletics, front pages are reporting on Beijing, the capital city, and Chinese culture.  Old parts of Beijing  dirt, not dignitaries/20 minutes and a million miles from Olympic glory, the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> said about a Beijing neighborhood. <CITE>The Cincinnati Enquirer</CITE> is following the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra as it plays two concerts at the games. <P><CITE>The Forum</CITE> of Fargo, N.D., produced a magazine-style at-a-glance of the games. Some front pages referred to TV coverage. <CITE>The Patriot-News</CITE> in Harrisburg, Pa., broke out helpful information and said:  Viewers, get your remotes ready. <CITE>The Californian</CITE> tried to prevent confusion by charting the time difference between Bakersfield and Beijing. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE>, <CITE>Boston Globe</CITE>, <CITE>Miami Herald</CITE>, <CITE>Denver Post</CITE> and others include Olympics special sections in today s newspaper. Other newspapers offer extensive coverage inside, including <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> with its full-page viewer s guide. <P>Another history-making story took over front pages in Detroit, where the mayor spent last night in jail after violating the terms of his bond.  Jailed mayor set to face new felony, said the <CITE>Free Press</CITE>, noting Kwame Kilpatrick is the first mayor in the city s history to spend a night behind bars. Both Detroit newspapers printed columns on their front pages.  Cuffing, escorting mayor to jail a sad duty, the <CITE>Free Press</CITE> said. From <CITE>The News</CITE>:  A Tragic Day for Detroit. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#080708"></a> <b>August 7, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Reports dig into case<BR>against anthrax scientist</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Reporting is about answering questions, but the country s largest newspapers said today that questions lingered in the case against a government scientist accused in the 2001 anthrax attacks. <P> Officials Detail Evidence, but Questions Linger, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> said in its lead story. <CITE>USA Today</CITE> devoted its cover story to the accusations against Bruce Ivins, who committed suicide:  Questions linger as feds say Ivins was lone killer. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> reported: FBI  Cites Signs of Bizarre Behavior; Skeptics Remain. <P>The <CITE>Argus Leader</CITE> in Sioux Falls, S.D., noted that anthrax had been mailed to the office of its U.S. senator, exposing employees.  Sioux Falls native, victim wants briefing on investigation, the <CITE>Argus</CITE> said. Anthrax also was mailed to Florida, where <CITE>The Palm Beach Post</CITE> used as its headline:  Scientist mailed anthrax, feds say. <P>In a sidebar, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> said:  Acquaintances and Counselor Recall the Scientist s Dark Side. Details about the scientist s unusual behavior and circumstantial evidence gave a sensational tone to the story. The <CITE>Omaha</CITE> (Neb.) <CITE>World-Herald</CITE> labeled its package  Delusional and deadly. From the ever-flamboyant <CITE>New York Post</CITE>:  Dr. Doom s descent into madness. <P>The number eight was drawn on the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> to illustrate tomorrow s lucky day:  Lucky 8/8/08  believers to wed on auspicious day. In nearby San Jose, the <CITE>Mercury News</CITE> used Olympic rings to form  8 8 8 for a package on the Olympics and the  Power of 8 :  Asia s lucky number has inspired China to start the Games at 8:08 p.m., 8/8/08. <P>But there was no luck for Favre fans in Wisconsin, as the Packers traded star quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets.  Jets Get Brett, the <CITE>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</CITE> said. A sad day in Green Bay was greeted by a black front page, as the <CITE>Press-Gazette</CITE> used a black background to set off a photo of the longtime Packer and a single story. In Packer green, <CITE>The Reporter</CITE> in Fond du Lac said:  He s gone. The <CITE>Hattiesburg American</CITE> pictured Favre as he returned to his Mississippi hometown. From Favre s new workplace, metro New York, the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> declared:  Gang Green trades draft pick for QB legend. <P>Serving a military community, <CITE>The News Tribune</CITE> of Tacoma, Wash., often reports on the war on terror. Today, the  War on Chafing appears on its front page, as a local mail carrier  vows to push for kilts as Postal Service uniforms. <CITE>The News Tribune</CITE> pictured the postman who  thinks outside of inseams. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#080608"></a> <b>August 6, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A stream of water woes<BR>makes Page One news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P>Water, water everywhere & including today s front-page headlines. <P>Earth s most precious resource gets the spotlight from all angles.  The second coming of desalination? headlines a <CITE>Santa Barbara</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>News-Press</CITE> story about the reopening of a facility that treats saltwater during droughts. More water-shortage news can be found in <CITE>The News and Advance</CITE> (Lynchburg, Va.), which writes,  City taps James River for water. The <CITE>Herald-Journal</CITE> (Spartanburg, S.C.) goes with the headline,  Cutbacks, restrictions help curb water usage. <P>Don t mention water shortages to anyone in Texas, where residents have been hit by Tropical Storm Edouard.  A Good Soaker is how the <CITE>San Antonio Express-News</CITE> succinctly sums up its weather woes. <P>Water cleanliness is the topic in Rochester, N.Y.  Beach lovers don t let water issues cloud fun, headlines a <CITE>Democrat and Chronicle</CITE> story about how locals are finding alternatives to swimming in algae-infested waters. <P>During the summer, it s required by law that newspapers run at least one picture of an adorable child frolicking in water. <CITE>The Sentinel-Record</CITE> (Hot Springs, Ark.) fulfills its obligation with a shot of a 3-year-old boy in Lake Hamilton. The headline:  Splish, splash. Awww. <P>Tuesday was primary day in some parts of the country, including Missouri, Kansas, Georgia and Michigan. One of the more watched races was in Detroit, where Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., was running in a three-way Democratic primary.  Rep. Kilpatrick claims victory in tight race, reads the bold headline in <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE>, which noted that the primary was  as much about her scandal-plagued son, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, as her own six terms in Congress. <P>Meanwhile, <CITE>The Hutchinson</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>News</CITE> devotes its entire front page to results from its county commission primary with massive head shots of the winners that would make even the most bigheaded politician blush. <P><EM>John Maynard is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#080508"></a> <b>August 5, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Weather is Page One news<BR>again in some parts of U.S.</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>With apologies to Oscar Wilde, who claimed that  Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative, we have weather today  in Illinois, Texas and Louisiana. <P>Two front pages play up Illinois storms. The <CITE>Daily Herald</CITE> in suburban Chicago offers a big photo of a lightning strike  one might call it a striking picture but we won t  and a report that  Storms rake area. The <CITE>Daily Chronicle</CITE> in DeKalb leads with  County hit by powerful wind storm. <P>In Texas, some coastal areas are bracing for Tropical Storm Edouard and that made Page One across the state. The <CITE>Amarillo Globe-News</CITE> reports  Texas coast braces for Edouard, the <CITE>Austin American-Statesman</CITE> warns  Edouard deluge on way, <CITE>The Beaumont Enterprise</CITE> says  Edouard inbound, and the <CITE>Corpus Christi Caller Times</CITE> explains in its lead headline  Storm builds, should arrive this morning. The <CITE>Galveston County Daily News</CITE> tells us  Edouard churns, the <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> leads with  Texas coast boards up as Edouard bears down, and the <CITE>Victoria Advocate</CITE> squares off at the top of Page One  Local hospitals ready for storms. That s just a sampling but the message is clear. <P>Meanwhile, in Louisiana, <CITE>The Advocate</CITE> in Baton Rouge warns in a five-column headline  Edouard could hit today, <CITE>The Daily Advertiser</CITE> in Lafayette banners  Coast preps for storm, and <CITE>The Times</CITE> in Shreveport uses much of the front page to warn  Edouard set to make landfall. <CITE>The Times-Picayune</CITE> in New Orleans has a box above the nameplate reporting  Texas and LA. coasts brace for Edouard, with details inside. <CITE>The Town Talk</CITE> in Alexandria uses a different approach, with a story about  Edouard on minds of World Series teams from coastal areas. <P>We confess that we didn t read any of the stories, ever mindful of Mark Twain s unproven claim that  Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#080408"></a> <b>August 4, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A big day for local news<BR>for many U.S. newspapers</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>All news is local, especially on a Monday morning. We have an upcoming presidential election, the Olympics soon will start and the Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn died yesterday. But for many U.S. dailies, it s a local story  feature or news  that makes a big Page One splash today. <P>For <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix it s  Stealing steel, with pictures, about how thieves are going for storm grates and manhole covers. For the <CITE>Opelika-Auburn News</CITE> in Alabama, the big Page One feature is about  Barbers share time, talent to give free haircuts, while the <CITE>Oakland Tribune</CITE> in California leads with  Berkeley arts center seeks cash. <P>The two dailies in Denver  the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> and <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE>  lead with a house fire killing three. The <CITE>Hartford Courant</CITE> in Connecticut leads with Solzhenitsyn but the big play is about a 12-year-old battling for college admission with  Brains beyond his years. <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> leads with its investigation of how  Clinics make mint on fake HIV treatment, and the <CITE>Ledger-Enquirer</CITE> in Columbus, Ga., gives over more than half of its front page to the national economic downturn and rising local unemployment with a banner headline reporting  Hope amid anxiety. <P>For the <CITE>South Bend Tribune</CITE> in Indiana, major play, with three photos, is about an area mayor who managed to lose 80 pounds, while the <CITE>Sioux City Journal</CITE> in Iowa warns its readers that  It will be another hot one today but not as bad as Sunday. <CITE>American Press</CITE> in Lake Charles, La., also plays up the weather, with a banner sure to attract attention:  SW La. on hurricane watch, even as <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> squares off  A grim forecast for heating costs. <P><CITE>The Mississippi Press</CITE> in Pascagoula squares off the killing of a former police chief, while the <CITE>Times Herald-Record</CITE> in Middletown, N.Y., gives over Page One to a local hero, about  State trooper s actions during floods become legend. The <CITE>Las Vegas Review-Journal</CITE> plays up an election story, but this is about Regular Joe making a run for the state Senate. Our friends at <CITE>The Monitor</CITE> in McAllen, Texas, have many local stories with the biggest play given to  More people are getting health care  but is the program legal? <P>The prize goes to <CITE>The State</CITE> in Columbia, S.C., with a headline that tops and includes the nameplate, telling all that  If it sold stock, USC football would be the state s 19th-largest publicly traded company. <P>But when we get home, we re going to drink a toast on this 273rd anniversary of the first major, successful free-press trial verdict in this country. Here s to John Peter Zenger! <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#080108"></a> <b>August 1, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>In health news, promises<BR>of an antidote to exercise</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>What better than a lazy summer day to consider exercise in a pill? <P> Rejoice, couch potatoes! It s exercise in a pill, announced <CITE>The News &amp; Observer</CITE> in Raleigh, N.C. <P>The news that mice given an experimental drug turned into marathoners originated with researchers in California, and <CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE> devoted its centerpiece to  Endurance lift without lifting. <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> of Portland pictured a mouse and said:  Fat-burning drug works on mice, but could it fight obesity? <P>Other headlines also focused on humans.  Just too lazy to work out? Then this pill is made for you, <CITE>The Providence</CITE> (R.I.) <CITE>Journal</CITE> said. <P>It s a week to the Summer Games in Beijing, and many large newspapers have begun their countdown.  Politics muscle in on Olympics, <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> said in a historical look at the games. The <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE> reported that grammar police are out in force in China, cracking down on Chinglish, the mistranslation of English on street signs and T-shirts. <P>Today is the one-year anniversary of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minnesota. The <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis published an anniversary pullout section, and the <CITE>St. Paul Pioneer Press</CITE> used  recovery as an art headline. Newspapers across the country have run stories this week examining the state of infrastructure. In a package with photos and references to online content, <CITE>The Forum</CITE> in neighboring Fargo, N.D., said:  Funding crisis disrupts need to monitor or repair bridges. <P>The Twin Cities newspapers also did extensive coverage of a corporate plane crash Thursday that killed eight.  Death in a cornfield, the <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> said. <P>News organizations this morning are following a report by the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> that a top government scientist, who was about to be charged in the 2001 anthrax attacks, has died of an apparent suicide. The story led today s <CITE>Times</CITE>. <P>And on a day when many focused on  race card accusations in the presidential race, the <CITE>Rochester</CITE> (N.Y.) <CITE>Democrat and Chronicle</CITE> gave us good ol mom. When it comes to the campaign messages of Obama and McCain,  Mom s the word, the newspaper said. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#073108"></a> <b>July 31, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>When it comes to the front page,<BR>food stories get a piece of the pie</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P>Front-page editors across the country must have skipped lunch yesterday, judging from the many mouth-watering lead stories that appear in today s newspapers. <P> Pie Champ in today s <CITE>Carroll County Times</CITE> (Westminster, Md.) headlines a story about a 10-year-old boy whose blueberry-peach pie won the top prize at a local 4H fair. Blueberries get more love from the <CITE>Connecticut Post</CITE>, which features a picture of an adorable 3-year-old girl scarfing them down at a local farm (before paying for them, we might add  tsk tsk). <P>In other fair-related food-contest news, the headline in <CITE>The Vindicator</CITE> (Youngstown, Ohio) blares  Victory is Sweet for a story about the winner of an ice cream-eating contest. (No word on the inevitable ice cream headache that surely followed.) <P>The <CITE>Wisconsin State Journal</CITE> leads with  Tasty Research at  Candy Camp,  which details candy-industry professionals annual trip to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study the art and science behind candy making. Nice work if you can get it. <P>Moving on to seafood, the <CITE>South Florida Sun-Sentinel</CITE> (Fort Lauderdale) goes with the headline  Snapping Them Up for an article about the beginning of lobster season in Florida. This story, though, is tinged with tragedy by the death of two lobster trappers. <P>Way up north, the <CITE>Portland</CITE> (Maine) <CITE>Press-Herald</CITE> leads with  Lobster is plentiful, but diners aren t, which reports that the high price of the crustacean is keeping people from strapping on the lobster bibs. <P>You ll need to wash down all this delicious food somehow, right? Too bad some of us missed  Mug Root Beer Float Day at the Oakland A s game, chronicled in the <CITE>Oakland Tribune</CITE> with the clever headline,  Root, Root, Root Beer for the Home Team. <P><EM>John Maynard is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#073008"></a> <b>July 30, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Alaskan s indictment,<BR>Alzheimer s drug top news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>From Alaska to Hawaii to Florida, the indictment of the longest-serving Republican U.S. senator was front-page news. <P>Senators don t get indicted every day; <CITE>The Daytona Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>News-Journal</CITE> offered an Associated Press sidebar listing other senators who have suffered the same fate as Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. <P>The <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> dedicated its entire front page to the story, with pieces on  What it means for the Senate race and  An Alaska Icon with our favorite subhead,  Whether pork or gravy, he brought billions of dollars to Alaska. <P>Stevens faces re-election in November, and <CITE>USA Today</CITE> doesn t go very far out on a limb with its headline  Senator s indictment may hurt GOP. <P> Friend s gifts could be Stevens downfall, explained <CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE>. <P><CITE>The Honolulu Advertiser</CITE> offered a local angle on how the indictment could affect Hawaii s Sen. Daniel Inouye with  Indictment of Senate ally won t kill Inouye s clout. <P>Back in the continental United States, a reader of New York s <CITE>Hoy</CITE> need not understand Spanish to know that  Alarma is not good news atop a photo of a sober New York Gov. David Paterson, detailing the state s budget crisis. <P>A potential breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer s disease topped the news in the <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE>, which used an Associated Press graphic to show how the disease attacks nerve cells. <P>A historic moment in Congress got lead-story treatment in Memphis, Tenn. s <CITE>Commercial Appeal</CITE> with  Slavery apology clears House. <P>Packaging the news in a way that intrigues the time-pressed reader is an art and <CITE>The Examiner  Baltimore</CITE> wins today s award with a photo of a rosary hanging from a mailbox, with an inset of a laughing family of four and the headline  Shrink says family was DEEPLY DISTURBED. <P>A close runner-up was the <CITE>Wyoming Tribune-Eagle</CITE> in Cheyenne, with a photo of a computer keyboard and the headline  The toilet is probably cleaner than your keyboard. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#072908"></a> <b>July 29, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>What does half-a-trillion dollars<BR>really mean to you and yours?</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>How much is half- a-trillion dollars? That s what many dailies are telling their readers about where the U.S. budget deficit is headed. We were hoping that at least one newspaper would tell us that  if you stacked half a trillion dollar bills (or put them end to end, they would stretch from here to there, or  every man, woman and child in the country will be in hock XXX dollars next year. The story is there but not the  what it all means. <P><CITE>The Birmingham News</CITE> in Alabama leads with a simple  U.S. deficit estimated to pass half-trillion, the <CITE>Dispatch</CITE> in Casa Grande, Ariz., hits its readers with the head  Further in the red by putting RED in second-coming type size caps and in red ink, while the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock leads with a sedate  Deficit forecast hits $482 billion. <CITE>The Herald</CITE> in Monterey, Calif., tacks it on the administration with the lead head  Bush to leave office with record deficit, <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Colorado Springs, Colo., spreads the story across the top of Page One with a story proclaiming that  Federal deficit will hit a record $482 billion plus a graph showing surplus and deficit years while <CITE>The Day</CITE> in New London, Conn., does something similar with  Deficit nears half-trillion dollars plus that same graph. <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., looks ahead with  Record deficit to greet next President, <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> makes it sound awful with the head at the bottom of the page about   09 budget deficit is record, and it could get even worse, and <CITE>The Lewiston Tribune</CITE> out in Idaho, leads with  U.S. deficit approaches half-trillion. It s the off-lead story in the <CITE>Daily Chronicle</CITE> in DeKalb, Ill., with a simple  Budget deficit growing, <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> offers a bottom-of-the-page  U.S. deficit expected to hit record $482B in 2009, while the <CITE>St. Joseph News-Press</CITE> in Missouri tells its readers in its off-lead that  Record budget deficit looms. The <CITE>Lincoln Journal Star</CITE> in Nebraska whoops it up with  U.S. deficit skyrockets, the <CITE>Billings Gazette</CITE> in Montana says the deficit is  zooming and <CITE>The Post-Standard</CITE> in Syracuse, N.Y., says the next president faces  sobering reality. <P>Then we looked <CITE>at The Forum</CITE> out in Fargo, N.D., and smiled. That deficit is worth 482 billion cheeseburgers, or 135 billion gallons of gasoline, amounts to $1,581.79 per U.S. resident  and more. Thank you, <CITE>Forum</CITE> folks, the deficit story also is worth today s blue ribbon or gold star, your choice. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#072808"></a> <b>July 28, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A lesson in filling Page One</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>Monday is always a tough day to fill the front page, particularly when there s no breaking news to report. One trick editors sometimes use is the centerpiece, a grouping of articles, photographs and graphics usually (but not always) put in the center of the page. <P>Because the centerpiece visually dominates Page One, editors often use the technique to highlight special projects or interesting features. Today, in San Luis Obispo, Calif., <CITE>The Tribune</CITE> couples two articles and two photographs into  An old seadog s new tricks, the second installment of a three-day series on how local fishermen are trying to survive in a dying industry. Similarly, Nevada s <CITE>Reno Gazette-Journal</CITE> pairs stories and photographs in an examination of the cases of two girls who went missing three decades apart. <P> A mother, a boxer, now a headliner, practically jumps off the front page of the <CITE>Rochester Democrat and Chronicle</CITE> in New York. A thick black line boxes in the article and photographs about a determined mother who will make sports history this week as headliner in the city s first major female boxing bout. <P>Graphics often are a central part of centerpieces. <CITE>The Tampa</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Tribune s</CITE> take on scattered summertime showers packages maps, numbers, pictures and very little copy in a hold-to-the-front piece. Likewise, the <CITE>Ledger-Enquirer</CITE> in Columbus, Ga., keeps it short in an update on local construction projects. But  So, when will that be done? follows a more traditional format of mixing photographs and text. <P>Front-page designers at <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., cleverly graft a series of numbers and meeting information onto a centerpiece photo to go with a story about how local Hispanics are faring in the tough economy. Readers perusing centerpiece graphics in Nebraska s <CITE>Lincoln Journal Star</CITE> learn motorcycle owners are getting older but not necessarily wiser when it comes to safety. And <CITE>Florida Today</CITE> in Melbourne colorfully and creatively displays where all the money goes from those popular animal-themed license plates. <P>When all other news fails to make the centerpiece cut, editors go for the stand-alone photograph. After all, what reader could resist the graceful Olympian (<CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE>), a screaming Bruce  The Boss Springsteen (<CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE>, Newark, N.J.), or good ole Goose Gossage wiping a tear during his induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (<CITE>The Gazette</CITE>, Colorado Springs, Colo.)? <P>Emotion gets  em every time. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#072508"></a> <b>July 25, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>477 miles, 7 days, 2 wheels<BR>and one statewide story</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P><B>NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa  </B> <CITE>The Des Moines Register</CITE> is peddling its newspaper to tens of thousands who are pedaling across the Hawkeye State this week. <P>A special edition of the <CITE>Register</CITE> is being distributed free to participants in the <CITE>Register s</CITE> Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. RAGBRAI lures bicyclists from far and near to ride more than 450 miles from west to east across Iowa. <P>The tour, the  longest, largest and oldest touring bicycle ride in the world, is chronicled in detail by the <CITE>Register</CITE>, the sponsor, and other Iowa newspapers. <P>Twenty-eight <CITE>Register</CITE> staffers  including editorial cartoonist Brian Duffy  have been involved in RAGBRAI coverage this week, said Carolyn Washburn, editor. The daily special edition, offered to bikers staying in campgrounds and inserted into single-copy papers, includes maps, photos and details about the eight communities that serve as stops along the route. Several pages of coverage are being included in the regular newspaper. <P> This and the state fair are two enormous, charming community gatherings that involve the whole state in the summer, Washburn said. <P>From western Iowa, the <CITE>Sioux City Journal</CITE> on Tuesday wrote about where RAGBRAI is not  its county  the result of a lawsuit over a death in an earlier ride. From central Iowa, the <CITE>Press-Citizen</CITE> of Iowa City, which incorporated a bicyclist into its nameplate, has had front-page coverage each day. The <CITE>Times-Republican</CITE> in Marshalltown focused most of its coverage on Wednesday s stop in its county, and today s <CITE>Gazette</CITE> from Cedar Rapids looked at Thursday s 76-mile stretch. <P>As riders reach eastern Iowa, the story is headed for the <CITE>Quad-City Times</CITE> in Davenport. One of the newspaper s reporters will be riding with colleagues positioned at the start and end of the 53-mile last leg. <P>Other journalists also are getting into the story by riding along. At a time when war, economic troubles and other tensions are in the news, Washburn said, it s especially important to say,  Let s all have fun. <P>Duffy, a biking enthusiast, is blogging from behind the handle bars, and the <A class=chan href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=ragbrai&template=landing" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG><CITE>Register s</CITE> Web site</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> includes other creative content  from a  shoutout feature to an interactive quiz to historical pictures. An <A class=chan href="http://data.desmoinesregister.com/ragbrai08/current/ragbrai08route.php" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>interactive map</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> helps riders plan their route. Riders can post comments and photos. <P>Coverage of the tour, Washburn said,  highlights and validates and showcases those small communities across the state that welcome riders. She said she believed that a newspaper should challenge and celebrate its community.  This is one of those moments you can unabashedly celebrate the community. <P><B>A tour of his own:</B> Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of approximately 200,000 people Thursday at a stop in Berlin.  In Berlin, a call to renew bonds, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> said. Proclaimed the <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE>:  Wunderbar! A number of papers used a photo showing the presidential candidate before the large crowd, and Obama was on Page One across Germany. <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> printed the photo the width of its page and compared Obama s speech to other notable speeches given in Berlin. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#072408"></a> <b>July 24, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Barack Obama is news in Berlin<BR>but not yet in all of Germany</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Barack Obama in Berlin is a Berlin story but it s not necessarily an all-German story, according to today s front pages on our Web site. Perhaps tomorrow, but here s what it looks like today. <P>In Berlin, <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> gives over most of Page One to the visit, with a story proclaiming that  Berlin has high expectations of Obama plus a commentary about the visit, while <CITE>die tageszeitung</CITE> fills Page One with a cartoon hero Obama as a sort of superman and the words  Come down! and <CITE>Die Welt</CITE> is more sedate, referring to the meeting with the German chancellor in a story about her. In nearby Potsdam, the <CITE>Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten</CITE> has a top-of-the-page piece about the high expectations for Obama. <P>As for the rest of Germany, the <CITE>Braunschweiger Zeitung</CITE> in Braunschweig and the <CITE>Wolfsburger Nachrichten</CITE> in Wolfsburg  basically the same dailies with different nameplates  carry a story at the bottom of Page One about  A reception as for a pop star, while the <CITE>Neue Westfaelische</CITE> in Bielefeld has large color photo of a smiling chancellor with a reference to the Lehar operetta  The Land of Smiles and a caption noting her meeting today with Obama. The <CITE>Sueddeutsche Zeitung</CITE> in Munich has a story about  Tens of thousands want to experience Obama, while the <CITE>Suedwest Presse</CITE> in Ulm and the <CITE>Nuernberger Nachrichten</CITE> in Nuremberg have shorter stories about the visit, even as the <CITE>Financial Times Deutschland</CITE> in Hamburg teases an inside piece about the meeting of Obama and the chancellor. <P>For the rest of our newspapers in Germany, the upcoming visit doesn t rate front page coverage. Indeed, even the European edition of the newspaper for the American troops, <CITE>Stars and Stripes</CITE>, published in Griesheim, has nothing out front about the visit, playing up the 60th anniversary of the integration of the armed forces. The <CITE>Fuldaer Zeitung</CITE> in Fulda uses the top of Page One to play up a meeting in Denmark about Christmas to come  complete with a photo of a bunch of Santa Clauses and a banner in English proclaiming  Merry Christmas while the <CITE>Weser Kurier</CITE> and the <CITE>Bremer Nachrichten</CITE>, both in Bremen, attract some attention with an unusual, big photo of six young storks standing up in their nest. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#072308"></a> <b>July 23, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Hello, Dolly!</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Hicks Wogan</P> <P>Hurricane Dolly is strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico. A Category One storm as of yesterday, Dolly is expected to make landfall today near the Texas/Mexico border. In the process the storm is making front-page news. <P>Let s take a virtual tour of the coastal region. You can follow along on the Newseum s <A class=chan href="http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/default.asp" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Front Pages map</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG>. <P>Dolly grips the attention of newspapers printed in its path. In Brownsville, Texas, the bad news is bilingual. <CITE>The Brownsville Herald</CITE> gives Dolly its entire front page, including three articles and an editor s note announcing the closure of the paper s offices. Also using the whole front page: the city s Spanish-language <CITE>El Nuevo Heraldo</CITE> and, just across the border, <CITE>Expreso de Matamoros</CITE>. <P>With winds of 85 miles per hour and potential rainfall of 15 inches, the storm threatens to burst levees in the densely populated Rio Grande Valley. There, in McAllen, Texas, <CITE>The Monitor</CITE> warns that Dolly is  Bearing Down and the front page lays out a timeline for landfall. <P>To the south and probably out of harm s way, <CITE>Expreso</CITE> in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, notes that Dolly has its eye on Matamoros. And north along the Texas coast the <CITE>Victoria Advocate</CITE> beseeches  Stay Away, Dolly. The <CITE>San Antonio Express-News</CITE> warns that this hurricane is  Not to be taken lightly ; however, the <CITE>Houston Chronicle s</CITE> front page claims  South Texas ready as Dolly descends. Finally, with one headline <CITE>The Beaumont Enterprise</CITE> sums up both the much-needed rainfall and the potential flooding as  A blessing, a curse. <P>As we move out of the Lone Star state, coverage moves from front-and-center to the margins. In Lake Charles, La., the <CITE>American Press</CITE> has an article at bottom left. In Lafayette, La., <CITE>The Daily Advertiser</CITE> covers Dolly across the bottom of the front page. And although three years ago Hurricane Katrina broke levees and inundated New Orleans, <CITE>The Times-Picayune</CITE> only teases Dolly readers over to Page 2. <P>East out of Louisiana, even along the Gulf Coast, Dolly disappears. The storm is nowhere to be found on the front page of Biloxi s <CITE>Sun Herald</CITE>, Pascagoula s <CITE>The Mississippi Press</CITE>, or Fort Walton Beach s <CITE>Northwest Florida Daily News</CITE>. <P><EM>Hicks Wogan is a staff assistant at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#072208"></a> <b>July 22, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Obama is big news, but not the only news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Emily Hedges</P> <P>Barack Obama's overseas trip is making news from sea to shining sea. <CITE>The Miami Herald International</CITE> showed Obama shaking hands with the Iraqi prime minister. The <CITE>Aurora</CITE> (Colo.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE> used the photo that the majority of newspapers used for the story  a photo of Obama in a helicopter with Gen. David Petraeus. <CITE>The Christian Science Monitor</CITE> (Boston) claimed that many Arabs did not even know who Obama was with the headline  Barack Who? <P>Many international papers featured Obama on the front page as well. From Austria (Vienna s <CITE>Kurier</CITE>) to Israel (Tel Aviv s <CITE>Maariv</CITE>) to Uruguay (Montevideo s <CITE>El Pais</CITE>), Obama was shown on front pages on several continents. <P>But Obama's trip is just one of the major stories on front pages today. Here are a few more: <UL> <LI><B>U.S. Olympic team visits White House:</B> As the 2008 U.S. Olympic team prepares for Beijing, it made a stop to visit President Bush yesterday. The <CITE>Santa Barbara</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>News-Press</CITE> headlined the story "Olympic Dreams," while <CITE>The Augusta</CITE> (Ga.) <CITE>Chronicle</CITE> profiled a local injured Iraq war veteran who qualified for the U.S. Paralympic team. <BR><BR> <LI><B>Salmonella  again, or still?:</B> "Tainted jalapenos found," said the straightforward headline on the top of <CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune's</CITE> front page. <CITE>The Bradenton</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Herald</CITE> marked tomatoes as "Safe" and called the "Unsafe" jalapeno a "Hot suspect." <BR><BR> <LI><B>Hot as an oven:</B> <CITE>The Huntsville</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>Times</CITE> used the succinct headline "102° to describe the heat. The Memphis, Tenn., <CITE>Commercial Appeal s</CITE> headline read,  Feel the Burn, and the front page featured an almost-obligatory photo of a child playing in water outdoors.</LI></UL> <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:ehedges@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Emily Hedges</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#072108"></a> <b>July 21, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>There s no overdoing coverage<BR>of Barack Obama s world tour</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>We read so much last week about the expected overkill in coverage of Barack Obama s whirlwind, worldwide tour that we wondered whether the U.S. dailies would follow the lead of the broadcasters  all three television network anchors are on the trip. The simple answer is NO. Indeed, as we looked at today s front pages we toyed with the idea of writing the assigned analysis with the lead,  The following dailies had nothing about Senator Obama on Page One, and then listing a few hundred newspapers. <P><CITE>USA Today</CITE>, the biggest newspaper, does have a Page One photo of the candidate with Afghanistan President Karzai and a story stating that  Obama makes high-stakes debut on foreign stage, but <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> settles for a photo of  A candidate in Kabul and a story on Page A14, and <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> squares off a story claiming that  For  surge troops, pride mingles with doubt and a boldface line about the Obama story on Page A4. That photo in <CITE>USA Today</CITE> was liked by many editors; it s on Page One of <CITE>The Birmingham News</CITE> in Alabama with a story about  Iraqi leader s comments stir tension, on the <CITE>Arizona Daily Star</CITE> in Tucson with its story about  Obama to see Iraqi leader receptive to a timetable, and as teases to stories inside <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE>, the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> in Los Angeles, <CITE>The Ledger</CITE> in Lakeland, Fla., and the <CITE>San Antonio Express-News</CITE> in Texas. <P>Some dailies did play up the trip. The <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> leads with  Obama in the war zone, with a photo; <CITE>The Lewiston</CITE> (Idaho) <CITE>Tribune</CITE> squares off at the top of the page  Obama delegation hits Baghdad ; the <CITE>Las Vegas Review-Journal</CITE> wants you to know that  Obama urges troop increases in Afghanistan; <CITE>The Press</CITE> in Atlantic City, N.J., leads with  Obama pledges support to Karzai ; the <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE> has an off-lead report that  Obama stirs up a flap on war ; the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock reports  Obama to Afghans:  We need urgency.  <CITE>The Christian Science Monitor</CITE> from Boston leads with  Obama and McCain on Israel, has that much-used photo but offers the Obama-Karzai story on Page 11. <P>At coffee break time, we re going back to the <CITE>Bangor Daily News</CITE> up in Maine to read the Page One story about the bear being killed in a local neighborhood. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#071808"></a> <b>July 18, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A summer s day at beach <BR>& it s all good news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>It s a Friday in July. Time to go to the beach. <P> Summer in R.I., <CITE>The Providence Journal</CITE> declared in a package that included a photo of the first trip to the beach by 15-month-old twins Amelia and Jocelyn. <P>Boats powered the <CITE>Press-Telegram</CITE> of Long Beach, Calif., illustrating a list of weekend activities. And speaking of things to do, the <CITE>Northwest Florida Daily News</CITE> in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., put a little zip into its coverage with a photo and story about a new zip line and ropes course in one of its communities. <P>From South Carolina,  A side of rain came with the Beaufort Water Festival, <CITE>The Beaufort Gazette</CITE> noted. The nearby <CITE>Bluffton Today</CITE> called the 53rd annual event  Waterfront dreamin . <P>Some rain also is in the forecast on the <CITE>Pensacola</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>News Journal</CITE>, which might be why the newspaper was thinking indoor activities. It incorporated a flash of the new Batman movie,  The Dark Knight, into its nameplate. <P><CITE>The Daytona Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>News-Journal</CITE> offered a different kind of forecast:  State s financial forecast: bad and worse. <P><IMG src="http://www.freedomforum.org\Newspaper_Rotate\7_18_08\9.jpg" align=right>Food made top headlines in <CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE>, as the FDA lifted its warning about tomatoes and the newspaper recounted fishermen s  agony at sea after eating tainted grouper. <P>In New Jersey, the <CITE>Asbury Park Press</CITE> reported that a borough was shutting down some of its government offices on Fridays to save money  more time for the shore. <P><B>Men of peace</B> & Editor Ray Hartley of <CITE>The Times</CITE> of Johannesburg, South Africa, calls today s front page  one of the easiest front-page decisions we have ever made. <CITE>The Times</CITE> used a full-page picture of <B>Nelson Mandela</B> to mark the 90th birthday of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Hartley said in a <A class=chan href="http://blogs.thetimes.co.za/hartley/2008/07/18/untitled/" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>blog</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> that the photo of Mandela was the largest picture the national newspaper had ever used. <P><B>Pope Benedict XVI</B> is in Australia for World Youth Day.  Shining His Light, <CITE>The Sydney Morning Herald</CITE> said in a  Super Souvenir front page. <CITE>The Age</CITE> of Melbourne highlighted the pope s message to Australia:   Life is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful.  Amen. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#071708"></a> <b>July 17, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>For Page One, numbers count</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P>Numbers don t lie but can they sell newspapers? <P>All sorts of numbers bounce off the front pages of today s newspapers  big numbers, small numbers, odd numbers, even numbers and many with a dollar sign in front of them. <P>Several California papers lead with depressing new statistics that show a 25% dropout rate among high school students.  1 in 4 students in state drop out, proclaims the banner headline of the <CITE>San Jose Mercury News</CITE>. <P>The <CITE>Reading</CITE> (Pa.) <CITE>Eagle</CITE> addresses dour economic news with the headline,  1-2 Punch for June: Prices up, wages fall. <P>On a happier note,  60 Years, together is the header of the lead story in the <CITE>Norwich</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Bulletin</CITE> profiling three couples celebrating their 60th wedding anniversaries. <P>Speaking of anniversaries, the front page of the <CITE>Corvallis</CITE> (Ore.) <CITE>Gazette-Times</CITE> notes that  Da Vinci Days turns 20 today and the <CITE>Kane County</CITE> (Ill.) <CITE>Chronicle</CITE> declares,  Kane County kicks off 140th fair. <P>As for dollar signs, <CITE>The Spokesman-Review</CITE> in Spokane, Wash., writes about  A $3 Million Firefight in the region. The <CITE>New Haven</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Register</CITE> weighs in on a police scandal in nearby Madison.  Cop Scandal Tab: $337,000, reads the banner headline. <P>A big  55 is the headline of <CITE>The Tampa</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Tribune</CITE>, which looks at the history of the national 55 mph speed limit and why, despite high gas prices, we ll probably never go back to it. <P>And don t be scared of the scary-looking villain with the painted face that adorns many front pages today. That s the late actor Heath Ledger as The Joker in the new Batman movie opening tomorrow. Many papers use his image to tease their review of the movie, which the film industry hopes will draw, well, big numbers. <P><EM>John Maynard is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#071608"></a> <b>July 16, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Reporting on the economy:<BR> Gloom, doom from every angle </SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> Bad news comes in waves for economy, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> said this morning. Those waves crashed over front pages around the world. <P>Somber comments about the U.S. economy from President Bush and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke propelled <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> to use much of its front page to document  An Economy Thrown Into Turmoil. The paper used charts and photos to break out  The Energy Puzzle,  Bank Shares Tumble,  Fannie, Freddie Falter and  Dark Day at GM. <P>Another Post  <CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE>  also devoted much of its page to an economic package:  Troubling signs across the board. <P>Far from Washington but just as close to troubling economic news, <CITE>The State Journal Register</CITE> of Springfield, Ill., summed it up:  Gloom, doom from every angle. <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE> pictured Bush as he  tried to reassure Americans. The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> called it a  presidential pep talk but noted that Bush s words were at odds with higher prices and lower sales. <P><CITE>The News Journal</CITE> of Wilmington, Del., bulleted Tuesday s events and localized impact:  Del. vulnerable to economic fallout. In Michigan, GM continued to make cuts.  Carmaker acts to restore confidence in its future, <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> said in a Page One business column. <P>Anywhere there are worried consumers and concerned investors  that s everywhere  economic news was prominent. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> said,  Inflation hits levels not seen since  80s. <CITE>The Clarion-Ledger</CITE> in Jackson, Miss., illustrated  A Souring Economy. <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> in Kentucky declared:  Economic doldrums drive nation s gloom with a local sidebar on Louisville banks. <CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE> quoted analysts:  Government can t do much more to help. <P>The <CITE>Toronto Star</CITE> said,  Economy takes a triple hit  a reference to housing prices, inflation and GM cuts. <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> noted the widening impact of the failing U.S. economy. From Scotland to Australia to Colombia to Japan, money news was on Page One. <P>Those looking for an escape found 15 innings of relief in a four-hour and 50-minute All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> pictured  The Final Play at the Plate, and the <CITE>St. Paul</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> showed Twins catcher Joe Mauer being greeted by Yogi Berra. The American League won, 4-3, but <CITE>The Tampa Tribune</CITE> said Yankee Stadium was the star of the night.  In shadow of new park, <CITE>The Journal News</CITE> of Westchester County, N.Y., reported,  landmark s last All-Star game a gem. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#071508"></a> <b>July 15, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Bank failure still a big story<BR>for Southern California dailies</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>We thought that we would check to see how the Southern California dailies were doing with the run on the bank that was the high or low point of yesterday s financial story. The story  with photos of the crowds wanting to get their money out of the failed IndyMac Bank  is there for all to see and read. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> has a five-column picture of the queuing crowds and two Page One stories   Banks hit by fallout from the crisis at IndyMac and  Fed imposes new rules on lenders. The competing <CITE>Daily News</CITE> reports  Run on IndyMac continues, with what we used to call a button above that proclaiming,  We want our cash, worried account-holders say. The Spanish-language <CITE>La Opinion</CITE>, also in Los Angeles, has a picture and heads teasing the inside coverage. <P>The <CITE>Press-Telegram</CITE> in Long Beach also has a picture and the headline,  Long lines and few answers. The <CITE>Inland Valley Daily Bulletin</CITE> in Ontario reports  Bank troubles above its photo and  IndyMac customers rush to get money below it. <CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE> says that  Assurances don t ease banking fears. <P>The <CITE>Daily Breeze</CITE> in Torrance says it all with a top-of-the-page banner reporting  Depositors throng IndyMac, the <CITE>Ventura County Star</CITE> in Ventura goes the same way with  Hundreds Flock to IndyMacs, and the <CITE>Santa Barbara News Press</CITE> has a banner about  Angry customers pulling out of IndyMac, dropping down to two stories. <CITE>The Press-Enterprise</CITE> in Riverside reports that  Banking jitters spread, while <CITE>The Orange County Register</CITE> in Santa Ana plays it differently, offering  4 must-read stories you ll find inside today s paper ; the first one is  Bank clients fear for funds. <P>We also thought it worth taking a look at how the <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> is handling the follow-up to the $52 billion takeover of the local Anheuser-Busch company by an international brewing concern. Much of Page One is devoted to follow-up stories, such as  Making Bud a global brand holds key and  Brewery workers fear that leaner could be meaner. We ll drink to some of that. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#071408"></a> <b>July 14, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Mortgage banking problems<BR>make Page 1 everywhere</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>You don t have to live in New York or Washington and you don t have to subscribe to <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE>. Chances are that your hometown daily is reporting the financial mess that may affect us all as the federal government steps in to bolster troubled lending giants. <P>There it is, at the bottom of Page One of <CITE>The Birmingham News</CITE> in Alabama:  U.S. offers rescue plan for mortgages; Fed to lend funds, or the lead story in the <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> in Alaska:  Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac bailed out and at the bottom of <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix:  Fed, Treasury boosting efforts to help Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac. <P>The <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock leads with  U.S. plan offers billions to back mortgage titans, <CITE>The Press-Enterprise</CITE> in Riverside, Calif., squares off at the top of Page One  Mortgage giants get help, while the <CITE>Aurora Sentinel</CITE> in Colorado has the familiar poster of Uncle Sam filling a good portion of Page One with the head,  Sam s double trouble, and a drop head reporting on the  lifeline for mortgage debt. <P>The <CITE>Hartford Courant</CITE> in Connecticut leads with  Feds buttress Fannie, Freddie, the <CITE>Charlotte Sun</CITE> in Charlotte, Fla., puts  US spells out Fannie-Freddie backstop plant, while the <CITE>Marietta Daily Journal</CITE> in Georgia has photos of the two lending giants topped by the head,  Another rescue. In Hawaii <CITE>The Honolulu Advertiser</CITE> leads with  Feds step in to aid mortgage giants, the <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise tops Page One with  Fannie, Freddie look to sell debt, while the <CITE>Times-Republican</CITE> in Marshalltown, Iowa, settles for the headline,  Market trouble. <P><CITE>The Advocate</CITE> in Baton Rouge, La., reports  Mortgage crackdown likely today, the <CITE>Sun Journal</CITE> in Lewiston, Maine, leads with  Feds to act to ease crisis, the <CITE>Centre Daily Times</CITE> in State College, Pa.,, says  US spells out Fannie-Freddie backstop plan, and the <CITE>Rapid City Journal</CITE> in South Dakota also reports that  backstop plan. <CITE>The News Tribune</CITE> in Tacoma, Wash., plays up  Treasury bails out loan giants. <P>We may check out the story at the bottom of Page One of <CITE>The News Tribune</CITE>, the story with the head,  On second thought, put your clothes back on. <P>And if we get a coffee break today to celebrate Bastille Day, we re going to look up the Ogden Nash poem titled,  Bankers are just like everybody else, except richer, which opens with,  This is a song to celebrate banks, which seems appropriate reading if not singing. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#071108"></a> <b>July 11, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Grim news, powerful images</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>Amid tough economic times, even the value of your life is eroding. <P> Your life, worth less, said <CITE>The Daytona Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>News-Journal</CITE>, leading with a story on a new EPA valuation of the price that people  and employers  would pay to avoid certain risks. Many papers illustrated the EPA study with charts that spiraled downward. <P><CITE>The News-Press</CITE> in Ft. Myers, Fla., offered some counterbalance to the story that has major policy implications with the sub-headline:  Some charge White House is cooking books. <P>Small comfort, that. Let s turn to the nation s photojournalists to see the stories they tell in pictures today: <UL> <LI><CITE>The St. Petersburg Times</CITE> in Florida photographed an 18-year-old girl from the neck down, her arms and legs in braces after an attack that left her comatose. The photo illustrates her mother s story,  My Soul is Broken. <BR><BR> <LI> Six Lucky Ducks Saved in Afternoon Rescue in Peoria read the headline for a photo of ducklings in a trash-littered storm drain in the <CITE>Journal Star</CITE>.<BR><BR> <LI> Child on the Mend in Biloxi, Miss. s <CITE>Sun Herald</CITE> depicted a 3-year-old girl with injuries from an attack by a pit bull, also pictured. <BR><BR> <LI>The <CITE>Herald News</CITE> in West Paterson, N.J., offered a vivid photo to illustrate the summertime fire-hydrant story with  Grief over relief / Open hydrants refresh kids, yet pose hazard. <BR><BR> <LI> He ll Call  Em, You Shoot  Em was the grabber headline for an image of a man who makes duck calls in South Carolina s <CITE>Bluffton Today</CITE>. <BR><BR> <LI> Hog Heaven read the <CITE>Culpeper</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Star-Exponent</CITE> headline over a photo of a boy giggling from a close encounter with his hog. <BR><BR> <LI><CITE>The Spokesman-Review</CITE> in Spokane, Wash., chronicled continuing wildfires with a poignant photo of a man walking from his home, unable to find his blind and deaf dog, with the headline  Wildfire Chars Homes, Forces Evacuations. <BR><BR> <LI>To see a big one that did not get away, check out the 348.2-pound halibut caught in Alaska, as seen in the <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE>.</LI></UL> <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#071008"></a> <b>July 10, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>What s behind national<BR>headlines? Local stories</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Some stories made national headlines today, but to communities and their newspapers, the stories were local. <P><B>Ramsey murder investigation:</B>  DA: Ramseys didn t do it, the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> proclaimed. <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> showed excerpts of a letter to JonBenét Ramsey s family from the Boulder district attorney, exonerating the child s parents in her 1996 death. <P><B>Return to the Senate:</B> <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> and the <CITE>Cape Cod Times</CITE> used photos of Edward Kennedy to share the news that the Massachusetts senator who is being treated for brain cancer made a surprise return to Capitol Hill to cast a vote for a Medicare bill. <P><B>California wildfires:</B> <CITE>The Herald</CITE> in Monterey used three of its five front-page stories for fire news, leading with an emergency road closure and a mandatory evacuation.  10,000 Flee Fires, <CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE> reported, adding:  First wave of Guardsmen heads to front lines today. <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> incorporated a firefighting image into its nameplate and said:  Fires eluding containment. <P><B>Northwest Airlines cuts:</B> Fees and job cuts were Page One news in communities that serve as airline hubs.  NWA feels air pressure, <CITE>The Commercial Appeal</CITE> of Memphis, Tenn., said.  Airline adds luggage, frequent-flier charges; 2,500 layoffs planned, said the <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> in St. Paul, Minn. <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> noted an ominous  Analysts warn airline may need to cut even deeper to offset soaring fuel costs. <P><B>New Census data:</B> Some cities found good news in the release of population figures for 2007. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> offered bulleted highlights of  How we re growing. <CITE>The Tennessean</CITE> created a centerpiece package after Nashville was designated the 25th largest city. <P>Cleveland had the largest decline, and <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> turned over much of its front page to the story, mapping and charting the loss for its area and the national stats. <P>Columbus, Ga., had the largest population loss among cities its size. That wasn t mentioned on Page One of the <CITE>Ledger-Enquirer</CITE>. But to the east, <CITE>The Augusta Chronicle</CITE> seemed happy to note Columbus s loss and reported:  Augusta s population stands pat. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#070908"></a> <b>July 9, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Newspapers air global<BR>pollution pact on Page One</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>News from the meeting of the Group of Eight made front-page headlines in many parts of the world today as leaders of major industrial democracies agreed to support a 50% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions. <P> Halve emissions by 2050, announced <CITE>The Age</CITE> of Melbourne, Australia. The agreement was front-page news in countries represented in the G-8, including Germany and Italy. The summit also made Page One in Japan, where world leaders met. <P>In continuing its strong coverage of the meeting, <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> of London examined instant criticism by developing countries, including China and India:  A deal on climate change  but then the backlash. <P><CITE>The Toronto Star</CITE> reported on the role of the Canadian prime minister in forging the agreement. <CITE>The Globe and Mail</CITE> of Toronto noted that U.S. participation in the agreement was a change in policy by the Bush administration.  George W. Bush s carbon conversion, the banner headline said. Its first-rate lead said,  Tackling climate change has never come easy to George W. Bush  Texas oil man, global warming skeptic and Kyoto killer. <P>From South Korea to France, the G-8 was front-page worthy. But did it make Page One in the U.S., where newspapers tend to be more parochial in their story selections? <P> Global leaders set pollution goal, said <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix. It was joined in carrying the news by front pages in the environmentally aware West and in large and regional U.S. newspapers. <P>Some looked at the shift in policy.  Climate pledge is shift for Bush, <CITE>The Sun</CITE> of Baltimore said.  Pledge marks an evolution in the president s position, <CITE>The Charlotte</CITE> (N.C.) <CITE>Observer</CITE> said. Others looked at reaction.  Global deal on pollution is denounced, <CITE>The Burlington</CITE> (Vt.) <CITE>Free Press</CITE> said.  Critics of the pact cite failure to set short-term goal, <CITE>The Virginian-Pilot</CITE> of Norfolk noted. <P>If you wonder about the importance of world leaders words, <CITE>The Spokesman-Review</CITE> in Spokane, Wash., reports on reaction after President Bush s comments praising German asparagus at a state dinner in Europe last month. The folks in central Washington state got a little miffed.  Like asparagus? Shoot, try ours, the paper said, noting that a box of the Washington-grown veggie was shipped to Bush for comparison. No word on how Bush liked the food at the G-8 summit. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#070808"></a> <b>July 8, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>What s news? Depends on where<BR>you are, what you choose to read</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>We thought that this morning we would take a look at the dailies in the top six U.S. cities, according to population figures, to see what editors are telling their readers about the world around them. <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE> leads with  Bomber strikes Afghan capital; at least 41 die, but there s much more on Page One  stories about mortgage problems, about hostages still held in Colombia, about <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> signaling a  shift with the naming of a new editor, about veterans battling the bottle, and girls and clothes. For the <CITE>Daily News</CITE>, <CITE>New York Post</CITE>, <CITE>AM New York</CITE> and <CITE>Metro</CITE>, there is only one story worth whooping up  the divorce suit filed by the wife of Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez. For the Spanish-language <CITE>Hoy</CITE>, the big story is taxi drivers wanting compensation for the high price of gasoline, while <CITE>The New York Sun</CITE> leads with problems in the mayor s office and <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> plays up  Mortgage giants take beating on fears over loan defaults while also reporting the Pittsburgh Steelers may be up for sale. <P>Moving to Market 2, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> leads with an area savings and loan to cut its work force in half, the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> squares off the possible opening of an area pool and the Spanish-language <CITE>La Opinion</CITE> plays up an alert about excessive heat, with photo. <P>In the third largest market, the <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> gives over the front page to the funeral for a cop who died in the line of duty, a story also played up in the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> but below a top-of-the-page piece about  Transplant gap keeps blacks on waiting list. Both pages have photos of the funeral. <P>For the <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE>, the big story is the press conference held by the three Americans recently freed from captivity at the hands of Colombian terrorists. In Philadelphia, <CITE>Metro</CITE> plays up  Iraq wants timetable for troop withdrawal, while <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> leads with the fight about where to locate casinos but the big photos go with  Afghanistan shaken by deadly bombing. In Phoenix, the sixth market, <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> leads with  Iraq seeks timeline for pullout. <P>And there you have it. News depends on where you are and what you choose to read. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#070708"></a> <b>July 7, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Spain does it again, taking<BR>another major sports victory</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Spain did it again, and we want to be sure the world recognizes Spain's athletic prowess. Yesterday a Spanish tennis player won at Wimbledon in what <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> refers to in its Page One story as an "epic battle," replete with a five-column picture of the winner celebrating. And only a week ago Spain took its first major soccer title in 44 years by beating Germany in the Euro Cup. <P>What about the European press, you ask? Well, of the front pages from Spain on our Web site today, about two-thirds either whooped-up the event on Page One or have teases to inside coverage and a third of the dailies have nothing about the victory on the first page. <CITE>El Periodico</CITE> in Barcelona has a page-wide photo similar to that in <CITE>The New York Times</CITE>, <CITE>El Mundo</CITE> in Madrid has a different page-wide photo of "The hero of Wimbledon," while <CITE>Malaga Hoy</CITE> in Malaga runs off with the prize for two Page One action pictures that seem to be moving of the man who made it happen, Rafael Nadal. <P>As to where it happened, <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> in London also has a large photo and a lead story about how "Nadal wins historic final," by defeating Roger Federer, <CITE>The Daily Telegraph</CITE> in London has a picture of our hero with his trophy, while <CITE>The Herald</CITE> in Glasgow, Scotland, also has the winner with his trophy and a story about "Victory in record-breaking final." <P>Coverage varied in the rest of Europe. <CITE>De Morgen</CITE> in Brussels, Belgium, teases to an inside story with a photo of Nadal,<CITE>24 Hours Daily</CITE> and <CITE>Trud</CITE> in Sofia, Bulgaria, do the same, as do <CITE>Lidove Noviny</CITE> in Prague, Czech Republic, and <CITE>Corriere della Sera</CITE> in Milan, Italy. However, <CITE>Publico</CITE> in Lisbon, Portugal, and <CITE>Dagens Nyheter</CITE> in Stockholm, Sweden, feel that an action photo of the Wimbledon winner is worthy of Page One. <P>Wimbledon didn't get the play that Spain's win last week did but maybe that's the difference between tennis and soccer. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#070308"></a> <b>July 3, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>If it happens every year, is it news?</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>The Fourth of July marks America s independence from imperial British rule, but is it still news 232 years later? Judging from today s front pages, yes. <P><CITE>The Providence Journal</CITE> devoted no less than three-fourths of Page One to a  FOURTH OF JULY IN RHODE ISLAND package, which included three separate stories. The first is about a corrupt politician returning from jail to march shamelessly in a local parade; the second explains a squabble among historic re-enactors involved in a different parade; and the third reports that high gas prices are keeping families home for the holiday. Looks like the reporters have all the angles covered. <P><CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> gave over the top half of its front page to holiday coverage focusing on the ever-popular Fourth of July fireworks and problems local nonprofit groups are having selling their sparkly wonders.  FIREWORK FIZZLE? is accompanied by an enlarged photo of a young boy staring longingly at the tempting incendiaries and a sidebar of  FIREWORKS FACTS, which provides helpful tips about what s legal and what s not. Forget the bottle rockets. <P>Editors and reporters at Maine s <CITE>Portland Press Herald</CITE> have so much to report about Independence Day and its historical significance that they re running a multi-part series:  CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE. Today s installment includes an illustration of Benedict Arnold, an image of a painting of the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War and a modern-day photograph of Fort Popham. Did you know a typical Fourth of July feast for early Americans consisted of salt pork, turtle soup and pigeon pudding? Me, neither. <P>Instead of articles, the <CITE>Asheville</CITE> (N.C.) <CITE>Citizen-Times</CITE> and <CITE>Pensacola</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>News Journal</CITE> used large and colorful graphics to provide readers information on local festivities. In Pensacola, those include a hotdog-eating contest, 5k race, parade of boats and play titled,  We The People. Whew, those journalists are going to be busy! <P>The <CITE>Bozeman</CITE> (Mont.) <CITE>Daily Chronicle</CITE>, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE>, <CITE>New Haven</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Register</CITE> and <CITE>The Columbus</CITE> (Ohio) <CITE>Dispatch</CITE> all give the holiday a feature treatment today. In New Haven, the good news:  EXPLODING SALES: Fireworks thrive as booming business for many. In Columbus, the bad:  Choice seats all taken. Darn. <P>Some papers used the front page simply to alert readers to their coverage inside or online. The <CITE>San Jose</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Mercury News</CITE> placed a colorful strip of fireworks images above its nameplate to prompt readers to  THE WORKS!  an online holiday guide with a searchable database of events. <P>Who knew a perennial story could generate so much news? <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#070208"></a> <b>July 2, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Newspapers make and<BR>break economic news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>  Slow-Motion Recession,  <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> said, quoting an economist. Whatever you call it, the economic turndown continues to make headlines, with today s news led by a grim report on auto sales. <P> Slumping sales cloud Big Three s prospects, <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> said.  Soaring gas prices put auto sales in the ditch, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> said. <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> incorporated photos and down arrows to chart the decline in sales year-over-year. <P>Many of the largest U.S. newspapers had economic news on their lead page. Said <CITE>USA Today</CITE>,  High gas prices threaten to shut down rural towns.  Deepening Cycle of Job Loss Seen Lasting into  09, <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> said, while <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> reported on out-of-work construction workers. <P>And then there was the jolt from the popular coffee maker.  Bean counting: 600 Starbucks stores to close, <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> said. <P>Today s economic realities are showing up not only in newspaper stories but in the newspapers themselves. The list of locations that have redesigned or changed their newspapers continues to grow. <P>The editor of the <CITE>Ventura County</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Star</CITE> was clear about the reasons behind changes in the sectioning of his newspaper.  The current economic downturn  and whatever you call it, in the newspaper industry it s a recession  is forcing us to make changes for the sole purpose of cutting costs, <A class=chan href="http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jun/29/the-star-reinvents-itself/" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Joe Howry wrote</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG>. <P>On Tuesday, the <CITE>Tyler</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Morning Telegraph</CITE> began producing a newspaper with a narrower width  a response to the increasing cost of newsprint. <P>Whether to save money or lure new readers (or hold on to the ones they have), newspapers are changing  inside and out. <P>On Sunday, <CITE>The Record</CITE> of Hackensack, N.J., showed off a new design that incorporated a new at-a-glance summary of important stories of the day. <P>Also this week, <CITE>The Plain Dealer</CITE> of Cleveland went public with a  remodeled main news section. Changes to Page Two, the opinion page and inside sections were <A class=chan href="http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/06/PD%20Changes_062908.pdf" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>outlined</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> in a nicely done package about the newspaper in Sunday s paper. A bottom-of-the-page strip on today s Page One highlights changes  to keep you better informed and streamline our operations. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#070108"></a> <b>July 1, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Some literature in a hurry<BR>in your hometown newspaper</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Matthew Arnold, an English poet, writer and cultural critic who died in 1888, may not be one of the favorites in your household, but he is a hero to some for having contended that "Journalism is literature in a hurry." Of course, we have to give a positive spin to what Matthew meant. Today, we thought that we would do a little spot-checking to see what dailies are telling local readers. <P>The <CITE>East Valley Tribune</CITE> in Scottsdale, Ariz., seems to offer a positive reaction to the high gasoline prices in reporting  less 4th of July travel, while <CITE>The Sentinel-Record</CITE> in Hot Springs, Ark., goes the other way and leads with a study showing that  Visitors spent $309M+ and <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in San Bernardino, Calif., offers a literary  Crash site seems surreal next day. <P><CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> has an off-lead piece about  Power to the street people in the upcoming Democratic National Convention, contending that  City has no plans to hide the homeless during all the hoopla. <CITE>The Hartford Courant</CITE> in Connecticut has two arty heads to invite the reader   A show of care about violence and  An avenue to controversy about the historic district. <P>In Florida, the <CITE>Naples Daily News</CITE> has an inviting headline at the bottom of Page One:  Free gas for life? That s the (winning) ticket, says Florida Lottery. The <CITE>Moscow-Pullman Daily News</CITE> in Idaho leads with  Committee fine-tuning designs for arts pavilion, and <CITE>The Herald-Times</CITE> in Bloomington, Ind., plays up the power of MUSIC, and they spell it in capital letters. The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> offers as its off-lead  I m now reading a story on microblogs. <CITE>The Morning Sentinel</CITE> in Waterville, Maine, plays up  Community garden offers families a chance to produce and give something back and the <CITE>Duluth News Tribune</CITE> in Minnesota reports on a new book of photos showing the faces of the town of Ely. <P>The <CITE>Lincoln Journal Star</CITE> in Nebraska squares off a poignant story about  Former WWII pilots get to ride in a Flying Fortress again. <CITE>The Post-Standard</CITE> in Syracuse, N.Y., reports that the local United Way hears the  needs of the smallest and helps teen parents and their babies, while <CITE>Bluffton Today</CITE> in South Carolina reports on residents joining a  town effort to chart neighborhoods future and the <CITE>Gazette-Times</CITE> in Corvallis, Ore., reports on a  Vehicle running on sunshine, complete with photo. <CITE>The Post-Crescent</CITE> in Appleton, Wis., has an inviting Page One story about  Students open eyes to brighter future and a program that  gets American Indians on degree track. <P>It isn t all the usual  two dead, three hurt in car crash. There s some hurried literature along the way in your hometown newspaper. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#063008"></a> <b>June 30, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Spain wins its first major<BR>soccer title in 44 years</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>It was a victory 44 years in the making and waiting, but it happened and it s Page One news for the winners, the losers and the country where it happened. Even the U.S. newspaper of record, <CITE>The New York Times</CITE>, uses a Page One tease to send readers inside to read about  Spain s first major soccer title in 44 years. <P>Let s start with the winner of the Euro Cup  SPAIN  which we will salute in capital letters. All of Spain s dailies on Newseum.org have the story on Page One. <CITE>El Mundo</CITE> in Madrid unabashedly proclaims,  The glory of Spain, with a page-wide photo. <CITE>Malaga Hoy</CITE> in Malaga fills the page with a photo showing one of the players holding high the cup as the newspaper reports  Champions, while <CITE>La Vanguardia</CITE> in Barcelona also carries a large picture and hails the  Masters of Europe. <CITE>Diario de Burgos</CITE> in Burgos also likes the word  Champions over a big picture, while <CITE>La Gaceta de Canarias</CITE> in Santa Cruz de Tenerife does roughly the same. <P>What about the losers? After all, the score was 1-0. <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> in Berlin has a photo and a banner headline that  Germany loses  and celebrates today, while the <CITE>Augsburger Allgemeine</CITE> in Augsburg does much the same with the headline,  Germany nevertheless celebrates today. Our friends at the <CITE>Heilbronner Stimme</CITE> in Heilbronn have three Page One photos and a banner headline reporting that  Spain conquers Europe s football summit, while the <CITE>Neue Westfaelische</CITE> in Bielefeld has a photo and the words  It would have been so lovely, and below that,  Deutschland-Spanien 0:1. The <CITE>Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichetn</CITE> in Potsdam carries the banner,  Spain storms the summit. <P>What about where it happened, Vienna? The <CITE>Kurier</CITE> in Vienna probably says it best with a Page One headline telling all about the  Spanish summer fairy tale, and how Spain beat Germany 1-0 and won the title for the first time since 1964. Other Austrian newspapers were not quite as exuberant. <P>You ll find the Spanish victory Page One news in <CITE>Diari d Andorra</CITE> in Andorra, in <CITE>De Morgen</CITE> in Brussels, Belgium, in <CITE>Nepszabadsag</CITE> in Budapest, Hungary, in <CITE>La Repubblica</CITE> in Rome, in <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> in London and elsewhere. We give today s prize jointly to <CITE>Dagens Nyheter</CITE> in Stockholm, Sweden, for its  Viva Espana! headline and to <CITE>Lidove Noviny</CITE> in Prague for managing to get the word  Ole in its headline, even using the proper accent that we cannot find on our computer. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#062708"></a> <b>June 27, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Gun-ban ruling tops the news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>Got guns? <P>The Supreme Court says that s fine, and newspaper editors across the country brought out their arsenals to report on the Supreme Court ruling that struck down a ban on handguns in the District of Columbia. <P> Justices back personal gun right, said Little Rock s <CITE>Arkansas Democrat-Gazette</CITE>. <P><CITE>The Appeal Democrat</CITE> in Marysville, Calif., couldn t resist a pun   Gun Ban Shot Down  with photos from a firing range and local reaction. <P>The <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> focused on a local ban on handguns in housing projects with  Ruling s Richochet. It s a local issue in Chicago, as well, where the <CITE>Tribune</CITE> reports  Daley vows to fight for Chicago gun ban. <P>Denver s <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> featured a firing-range photo with the context headline,  Decision upholding right to keep gun in home breaks 217-year silence. <P>The <CITE>Naples Daily News</CITE> highlighted the local Florida attorney who has never owned a gun yet successfully challenged the D.C. gun ban. <P>In Iowa, the <CITE>Sioux City Journal</CITE> produced a powerful package with insight, context and local and national reaction, as well as a lineup of how the justices voted. <P><CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> in Louisville, Ky., featured a sad story of a depressed man who took his .45 and shot five co-workers and then himself under  Gunman  couldn t stand pain anymore.  This atop a shooting-range photo to illustrate  Court strikes down handgun ban. <P>The ruling on the Second Amendment resulted in some odd headline juxtapositions. The Mobile, Ala., <CITE>Press-Register s</CITE> top headline was  NBA s Young Guns. Lower on the page was a revolver with  U.S. Justices Affirm Rights to Own Guns. <P>Since we re on the subject of things that go boom, fireworks-loving children should take a gander at the front page of the <CITE>Carroll County Times</CITE> in Westminster, Md. A photo package shows what happens when fireworks go off in a simulated hand. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#062608"></a> <b>June 26, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Two high court decisions,<BR>many ways to play the stories</SPAN></FONT></B></P></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court released two rulings that captured editors attention  rejecting the death penalty for child rape and tossing out a multi-billion dollar judgment in the Exxon Valdez case. <P>Both rulings have significance. What s a front page to do? <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE> and <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> printed stories on both on the front page, as did <CITE>The Dallas Morning News</CITE>. <CITE>The Burlington</CITE> (Vt.)<CITE> Free Press</CITE> used the death penalty ruling as its off-lead and included the Exxon case in a smaller story below. <P>The death penalty decision was more widely reported across the U.S., including on Page One of <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE>, <CITE>The Salt Lake</CITE> (Utah) <CITE>Tribune</CITE>, <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> and <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE>. <P> High court rules out death for child rape, <CITE>The Advocate </CITE>of Baton Rouge, La., said.  5-4 decision strikes down Louisiana law, <CITE>The Blade</CITE> of Toledo, Ohio, said. But smaller newspapers in Louisiana didn t give the story A1 play. <P> Ruling in Louisiana man s case affects Texas law passed in  07, the <CITE>Austin</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>American-Statesman</CITE> said. The <CITE>Houston Chronicle </CITE>noted the Texas tie in a tease to an inside story but used the Exxon story on its front page. <CITE>The Tennessean</CITE> of Nashville played reaction to the decision across the top:  Politicians blast child rape ruling. <P>In a full-page report, the <CITE>Anchorage</CITE> (Alaska)<CITE> Daily News</CITE> said of the decision in the two-decades-old Exxon Valdez oil spill:   This is it; it s done.  <P>In the West where environmental issues are a key topic, newspapers favored the Exxon oil-spill case.  The punitive award reduction & frustrates Oregon fisherman, <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> in Portland said.  The Supreme Court ruling in the 1989 Exxon Valdez case is regarded as a victory for large corporations, The <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise said. <P>But news play varied in Montana. The <CITE>Bozeman Daily Chronicle</CITE> and <CITE>Billings Gazette</CITE> ran the Exxon ruling. The <CITE>Great Falls Tribune</CITE> published the death penalty ruling, and the <CITE>Independent Record </CITE>in Helena used neither. <P>In North Carolina, <CITE>The Charlotte Observer</CITE> said:  Supreme Court cuts damages in oil spill, while sister newspaper <CITE>The News & Observer</CITE> of Raleigh led with:  Court limits death penalty, again. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#062508"></a> <b>June 25, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A watershed moment for<BR>Florida s  River of Grass </SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>News of a historic land deal in Florida took up prime real estate on front pages across the Sunshine State today.</P> <P>In the deal, U.S. Sugar Corp. will sell 300 square miles in the Everglades to the state for $1.75 billion.  It s part of effort to clean up, restore Everglades, as sugar business hurt by low-priced imports, <CITE>The Ledger</CITE> of Lakeland said.</P> <P><CITE>The Tampa Tribune</CITE> noted that the Everglades is a subtropical wilderness and home to birds, reptiles, fish and mammals. It has been under attack by development and pollution. <CITE>The News-Press</CITE> of Fort Myers labeled its package  Clean and Green and said:  Pending sale would help park s healing. <CITE>The News-Press</CITE> provided an <U><A href="http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=A4&amp;Date=20080624&amp;Category=NEWS01&amp;ArtNo=806240802&amp;Ref=PH&amp;Profile=1002&amp;Params=Itemnr=1" target='_"blank"'>online gallery</A></U> of aerial photos of the land and a <U><A href="http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/VIDEO/80624071/1075" target=_blank>video</A></U> about the impact of the deal. <P><CITE>The Palm Beach Post</CITE> called the move the  largest conservation land deal in Florida s history, bulleted the benefits and the obstacles and printed a color-coded map of south Florida that also was posted online. <P>In a striking visual, the <CITE>South Florida Sun-Sentinel</CITE> of Fort Lauderdale pictured the  River of Grass, as the Everglades is known. Its headline:  It will cost us a river of cash, but the governor says it s worth it. From the state capital, the<CITE> Tallahassee Democrat</CITE> reported:  Land buy requires no new money. <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> pictured Gov. Charlie Crist and the president of U.S. Sugar, who announced the deal. <P>The <CITE>St. Petersburg Times </CITE>told the story behind the story:  Crist offered buyout as U.S. Sugar hit wall, adding:  He saw a way to aid Everglades as company tried to survive a crackdown on its pollution. The <CITE>Times </CITE>also considered what will happen when the U.S. s largest sugarcane grower goes out of business in six years:  Sugar would stay plentiful, pricey. The <CITE>Sarasota Herald-Tribune</CITE> looked at Clewiston along Lake Okeechobee. The community of 7,000 --  America s sweetest town -- will be impacted by U.S. Sugar s closure.  Where sugar is king, future looks bleak, the <CITE>Herald-Tribune</CITE> <P>The newly redesigned <CITE>Orlando Sentinel</CITE> gave a different twist to the story. Picturing the governor on an earlier Everglades tour with John McCain, the <CITE>Sentinel</CITE> said,  For Crist, a sweet deal, too, adding:  Will the Everglades purchase help the governor snag the VP slot? <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#062408"></a> <b>June 24, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>60th anniversary of Berlin Blockade<BR>attracts little newspaper attention</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Sixty years ago, West Berlin  occupied by U.S., British and French forces  was totally surrounded by Russian-occupied East Berlin and East Germany. And 60 years ago today, the Russians cut off all road, rail and water access to and from West Berlin. The blockade was on; the Berlin Airlift was to start two days later. You ll find a reference in some of the  This day in history sites, such as this from <CITE>The New York Times</CITE>:  On this day service:  Communist forces cut off all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin, prompting the United States to organize a massive airlift. </P> <P>We thought German newspapers would be marking the day in some fashion, but if they are, it s not on Page One, with a few exceptions. <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE>, the primary newspaper in the American sector of Berlin, which started in 1945, has a Page One photo of the Airlift Memorial with teases to three stories inside and a head proclaiming  That was the airlift. However, we couldn t find any reference to the airlift on Page One of the other two Berlin dailies on our site, <CITE>Die Welt</CITE> and <CITE>Die Tageszeitung.</CITE></P> <P>We also checked the front page of the daily published in Germany for American troops in Europe, <CITE>Stars and Stripes</CITE>. Again, nary a word to remind today s military of their heritage. However, we did find brief stories on the two dailies published in Bremen, the <CITE>Weser-Kurier</CITE> and the <CITE>Bremer Nachrichten</CITE>. Not the showing we expected. Perhaps they ll do better Thursday, to mark the start of the airlift.</P> <P>What are the German dailies playing up, you ask? The <CITE>Heilbronner Stimme</CITE> in Heilbronn has an impressive photo of a lightning strike to go with the story about the changing climate in the country; the <CITE>Sueddeutsche Zeitung</CITE> in Munich plays up a story about a debt limit for the nation and the states; the <CITE>Fuldaer Zeitung</CITE> in Fulda has a large keel-up photo of the ferry that sank in the Philippines plus a story; and the <CITE>Saechsische Zeitung</CITE> in Dresden tells its readers that smart cards are planned for all workers, but that is topped with large picture of a blonde Canadian singer who  and we re not making this up&nbsp; reportedly is heating up Dresden s young guard.</P> <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#062308"></a> <b>June 23, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Election crisis in Zimbabwe<BR>rates some Page One coverage</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>We weren t surprised to find <CITE>The New York Times </CITE>and <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> leading with the election mess having reached crisis stage in Zimbabwe. However, we wondered how other American dailies would treat the story, if at all. How many readers know that Zimbabwe is the former Southern Rhodesia, a landlocked country just north of South Africa, ruled by a tyrant for 28 years who has economically ruined the country so that if we were to print the inflation rate here you would consider it a typo? All right, the International Monetary Fund early this year pegged the inflation rate at more than 150,000 percent. That s right, 150,000 percent.&nbsp; Not a typo.</P> <P><CITE>The Anniston </CITE>(Ala.)<CITE> Star</CITE> is typical of many, teasing the story on Page One with details inside, as was done by <CITE>The Arizona Republic </CITE>in Phoenix, <CITE>The Augusta </CITE>(Ga.) <CITE>Chronicle</CITE>, the <CITE>Idaho Statesman </CITE>in Boise, <CITE>The Boston Globe </CITE>and <CITE>The Dallas Morning News. </CITE>However, <CITE>The News &amp; Observer </CITE>in Raleigh, N.C., decided to lead with the story, as did the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette </CITE>in Little Rock, while <CITE>The Blade </CITE>in Toledo, Ohio, the <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, </CITE>the <CITE>St. Joseph </CITE>(Mo.) <CITE>News-Press </CITE>and the <CITE>Chicago Tribune </CITE>found space for less-than-lead stories on Page One. <P>From Africa, <CITE>The Namibian </CITE>in Windhoek, Namibia, leads with the Zimbabwe story, giving much of Page One to coverage. <P>Comedian George Carlin died yesterday, the timing such that the story didn t make too many front pages this morning. However, Carlin s death is on Page One of the <CITE>Las Vegas Review-Journal</CITE>, <CITE>The Gazette </CITE>in Colorado Springs, Colo., and other dailies. The <CITE>Los Angeles Times </CITE>has the story on Page One with the headline  Comedian tested limits of speech and society. To those of us in broadcasting at the time, Carlin will always be remembered as having sparked a Supreme Court decision in July 1978 holding that the First Amendment doesn t prevent the government from prohibiting the broadcast of  patently offensive words that fall short of a constitutional definition of obscenity, a ruling as controversial today as it was 30 years ago and facing new court challenges in the months ahead. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#062008"></a> <b>June 20, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Obama turns down millions;<BR>extreme makeover in Orlando</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Barack Obama said no to millions of dollars in public financing for the general election, prompting <CITE>The Hartford</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Courant</CITE> to report in today s lead headline,  Obama: Go For The Cash. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> greeted Obama s announcement that he will rely on private fundraising by saying,  Obama sets his own terms for the race. The shift in strategy also was noted in Illinois, which Obama represents in the Senate.  $500 million man? the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> asked about the potential for mammoth contributions.  How record fundraising could change the campaign. <P>In a report that was different from other newspapers, the <CITE>Orlando</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE> explained the news in a Q&amp;A:  $84.1 million? No thanks, Obama says. <P>Is the <CITE>Sentinel s</CITE> Q&amp;A a sign of things to come? <P>On Sunday, the <CITE>Sentinel</CITE> will be dressed in a new design. The upcoming redesign has been promoted at the top of the newspaper s front page all week:  New look. New stories. New attitude. <P>Charlotte Hall, the <CITE>Sentinel s</CITE> senior vice president and editor, said today that the new look represents the newspaper s efforts  to be a little hotter  more personal, people focused, consumer focused, watchdog focused. Hall used descriptions  more accessible,  conversational,  more voices,  more provocative, and  easier to navigate in talking about the changes. <P>A prototype of the new design reveals a front page with a smaller nameplate, a digest at the top that includes at least one face and a promotion of columnists, a blowout of the best stories of the day  with continued focus on local  and a bottom-of-the-page feature that emphasizes new ways of telling stories and presenting information. <P> We think we re telling stories more smartly, Hall says in a video that <A class=chan href="http://orlandosentinel2.com/flash/thenewos/" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>explains the changes</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG>. <P>The redesign, part of a move to a smaller page width, had been in the works before word that all Tribune newspapers, including the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE>, <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> and <CITE>The Hartford Courant</CITE>, would be redesigned by October. Tribune Co. also said earlier this month that the newspapers would increase their percentage of advertising to 50% and cut the number of pages. <P>Hall said the redesign began with the <CITE>Sentinel s</CITE> interest in attracting more readers in their 30s and 40s. With much newsroom focus on the Web today, Hall said, it was exciting to also improve the printed paper.  We need to keep our paper strong. <P>Hall noted research has shown that readers want local news, personally useful news and watchdog news.  All of these are playing into what we put on Page One every day and into the newspaper s new look. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#061908"></a> <b>June 19, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Woods absence will leave<BR>big hole in golf world</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P>The golf season is about to get a lot more boring. <P>While some may wonder how this particular game could become even <I>less</I> interesting, golf fans worldwide are mourning the announcement yesterday that Tiger Woods  the world s top golfer  soon will have season-ending knee surgery. <P> Tiger s surgery sinks golf season, reads a banner headline in <CITE>The Press</CITE> of Atlantic City, N.J.  A wounded Tiger, declares <CITE>The Huntsville</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>Times</CITE>. <P>Two days after winning the U.S. Open in dramatic fashion, Woods said he would have major surgery on his left knee in order to save his career. But the <CITE>Orlando</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE> questioned whether it would be enough.  Can Tiger Come Back? it asks on its front page. <P>Newspapers in states where Woods was scheduled to play later this year took the news personally. With Woods slated to appear in two upcoming tournaments in Michigan, <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> laments  Tiger-less summer a bummer for state. <P>This year s Ryder Cup will take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., in September. <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> of Louisville makes it simple:  Tiger s out. <P>Meanwhile, President Bush s plea to Congress yesterday to repeal a ban on offshore drilling of oil drew plenty of straightforward headlines.  Bush: Drill Offshore was how the <CITE>North County Times</CITE> in Escondido, Calif., played it. <P> Bush urges lawmakers to lift offshore-drilling plan, says the <CITE>Fort Worth</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Star-Telegram</CITE>. <P>Some papers take a slightly more measured tone to the Bush announcement, including the <CITE>Moscow-Pullman</CITE> (Idaho) <CITE>Daily News</CITE>:  Bush: Embrace energy exploration now. <P>And one paper notes the politics of it all.  Democrats Lay Into Bush s Call for Offshore Drilling, says the <CITE>St. Joseph</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>News-Press</CITE>. <P><EM>John Maynard is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#061808"></a> <b>June 18, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>McClatchy publishes series as<br>national security methods debated</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>National security was back in the headlines today as the treatment of terrorism suspects was debated on the presidential campaign trail and in a Capitol Hill hearing. <P><CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> led with a clash between John McCain and Barack Obama over the rights of suspects:  In Sharp Exchange, Each Side Calls Other s Position a Risk. Below that, the <CITE>Post</CITE> quoted documents released Tuesday by congressional investigators:  CIA Played Larger Role in Advising Pentagon on interrogation methods. <CITE>The Tennessean</CITE> in Nashville noted,  Senators chastise Pentagon over harsh interrogations. <P><CITE>The News Tribune</CITE> of Tacoma, Wash., reported:  Documents show U.S. hid detainees from Red Cross, and <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> of Wilmington, Del., said:  Doctors: Terror suspects abused. <P>This week, McClatchy newspapers are publishing a series, <A href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/" target=blank> Guantanamo: Beyond the Law, </A> after eight months of investigative work.  Skirting the code of justice, <CITE>The Modesto</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Bee</CITE> said in today s installment that described the  framework that led to abuse of detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.  Easing of laws that led to detainee abuse hatched in secret, <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> of Macon, Ga., said, while <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> headlined the story:  Policy objectives trumped the law. <P>In many parts of the U.S., Midwest flooding was pictured. But, for the first time in days, flooding did not monopolize <CITE>The Des Moines Register s</CITE> front page. With water receding, it said:  Draining bares bits of life caked in mud. The <A href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage" target=black><CITE>Register s</CITE> Web site</A>, with its breaking-news blog, audio and informative map of Iowa City flooding, is being quoted by other news media. Sister newspaper the <CITE>Iowa City Press-Citizen</CITE>, which published seven inside pages of flood coverage today, has offered daily updates through electronic newsletters. <P>In the end, it wasn t even close. The Celtics defeated the Lakers, 131-92, for the NBA championship, leading the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> to show its frustration in a cutline:  The game was over by halftime, but it only got worse. The <CITE>Daily News</CITE> in L.A. described the loss this way:  Shamrocked. <P>But <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> celebrated being  Back on Top.  Three Big Cheers, said the <CITE>Boston Herald</CITE> in a wrap-around picturing three Celtic stars. Maine and New Hampshire newspapers were green in delight, as well. The <CITE>Bangor Daily News</CITE> used spot green as the Celtics won their 17th NBA title, and <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Nashua said:  Green Glory. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#061708"></a> <b>June 17, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Footnotes to history, from<BR>yesterday and years ago</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Today we would like to offer a couple of footnotes to history, courtesy of the front pages. <P>First, we have the reports of the same-sex marriages that became legal late yesterday afternoon in California. Some, but not all, of the dailies in the state played up the weddings and the continuing controversy. The <CITE>Appeal-Democrat</CITE> in Marysville devotes most of its front page to a photo and a report that  Same-sex couples marry across state, topped by a couple of stories about opposition that seems to be building, including a court petition to invalidate licenses. The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> also has a Page One photo and a story that  Gay couples are aware that voters are watching, referring to issues on the November ballot. The <CITE>Palo Alto Daily News</CITE> reports that the gay-marriage decision came  Not a moment too soon, reporting a wedding of octogenarians, one of them in a wheel chair. <P>The <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> has a two-line banner headline topping a page-wide photo:  I never thought it would happen in our lifetime. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE>, the newspaper of record, has a Page One photo of those octogenarians and their wedding cake with the caption  Same-sex marriage becomes legal in California, with the story on Page A15. <P>In what <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> called  one of the most compelling major events in the storied history of golf, Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open  his 65th PGA Tour win  in a sudden-death round.  One for the ages, said the <CITE>Union-Tribune</CITE> in San Diego, where the tournament was played. <P>Then there s Germany, where 55 years ago today there was an uprising in East Berlin and the Soviet-occupied East Germany as the people protested the repressive communist regime. People in and outside Germany may recall the iconic photos of teenagers throwing rocks at the Russian tanks. The next day, millions were out on the streets throughout the Soviet Zone. Thousands were arrested, with many sentenced to long prison terms. It is uncertain how many were killed. The world cheered on the bravery and audacity of the Germans. <P>We checked the front pages of German newspapers on our site today. Only one, <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> in Berlin, seems to have something about the event, a tease to a story on Page 12. So we checked out the English-language Web site of Deutsche Welle and, sure enough, there is a story labeled  history, replete with a few photos. For those who were not around when it happened, check out the <A class=chan href="http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,894998,00.html" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>broadcaster s feature</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> to read and see what it was all about. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#061608"></a> <b>June 16, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Calif. papers focus on local couples<BR>as same-sex marriages begin</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>We wondered how many California newspapers would play up the story that same-sex marriages will start for real and legally this afternoon in the Golden State. Of the 30 front pages on our Web site early this morning, an even dozen played up what was going to happen this afternoon, not just teasing to an inside story. Many found a local angle to bring the issue closer to home. <P>The <CITE>Daily Breeze</CITE> in Torrance reported  Couples get ready for gay weddings, adding in a drop headline that  Two Torrance men will join the rush to exchange vows when licenses are issued this week, while <CITE>The Herald</CITE> in Monterey says that  Gay couples wrestle with ambivalence and <CITE>The Modesto Bee</CITE> leads with  Taking sides on same-sex marriage, adding that  Modesto church leaders, others look at law in terms of faith and societal effect. <P>The <CITE>North County Times</CITE> in Escondido reports about  a love story in Carlsbad, noting that  Couple say marriage is obvious next step, while <CITE>The Press Democrat</CITE> in Santa Rosa has a couple of Page One photos and a story about  Getting ready to wed and <CITE>The Press-Enterprise</CITE> in Riverside says  Same-sex couples eager to say  We re married.  The <CITE>Press-Telegram</CITE> in Long Beach squares off  Gay couples hope vows are forever and <CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE> reports on  Quiet reflection on wedding issue, while the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> squares off  Wedding bells to ring in a new era. <CITE>The Daily Journal</CITE> in San Mateo reports, with photo, about a  Couple among the first to  be part of history,  and the <CITE>Ventura County Star</CITE> tells its readers that  Same-sex couples plan Tuesday weddings. <P><CITE>The Examiner</CITE> in San Francisco wins today s prize with a photo of holding hands in front of city hall taking up most of the tabloid front page and the words  History awaits at 5:01, adding that  The same-sex marriage movement hits pinnacle as legal nuptials begin tonight at City Hall. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#061308"></a> <b>June 13, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>In devastated Iowa,  Epic<BR>Surge and  Swath of Sorrow </SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> Iowa besieged by skies and rivers. <P>The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> summed up the sorrow and sadness in western Iowa and the fear and frustration in eastern Iowa as the state dealt with the deaths of four Boy Scouts in a tornado and flooding along rivers swollen by record rains. <P> EPIC SURGE, <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Cedar Rapids proclaimed in a display that incorporated both the front and back pages. With the Cedar River flooding 100 city blocks, the newspaper used a three-deck headline: <P>High Water Overtakes Downtown Cedar Rapids <P>Thousands Evacuated in Unprecedented Flood <P>Power Loss Widespread; Water in Short Supply <P> It s a hell of a front page, Editor Steve Buttry said. With floodwaters a half-block from the newspaper s office, the staff was working off generators in a sweltering newsroom. <P>Today s headline, Buttry said,  was team work. We started the headline brainstorming in the afternoon, and it continued (around other tasks) for hours. Designer Michelle Wiese came up with the wrap idea. Rae Riebe, our Page One editor, designed the page. <P>The main photo showed a marooned city hall and county jail and courthouse, which generally sit on an island. The newspaper s Web site said:  No longer an island. Said Buttry:  Liz Martin shot the photo from the Interstate 380 bridge, the only downtown bridge that was open. The city hall building on the island is a downtown landmark, so the image really captures what happened here. <P>In a column that will run this weekend, Buttry  who is new as <CITE>The Gazette s</CITE> editor  wrote that the newspaper resisted an order to evacuate its downtown office, noting that news crews perform  essential tasks for the community in a time of disaster. A disaster plan with an alternative newsroom is in place if the newspaper must evacuate. <P>With rivers across Iowa and elsewhere in the Midwest above flood stage, it s being called historic flooding. A blog by a <CITE>Gazette</CITE> librarian showed <A class=chan href="http://lookinginatiowa.wordpress.com/" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>front pages</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> from March 1929 flooding, a  record until today. <P>In western Iowa, the <CITE>Sioux City Journal</CITE> showed a  Swath of Sorrow at a Boy Scout camp after a  Twister struck, killed within seconds. In a heartbreaking front page, the nearby <CITE>Omaha</CITE> (Neb.) <CITE>World-Herald</CITE> offered comments and photos from vigils for the four teenage victims. A quote was its banner headline:   We are a family.  <P>The <CITE>Lincoln</CITE> (Neb.) <CITE>Journal Star</CITE> quoted survivors on  their harrowing twister experience. This was no small-town news. National newspapers <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> and <CITE>USA Today</CITE> told the story on Page One.  Pelting Rain, Deafening Howl, Then Deadly Chaos for Scouts, the <CITE>Times</CITE> said. <P>Front-page accolades were offered for the boys actions in helping the injured. <CITE>USA Today</CITE> explained,  Boys put first aid drills into action. <CITE>The Wichita Eagle</CITE>  which also covered Kansas tornados that killed two  said:  Boys epitomized scout motto: Be prepared. <P><CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> headlined the news from across Iowa.   At God s mercy,  it said. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#061208"></a> <b>June 12, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Twister tragedy takes front page</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>Sometimes a story s so big it crowds out other news and takes over the front page. Today s example: A deadly twister in Iowa that struck, of all things, a Boy Scout camp. <P>With four deaths and dozens of injuries in Little Sioux, the nearby <CITE>Sioux City Journal</CITE> devoted Page One to a  Night of terror, with a photograph that takes up nearly half of the page, two articles, a locator map and a box referring readers to  Complete coverage online. <P>The <CITE>Omaha World-Herald</CITE> in Nebraska (about 60 miles away) gives the news similar treatment. Photos from the scene and five stacked headlines  summarized with the brief, but wrenching,  At nature s mercy  convey the tragedy s scope. <P>Although <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> teased to an inside story on the twister, its competitor, the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE>, filled its cover with a photograph of a distraught Boy Scout mother. <P>Because destructive storms have been pounding the Midwest this week, the Boy Scout report got swept up into pages at <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the <CITE>Lincoln</CITE> (Neb.) <CITE>Journal Star</CITE>, which look at the larger weather woes. <P>The story was big news in other parts of the country, too. The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> placed a staff-written article on the Boy Scouts at the bottom of its font page; the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> displayed a photo of rescuers prominently; and New York s <CITE>Daily News</CITE> alerted readers to the  TWISTER!  underneath photos of a model and a professional baseball player, of course. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#061108"></a> <b>June 11, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Attack of the killer tomatoes!</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Hicks Wogan</P> <P>You say  to-may-to and I say  to-mah-to. But however we say it, it s front-page news. Since mid-April, salmonella-tainted tomatoes have sickened more than 150 people in 17 states, putting restaurants and consumers on alert. Today newspapers across the country highlighted the story as health officials, searching for the outbreak s source, struggled to ketchup. <P>Forgive me. Please don t throw tomatoes. <P>In Casa Grande, Ariz.  not far from Mexico, where the western U.S. gets much of its tomato supply  <CITE>The Dispatch</CITE> warns that this story is  Bad news no matter how you slice it. To prove it, they use a photo of a tomato sliced in half. <CITE>The Columbian</CITE> in Vancouver, Wash., introduces its center-page story as  Cooks, diners hold the tomatoes. And in Canton, Ohio, <CITE>The Repository</CITE> calms few nerves with the all-caps  RED SCARE. <P>Worries surrounding the popular fruit have grown south of the border, too. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, <CITE>El Nuevo Día</CITE> devotes the entire page to  Temor por el tomate and uses a photo of a tomato wearing a yellow sash labeled  Precaución, like some downfallen beauty queen. In Mérida, Mexico, the <CITE>Diario de Yucatán</CITE> reads  Investigan al tomato. <P>After issuing a voluntary ban, the FDA has approved the tomatoes of many counties in Florida, the state that dominates the eastern U.S. market. There, in Sebring, <CITE>Highlands Today</CITE> plays up the  Red Fruit Alert in a font colored  what else?  red. Also earning the stamp of FDA approval: the Creole tomatoes of Louisiana, according to the New Orleans <CITE>Times-Picayune</CITE>. California, too, is in the clear, though the <CITE>Ventura County Star</CITE> points out that, financially,  Tomato industry in a pickle, while the <CITE>Santa Barbara News-Press</CITE> says the public is  Seeing red. <P>Neighbors to the north might be benefitting from the whole thing. Toronto s <CITE>The Globe and Mail</CITE> notes that  Canada profits from tomato fears and, in a subheadline,  buyers turn to B.C., Ontario. <CITE>The Ottawa Sun</CITE> seconds this theory and promises a Page 2 story. <P>Through it all, Alaska continues to play it cool. The <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> recommends that  If you re worried, eat local produce and instead gives its front-page focus to a story about the Alaska Department of Fish and Game s testing of bear-proof trash cans. In the trash cans, so irresistible to bears: salmon, peanut butter, and red, round, juicy, delicious apples. <P><EM>Hicks Wogan is a staff assistant at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#061008"></a> <b>June 10, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Local dailies give full coverage<BR>to weather problems in Midwest</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>When something really big happens in your world, it s your local newspaper that often provides all the information you want and need  and then some. Continuing rainstorms and flooding in the Midwest made the television network news broadcasts last night, and there s even a Page One photo of washed-away Wisconsin homes in <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> today with another photo and a 575-word story on Page A11. However, we thought that we would check out the dailies in three of the hard-hit states. <P>In Indiana, <CITE>The Herald-Times</CITE> in Bloomington gives over almost all of Page One to the story, with a banner head  Flooding recovery: Assessing damage, seeking assistance for flood victims, and a photo and several sidebars with more inside. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> tops Page One with a page-wide photo, two stories, another photo and a guide to  expanded coverage inside. The <CITE>Kokomo Tribune</CITE> reports  Record flooding with the drop head  Marines sandbag Elnora as new storms batter area, while the <CITE>Post-Tribune</CITE> in Merrrillville has a banner  FLOODED, a photo and teases to three inside stories. <CITE>The Times</CITE> in Munster warns in an off-lead story that  Indiana braces for more storms. The <CITE>South Bend Tribune</CITE> plays up  Indiana copes with flooding, with a couple of pictures. <P>In Iowa, <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Cedar Rapids has a banner  Iowa under siege and above that eye-catching brief reports of the status of things in six different areas in the state, accompanied by a map to locate those places, all on a page worthy of a round of praise. <CITE>The Des Moines Register</CITE> devotes its entire page to flooding with the headline:  Preparing for the worst. <P>Finally, we come to Wisconsin, where dailies have Page One pictures of washed-away homes on the shores of Lake Delton. Indeed, the <CITE>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</CITE> tops its page-wide photo with the banner  Washed Away, while the <CITE>Wisconsin State Journal</CITE> in Madison banners  A Catastrophe and <CITE>The Post-Crescent</CITE> in Appleton reports  Deluge brings washout. The <CITE>Leader-Telegram</CITE> in Eau Claire has its photo below the fold with the head  Flooding sweeps away homes, and the <CITE>Green Bay Press Gazette</CITE> does the same, with the head  Overflowing lake washes away houses, hurts tourism. The <CITE>Kenosha News</CITE> and the <CITE>Herald Times Reporter</CITE> in Manitowoc also have Page One flood coverage, leaving only the <CITE>Wausau Daily Herald</CITE> with nary a Page One word or photo about flooding problems elsewhere in the state. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#060908"></a> <b>June 9, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Many report $4-a-gallon gasoline,<BR>while others worry about the impact</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>There seems to be some magic in the number four. In 1954, Roger Bannister ran the mile in under four minutes, something that conventional wisdom said couldn t be done. Now everyone s doing it. And so it is in this nation of drivers that many newspapers are telling us what is painfully aware to all, that regular gasoline at the pump now tops $4 a gallon. <P>It s the off-lead story in <CITE>The Decatur Daily</CITE> in Alabama, with a one-column head  U.S. gas average hits the $4 mark, while the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock leads with  In U.S. first, gas average hits $4. <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> warns its readers  $4 a gallon and climbing, and another Colorado daily, <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Colorado Springs found some red ink to point up in capital letters  FOUR BUCKS. <P><CITE>The Day</CITE> in New London, Conn., squares off at the top of Page One  Gas speeds by another milestone, an approach similar to the lead in <CITE>The Ledger</CITE> in Lakeland, Fla., with the head  Gas reaches $4 milestone for 1st time. <P>In Kailua Kona, <CITE>West Hawaii Today</CITE> gives over a good part of Page One to the  Rising pain of the $4 gallon while <CITE>The Lewiston Tribune</CITE> in Idaho perks interest with  Companies turn heads with offers of free gas and the <CITE>Daily Herald</CITE> in suburban Chicago leads with a simple  Gas hits all-time high. <CITE>The Hutchinson News</CITE> in Kansas squares off  Gas hits national average of $4 for first time, and <CITE>The Kansas City Star</CITE>  that s the one in Kansas City, Mo.  leads with  Average price in the U.S. hits $4. <P>There were many others, but two Page One treatments caught our eye. <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> in Newark, N.J., squares off  Wall Street is bracing for a bumpy ride today on $4 gasoline, and <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> in New York leads with a four-column head  Gasoline hits average of $4 a gallon and the drop head  Price shock among the worst in a generation will worsen the risk of recession. Now that s troublesome if not worrisome. <P>We quickly became used to Roger Bannister s four-minute mile, a record that has been broken so many times that today it s only a memory. Will it be that way with the $4 a gallon gasoline? <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#060608"></a> <b>June 6, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>These are the stories<BR>you don't see everywhere</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Emily Hedges</P> <P>Some lazy, summer Fridays, we like to highlight the front-page stories that you won't see everywhere. Some are strange, some funny, and some feature great photographs. In no particular order: <P>A high-dollar image: Ever wonder what $360,000 in $20 bills looks like? Well, wonder no longer! The Mobile, Ala., <CITE>Press-Register's</CITE> front page features a story about police finding a bunch of cash during a traffic stop, and the accompanying photo shows all the bundles of bills stacked into a nice $360,000 pyramid. <P>Disturbing photos: The <CITE>Republican-American</CITE> in Waterbury, Conn., shows three stills from a video in which a pedestrian was struck by a hit-and-run driver and not helped by by-standers until almost a full minute after the accident. The photos show cars driving past the victim and other pedestrians walking by. <P>A nearly X-rated picture: A strategically placed surfboard and bicycle are all that shield our eyes from the nude beachgoers in this <CITE>San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE> front-page photo. We wonder how long it took the photographer to get the perfect, tasteful shot. <P>Girls of the Windy City: Sports fans and single guys are probably interested in the <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> front page today. The newspaper wants to know which team, the White Sox or the Cubs, has the "hottest fans." All budding photographers and model-wannabes are encouraged to send in their photos. <P>Another good reason not to play with guns: The headline of Parsippany, N.J.'s <CITE>Daily Record</CITE> reads "Actor shot in head sues Wild West City." The front-page article reports on a former cowboy re-enactor who was accidentally shot in the head during a show. <P>Headline of the Day: New York s <CITE>Daily News</CITE>, reporting on "Two wackos" who scaled the New York Times building yesterday: "The New York Climbs" (written in <CITE>New York Times</CITE> script, get it?) <P>"Sorry, wrong number": <CITE>The Post Star</CITE> in Glens Falls, N.Y., gives us the front-page story of the woman who recently got a new cell phone number  Gov. David Paterson's former number. The woman said she's been receiving up to 20 calls per day, which has prompted her to record a voicemail message stating, "I've never been the governor of anything." <P>Can't get enough political stories? This story is less Clinton and Obama and more a "sign" of the times. Political signs and the messages they send are on the front page of today's <CITE>Forum</CITE> in Fargo, N.D. <P>How old are you? Rock Hill, S.C.'s <CITE>Herald</CITE> is hoping to make you feel old with a unique take on the standard graduation story. This year's high school graduates are the first born in the 1990s. These kids were in kindergarten in 1995  where were you? <P>Here comes the bride: It's a June wedding of a different sort on the front page of the <CITE>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</CITE>. Miller is the groom and Coors is the bride in this marriage, er, merger. In the front-page photo, a Miller Lite bottle wears a bowtie and the Coors Light carries a bouquet of roses and baby's breath. Cheers to the happy couple! <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:ehedges@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Emily Hedges</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#060508"></a> <b>June 5, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Cup runneth over for papers<BR>with hockey, Red Wings fans</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Clinton hasn t bowed out yet, and Obama and McCain haven t picked vice presidential candidates, so let s skip politics for another kind of competition: Sports. <P>The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, mega news for Detroit.  Sweet Stanley! proclaimed <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE>.  Red Reign, said the <CITE>Detroit Free Press</CITE>, which has produced Stanley Cup fronts during the finals. In Port Huron, an hour from the Motor City, the <CITE>Times Herald</CITE> said:  Wings skate home with Stanley Cup. Across the border in Ohio, <CITE>The Blade</CITE> of Akron covered the win with a stand-alone photo. Across the border in Canada, the <CITE>Toronto Sun</CITE> pictured Nicklas Lidstrom, the first European to captain a Stanley Cup-winning team, and said:  How Swede it is! <P>For the losing Penguins, the <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE> cried,  Cup unfulfilled and added,  Penguins dream season ends in 3-2 loss to Detroit. The <CITE>Pittsburgh Tribune-Review</CITE> published an eye-catching photo and said:  Just Shy of a Miracle. <P> The Legendary Rivalry Resumes, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> announced in a centerpiece about the Celtics-Lakers matchup in the NBA championship, which begins tonight. The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE>, which published an  NBA Finals special section, used its front page to examine ticket prices:  Lakers golden as money draw. <CITE>The Providence</CITE> (R.I.) <CITE>Journal</CITE> stripped a profile of Laker Kobe Bryant across the top of its front page. The <CITE>Las Vegas Review-Journal</CITE> noted,  Harrah s to reject NBA bets as  Casino chief owns part of Boston Celtics. <P>Looking ahead, <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> previewed Saturday s Belmont Stakes and a possible Big Brown win:  Struggling racetracks root for a rare Triple Crown. <CITE>Newsday</CITE> on Long Island, home to Belmont Park, produced a 12-page pullout guide to the race. <P> Chicago in final four, the suburban <CITE>Daily Herald</CITE> said after it was announced that the Windy City joined Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro as finalists to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. The news made the front page across Illinois, including on the <CITE>Rockford Register Star</CITE>, which profiled each of the cities. <CITE>Jornal Do Commercio</CITE> in Rio de Janeiro and <CITE>El Mundo</CITE> in Madrid covered their cities bids. <P><B>Still need your daily political fix?</B> Try the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> ( Clinton set to end run, back Obama ); <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix ( Clinton remains a key factor/Both sides to court her female bloc ); the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> ( History shows the best bets rarely make the cut as final running mates ); the <CITE>St. Petersburg Times</CITE> ( Crist could be vice president, McCain says ); the <CITE>Orlando Sentinel</CITE> ( What would it take for Obama to carry Florida? ); and <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> ( Black Atlantans relish Obama win ). <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#060408"></a> <b>June 4, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Page 1 records history as Obama<BR>secures Democratic nomination</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> History! <P>The <CITE>Daily News</CITE> of New York used the one-word headline as Barack Obama became the first African-American to be a major party's presidential nominee. <P> Claiming a place in history, said <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> in Portland, which pictured Obama and his wife, Michelle, across the width of its page. Said the <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise:  In a nation still carrying 400 years of racial baggage, Obama s victory marks  an extraordinary moment.  <P>Obama claimed the Democratic nomination in a speech in St. Paul, Minn., site of the Republicans national convention in September. The <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE>, like the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> and <CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE>, quoted Obama in its banner headline.   This is Our Time,  it said. Across the Mississippi, the <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis said:  Thousands jam downtown St. Paul as the Illinois senator becomes the first black major-party nominee. <P>Tim Russert of NBC called Tuesday night s events  a claim of victory by Obama, a non-concession speech by Hillary Clinton and an address kicking off the general-election campaign by Republican John McCain  a trifecta. The <CITE>Detroit Free Press</CITE> best captured news from the Democrats:  He s in, but she s not out. <P>Speaking of great headlines, <CITE>The Star-Ledger</CITE> of Newark said:  Clinton speaks one  u word (unity) but not another (uncle). <CITE>Washington Post</CITE> label headlines were as good as its main headlines:  Slogging to Victory,   What Does Hillary Want?  and  A Maryland Superdelegate s Diary. <P>Analysis pieces were common.  Next on Agenda Is Clinton s Role, <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> said. Some focused on Obama   How an upstart derailed the  inevitable nominee, the <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> said; others on his opponent   For Clinton, end began in Iowa, <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> said. <P>There also was local reaction. <CITE>The Providence</CITE> (R.I.) <CITE>Journal</CITE> said,  Locally, African-Americans take pride in Obama, while the <CITE>Lexington</CITE> (Ky.) <CITE>Herald-Leader</CITE> noted:  Kentuckians Like Obama/Clinton Idea. <P>Several states had primaries Tuesday, but they mattered little to many front pages. From South Dakota, the <CITE>Argus Leader</CITE> in Sioux Falls summed it up:  Clinton Takes State, Obama Wins Nation. The <CITE>Great Falls Tribune</CITE> said:  Montana s superdelegates quick to endorse Obama. <P>On Tuesday evening, an MSNBC commentator looked to European front pages and noted that they weren t mentioning Clinton. That wasn t completely true. <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> of London used a large centerpiece to say:  Clinton s White House dream draws to an end. Clinton appeared on front pages in various parts of the world  Italy, France, the Netherlands and Lebanon, among others. Obama made headlines in Ireland, Spain, Germany, Israel, Peru and Chile. From <CITE>The Globe and Mail</CITE> in Toronto:  It s Obama for president. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#060308"></a> <b>June 3, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>There are many Page One stories<BR>besides the Democratic Party issues</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Is there anything happening in the United States besides today s last presidential primaries and speculation about who will be the Democratic candidate for president, and how it will happen? After checking the front pages from literally every state, the answer is a resounding YES. <P>Starting with Alabama, the <CITE>Press-Register</CITE> in Mobile leads with  Teacher gets 10 years in sex case for trying to lure a former student. We d like to think it s a coincidence, but right next to that story is a picture of a smiling teacher, a different teacher, looking at her science creation and the headline  Making education fun, which we ll leave at that. <P>The <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> in Alaska tells us that the entry fee is going up and the winning purse going down for the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, two good reasons for our not competing. Meanwhile, the <CITE>Scottsdale Tribune</CITE> in Arizona whoops up the shortages at the food bank, with requests for those in need up 20 percent, and the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> in Los Angeles reports  The show must go on, with Universal Studios open to visitors after the big fire, replete with a photo of a tour bus near the ruins. <P><CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., squares off  Polygamists reunited with children, a story played up by others. The Washington, D.C, edition of <CITE>The Examiner</CITE> leads with the Sen. Edward Kennedy story about his surgery   Next for Teddy: Chemo, radiation, while quoting him saying that  I feel like a million bucks. <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> reports that  Kennedy has  successful surgery. <P><CITE>The Daytona Beach News-Journal</CITE> in Florida leads with  Soaring fuel prices spark thievery of gas, diesel. <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in Baltimore plays up, with photos, a gasoline story, warning that  Cabbies take stand amid high gas prices. <P>But it s the <CITE>St. Paul</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> that gets a gold star for its Page One play of a different election story that asks  What makes us special? , presumably answering the question that it also poses in big type:  Why does Minnesota, a politically tiny state tucked between the coasts, get so much attention during campaign seasons? We might go back and read that one at coffee-break time. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#060208"></a> <b>June 2, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Newspapers are a growth business<BR>worldwide, media group reports</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>This is the day that the World Association of Newspapers in Paris comes out with its annual World Press Trends report. Rather than tell you what s in a few of today s dailies we thought that we would share with our faithful readers some of the incidental intelligence about newspapers worldwide that we found in a detailed press release provided by our friends at WAN about their 930-page report on newspapers published in 232 countries and territories. <P>WAN starts with the assertion that  newspapers are a growth business, that on a worldwide basis paid circulation was up 2.57% in 2007, that advertising was up slightly last year and has increased 14.3% in the past five years. Indeed, WAN notes,  Newspaper circulation has been rising or stable in three-quarters of the world s countries over the past five years and in nearly 80% of countries in the past year. <P>That s a shocker to those familiar with the newspaper situation in the United States. Indeed, many U.S. dailies have been in a cost-cutting cycle that has seen staff reductions and other cuts in a number of cities. WAN agrees that the North American picture isn t the same as the rest of the world, with circulation down 2.14% and an even greater decline  2.37%  in the European Union countries. Advertising in U.S. dailies  the largest advertising market in the world  was down 3% last year. <P>So where is all this growth? WAN reports that the number of newspaper titles is up everywhere but North America  up 5.3% in Asia, 4.55% in Australia and Oceana, 3.99% in Africa, 2.54% in South America and 0.48% in Europe. <P>Paid daily circulation has reached a new high of 532 million worldwide, according to WAN. The five largest newspaper markets are China, with 107 million copies sold daily; India, 99 million; Japan, 68 million; U.S., almost 51 million; and Germany, 20.6 million. WAN adds that there are now 312 free daily newspapers in the world, with a total circulation of 41 million daily, meaning that 573 million newspapers are circulated every day. <P>Who buys all these non-free newspapers? WAN says Japan tops the list, with 624 daily sales per thousand adults, followed by Norway with 580 sales per thousand, Finland with 503 and Sweden and Singapore with 449 each. <P>And who really reads these newspapers? Glad you asked because WAN says the Turks spend the most time with their newspapers  74 minutes a day, followed by the Belgians with 54 minutes, and the Finns and Chinese, with an average of 48 minutes each. <P>Newspapers may have their problems, but they don t seem to be universally fading away. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#053008"></a> <b>May 30, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Solving mystery of Stonehenge:<BR>Headstones make headlines</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Everyone loves a good mystery. And when a mystery is solved, well, that s Page One news. <P> Secret of Stonehenge solved? the <CITE>Lawrence</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>Journal-World</CITE> asked after British archeologists on Thursday announced that the circle of large stones in southern England is an ancient burial ground.  Elusive Truth Dug Up, <CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE> said. <P>Stonehenge has a mystique that has fascinated tourists for decades, so the announcement of  another mystery unmasked was found on front pages far and near (although not on United Kingdom pages in our exhibit). <P>The <CITE>Hartford</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Courant</CITE> made the largest display of the news that the site was a burial ground for a royal dynasty.  Solving Stonehenge, it said in a package that included a timeline, illustrations and a photo. <P><CITE>The Washington Post</CITE>, which loves a good investigation, focused on sleuthing by archaeologists:  Conclusion Runs Counter to Long-Held Theories. The <CITE>Winston-Salem</CITE> (N.C.) <CITE>Journal</CITE> described the use of radiocarbon dating on cremated bodies and said:  A Royal Clue.  The findings indicate that kings ruled part of Britain long ago, <CITE>The Blade</CITE> in Toledo, Ohio, noted.  Mystery of Stonehenge continues to unravel, the <CITE>Anchorage</CITE> (Alaska) <CITE>Daily News</CITE> said. <P>Photos of the familiar stones played an important part in sharing the news. <CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE>, <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Colorado Springs and <CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE> used silhouettes. <CITE>The Register-Guard</CITE> of Eugene, Ore., let the stones stand on their own in its image. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> used a photo on Page One, but the Times story appeared on other front pages, including the <CITE>St. Paul</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE>, which used a graphic headline:  Solved. Other newspapers, including <CITE>The Providence</CITE> (R.I.) <CITE>Journal</CITE>, used a photo to refer to a story inside. <P>There always are doubters, which might explain why some front pages used question headlines. The <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis asked:  Stonehenge, marker for dead royalty? while the <CITE>St. Louis</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>Post-Dispatch</CITE> asked:  A royal cemetery? And from the <CITE>Milwaukee</CITE> (Wis.) <CITE>Journal Sentinel</CITE>:  Was Stonehenge really headstones? <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#052908"></a> <b>May 29, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>No love lost between aide,<BR>White House after kiss, tell</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P> Et tu, McClellan? <P>That s how <CITE>West Hawaii Today</CITE> of Kailua Kona presented the repercussions to news that former White House press spokesman Scott McClellan s new book claims President Bush manipulated the facts to  sell the public on the war in Iraq. <P> Truth-telling or betrayal? asks <CITE>USA Today</CITE>.  Ex-Bush aide s criticisms stun a team built on loyalty. <P>  This is not the Scott we knew,  says the <CITE>San Jose</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Mercury News</CITE>, quoting administration insiders. <P> McClellan: Disgruntled or White House Whistleblower? posed Colorado s <CITE>Aurora Sentinel</CITE>. <P> Capital Backlash, says <CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE>, adding a quote for context:  Generally, there is a tacit understanding when you leave you don t make a lot of waves. <P>New Orleans <CITE>Times-Picayune</CITE> found a local angle to the McClellan memoir, focusing on the image of Bush looking from his plane over the Katrina-ravaged area:  Bush photo after Katrina a big mistake, ex-aide says. <P><CITE>The Wichita</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>Eagle</CITE> adds,  President  puzzled,  surprised by memoir. On the same front page comes the teaser  Bangles brighten any outfit. Take note, Mr. President. <P>Bangles won t help cheer the eco-sensitive in Lexington, Ky., where the <CITE>Herald-Leader s</CITE> front page reveals that the city has the worst carbon footprint of 100 cities studied by the Brookings Institution. The headline:  Lexington tops list of enemies to the environment. <P>In a local story with historic appeal, <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in San Bernardino, Calif., produced an evocative photo and interview package on memories of Robert F. Kennedy s campaign stop to the area in 1968, as the 40th anniversary of his June 5 assassination nears. <P><B>Nose for news:</B> In Hyannis, Mass., the <CITE>Cape Code Times </CITE>  Crime of passion reveals a local trend in lilac larceny. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#052808"></a> <b>May 28, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Trend spotter? Page One s<BR>record is up and down</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>The rap: Newspapers spot a trend about the time the trend is over. But a look at today s front pages shows that s not completely true. <P> Thieves may be watching your flat-screen TVs, said the <CITE>Orlando</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE>, noting that law-enforcement officials across the country have reported an increase in flat-screen thefts. <P>The <CITE>Argus Leader</CITE> in Sioux Falls, S.D., pictured a  momtrepreneur and localized the national trend of moms starting businesses that cater to other moms. <P>In a centerpiece called  Engine troubles, <CITE>The Spokesman-Review</CITE> reported that Spokane, Wash., like many cities, has experienced a significant increase in the number of medical runs for its fire departments. The result: wear and tear on fire engines and suggestions to buy cheaper trucks designed for medical emergencies. <P>Newspapers across the U.S. reported on government data that show childhood obesity rates peaking.  Study shows percentage has leveled off after 25 years of increases, the <CITE>Lincoln</CITE> (Neb.) <CITE>Journal Star</CITE> said in its lead story. <P>And newspapers in tornado-prone areas published an AP story noting that 2008 already is the deadliest tornado year since 1998.  A whirlwind year, <CITE>The Commercial Appeal</CITE> in Memphis, Tenn., said. <CITE>USA Today</CITE>, a trend spotter, first reported the stretch of severe weather two weeks ago. <P>In other trends, the <CITE>Austin</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>American-Statesman</CITE> reported that criminal cases against immigrants are up, the <CITE>Portsmouth</CITE> (N.H.) <CITE>Herald</CITE> said tourists are spending less in this tight economy, and <CITE>The Tampa</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Tribune</CITE> illustrated the rising costs associated with high school graduation. <P>We all know that the trend for gas prices is up, up, up. In today s headline, <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> said:  Drivers face crude awakening. <CITE>The Journal News</CITE> of Westchester County, N.Y., and <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> were two newspapers that chronicled commuters move to mass transit. <P><B>Tell all:</B>  Ex-Press Aide Writes That Bush Misled U.S. on Iraq, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> said about a new book by former White House press secretary Scott McClellan. The contents of the book, which also described the president as  authentic and  sincere, were first reported by <CITE>Politico</CITE>. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#052708"></a> <b>May 27, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Yesterday s Memorial Day events<BR>memorialized in today s newspapers</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Yesterday was Memorial Day in the United States, a day set aside to honor the men and women who died while in military service, a day that is, in turn, memorialized by coverage in today's newspapers. <P>From the nation s biggest daily  <CITE>USA Today</CITE>  to the No. 1 newspaper in the capital  <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE>  there is something on Page One of many newspapers to remind us of those who passed this way. The headline at the top of <CITE>The Anniston Star</CITE> in Alabama says it all:  Area s fallen veterans remembered, even as <CITE>The Morning News</CITE> in Rogers, Ark., reports that  Residents honor veterans and <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in San Bernardino, Calif., notes  Memory honored. For the <CITE>Aurora</CITE> (Colo.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE>, the story may be on page seven but there is a big Page One photo of a soldier in a uniform that may pre-date us and the tease  Lest we forget, while the <CITE>Republican American</CITE> in Waterbury, Conn., tops its Page One photo with  Saluting America s fallen and <CITE>Highlands Today</CITE> in Sebring, Fla., reports with story and photos  Veterans garden dedicated to honor those who served. <CITE>The Lewiston Tribune</CITE> in Idaho also uses a photo and story to note  Veterans sacrifices honored, and the <CITE>Lexington Herald-Leader</CITE> in Kentucky has a photo and the headline  Honoring the ultimate sacrifice to tease three inside stories. <P>For the <CITE>Kennebec Journal</CITE> in Augusta, Maine, it s  A time to pay tribute, while <CITE>The Bemidji</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>Pioneer</CITE> says it all in one word,  Remembering. The <CITE>Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal</CITE> in Tupelo tells us in photos and words about  A stirring salute. The lead story in the <CITE>Valley News</CITE> in West Lebanon, N.H., is about a bridge being named for a local soldier killed last year in Iraq. <P>A little research shows that the first Memorial Day may have been observed in Charleston S.C, in 1865, but <CITE>The Post and Courier</CITE> in that city carries only a brief tease to a couple of Memorial Day pieces inside. Others claim that the official birthplace of the Memorial Day we know is the village of Boalsburg, Pa. There doesn t seem to be a daily there, but Boalsburg is close to the town of State College and there is a daily there, one where the staff knows its history. Coverage in the <CITE>Centre Daily Times</CITE> includes four Page One photos and a story about the 144th Memorial Day observance. The numbers don t agree with what we read elsewhere, but we re not about to quibble. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#052308"></a> <b>May 23, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Today s standouts: something<BR>special, something different</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Memorable front pages begin this Memorial Day weekend: <P><B>China earthquake:</B> <CITE>The Kansas</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>City Star</CITE> offered  A wedding album from an epic day with photos and a description of what happened when the China earthquake struck during a wedding photo shoot. <P><B>California wildfires:</B> The <CITE>San Jose Mercury News</CITE> incorporated a photo into the top two-thirds of its front page and noted 3,400 acres had burned so far. <P><B>Polygamist sect:</B> The <CITE>Standard-Times</CITE> of San Angelo, Texas, has done extensive coverage of the removal of more than 450 children from a religious compound in west Texas. It devoted its entire page to the sect and Thursday s decision by an appeals court that the state had acted illegally. <P><B>Following a story:</B> Twin Cities newspapers continue to report on last summer s collapse of an interstate bridge. Today s <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> from St. Paul, Minn., featured a program that is teaching school children about construction, including  Bridge Basics in Kidspeak. <P><B>Memorial Day:</B> <CITE>The News Tribune</CITE> of Tacoma, Wash., keeps in mind its role as the newspaper of a military community. Today it pictured a high school student paying respects to service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. <P><B>Weekend events:</B> In advance of Sunday s Indy 500, <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> reported on the  Marketing Muscle of the IndyCar Series and promoted a 20-page special section. <P><B>Summertime travel:</B> Rising gas prices have been in the news almost daily. Today, many newspapers looked at the effect on summer travel. The <CITE>Green Bay</CITE> (Wis.) <CITE>Press-Gazette</CITE> referred to an online <A class=chan href="http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080521/GPG0803/305210063" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>animated editorial cartoon</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> by its cartoonist, Joe Heller. In a  Planes, Trains and Automobiles feature, <CITE>The Forum</CITE> of Fargo, N.D., calculated a cost-effective vacation. <P><B>Local news of interest:</B> Can t beat today s <CITE>Patriot-News</CITE> in Harrisburg, Pa., for local news. It reported that cops pretended to deliver pizza to catch robbery suspects, that a high school yearbook was filled with mistakes and that the local Marines were headed back to Iraq for the third time. And across the bottom of the page, it included the story of nuns who  run off to teach and minister in the circus. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#052208"></a> <b>May 22, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG> Idol win rocks hometown<BR>papers; Page One digs  Indy </SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By John Maynard</P> <P> Idol and  Indy gobbled up plenty of real estate on today's front pages. <P> American Idol, television's most popular show, crowned Missouri native and Oklahoma resident David Cook as its new champion last night, and his hometown newspapers played it up big.  Cook conquers voters, was the above-the-fold headline in <CITE>Tulsa World</CITE>.  Oklahoma s new  American Idol,  read a bold headline in <CITE>The Oklahoman</CITE>. <P> Idol runner-up David Archuleta, a Murray, Utah, teenager, received some headlines of his own despite losing out on the Fox show.  Murray teen runner-up to David Cook, lamented <CITE>The Herald Journal</CITE> of Logan, Utah.  At the End, Utah s David Falls Short, <CITE>The Salt Lake Tribune</CITE> declared. <P>With the  American Idol audience averaging almost 30 million viewers, it s not surprising to see these newspapers go big with stories about their hometown heroes. But other papers with no dog in the race also put the story on their front pages, including <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> with a picture of the happy winner that took up a third of the page. <P>Meanwhile,  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the latest movie starring the swashbuckling archaeologist, opens in theaters today and plenty of front pages made note.  He's back, with attitude, wrote the <CITE>Sioux City</CITE> (Iowa) <CITE>Journal</CITE> leading into a rave review by the newspaper's critic. <P>Some papers localized the movie's opening.  Archaeologists fond of Indiana Jones was the headline in <CITE>The Augusta Chronicle</CITE> story profiling a Georgia archaeologist who is, well, fond of the movie's hero. But an article in the <CITE>Johnson City Press</CITE> had a different angle:  Professor: Glamor of screen role overstated headlined the story about an East Tennessee State University professor who says an archeologist's life is not nearly as exciting as the movie portrays it. <P>But then again, the <CITE>Victoria</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Advocate</CITE> may inspire teenage boys everywhere to consider a career in archaeology with this headline:  Why Chicks Dig Indy. <P><EM>John Maynard is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#052108"></a> <b>May 21, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Page One balances Obama s<BR>good news, Kennedy s grim news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Two significant U.S. stories vied for Page One space after Barack Obama celebrated being  within reach of the Democratic presidential nomination and the Senate learned that one of its members has a brain tumor. <P><CITE>USA Today</CITE>, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> and <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> led with the late-Tuesday news that Barack Obama had gained the majority of pledged delegates after Oregon s primary. All three also reported that Sen. Edward Kennedy has a cancerous brain tumor. <P>The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> went beyond Tuesday s primary results to use a news analysis as its lead:  Obama strategy will be tested. The <CITE>Times</CITE> evoked the emotion of the Kennedy story, publishing a photo of Kennedy with family members and a photo of Robert C. Byrd, the only senator who has served longer than Kennedy, crying during a tribute on the Senate floor. <P><B>Split wins in presidential primaries:</B>  One big win closer, <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> of Portland said about Obama in an all-primary front page. <CITE>The Register-Guard</CITE> in Eugene noted,  The senator s victory gives him a commanding lead against Clinton. The <CITE>Statesman Journal</CITE> in Salem, the capital, had an air of excitement, noting Oregon s role:  State revels in most exciting Democratic race in 40 years. <P>From Kentucky, the <CITE>Lexington Herald-Leader</CITE> balanced Hillary Clinton s big win in the state s primary with Obama s move closer to the nomination. The <CITE>Herald-Leader</CITE> used the Kennedy story at the bottom of its page. <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> of Louisville, which printed an eight-page election section, paired photos of Obama and Clinton and said of Clinton s win:  Ky. gains might not affect nomination. <P>To celebrate the delegate milestone, Obama returned to Iowa, site of his first caucus/primary victory.  Obama thanks Iowa, looks to November, <CITE>The Des Moines Register</CITE> said. <P><B>Kennedy s  toughest fight :</B> Across the top of its page, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> said:  Kennedy has malignant tumor; prognosis is uncertain at best. The <CITE>Globe</CITE>, which updated its Web site with reaction, a graphic and comments/discussion shortly after the early Tuesday afternoon announcement about the Massachusetts lawmaker, devoted much of today s Page One to the news, including a political story and local reaction, as well as a graphic outlining  Medical details and a story on treatment. An encouraging <CITE>Boston Herald</CITE> said:  We re with you, Ted. <P>The <CITE>Telegram &amp; Gazette</CITE> of Worcester, Mass., pulled quotes from Kennedy s congressional colleagues and said of the senator:  Caring, helping always evident. The <CITE>Hartford</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Courant</CITE> showed Sen. Christopher Dodd   A close friend takes it hard. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#052008"></a> <b>May 20, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Earthquake in China no longer<BR>big news for the rest of region</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The earthquake in China still makes it to Page One of some American dailies  you'll find stories and/or pictures on the front of <CITE>The New York Times</CITE>, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE>, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> and other U.S. newspapers  so we thought that we would check out the front pages of newspapers closer to the scene, which proved to be an interesting exercise. <P>In China itself, yesterday at 2:28 p.m.  a week after the exact time of the earthquake  the nation observed what the <CITE>South China Morning Post</CITE> in Hong Kong called "an emotional three minutes' silence in an unprecedented show of public mourning"  this under a banner reading "The nation mourns" and a photo of rescue workers standing silently on the ruins. <P>If you check out only one front page from and about China, we suggest looking at <CITE>The Beijing News</CITE>, which has a photo of a man holding a flower and the 24-hour clock numbers 14:28. Take a look; we'll wait until you come back. <P><CITE>The Wall Street Journal Asia</CITE> has a story about "Amid grief, Beijing's strong hand." In Tokyo, <CITE>The Asahi Shimbun</CITE> has a photo and two stories, one about the rescue efforts, the other asking "A Sichuan-level quake here: Could Japan cope?" <CITE>The Chosun Ilbo</CITE> and <CITE>The Dong-a Ilbo</CITE>, both in Seoul, South Korea, may have China in a language we cannot read, but the Page One photos are easy to recognize  Barack Obama with thousands of his supporters in Oregon. And that's where the coverage seems to tail off. <P>The <CITE>Star</CITE> in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has a small photo and a tease to "Quake victims mourned," inside, even as <CITE>The Nation</CITE> in Bangkok, Thailand, teases the story inside with "Aftershocks kill 200." Unless we missed it, the dailies in Australia and New Zealand passed on the quake for Page One, although <CITE>The New Zealand Herald</CITE> in Auckland has a big Page One photo and the headline "Obama rocks 75,000-strong crowd" and <CITE>The Sydney Morning Herald</CITE> in Australia has a smaller photo and claims "Numbers look fine for Obama," while the <CITE>Financial Review</CITE>, also in Sydney, also likes the Obama in Oregon photo. <P>But all is not lost and there are places where people like to laugh. <CITE>The Press</CITE> in faraway Christchurch, New Zealand, passes on the earthquake and skips the Oregon photos, but there is a Page One tease with picture for an inside piece about "Seinfeld 10 years later." <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#051908"></a> <b>May 19, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>It s the economy, and papers want<BR>to be sure you see it as a problem</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>It s the economy, editors, or so it seems in looking at the U.S. front pages today. Starting with the nation s biggest daily, <CITE>USA Today</CITE> which leads with  Bill for taxpayers swells by trillions, adding  Deficit far bigger than government estimate, even as the <CITE>Montgomery </CITE>(Ala.)<CITE> Advertiser </CITE>squares off an AP story warning that a survey shows that  Wobbly economy may weaken further and <CITE>The Arizona Republic </CITE>in Phoenix squares off the <CITE>USA Today </CITE>story, reporting  Nation s red ink soared in  07. <P>But it isn t just the national picture that we re reading about. The <CITE>Daily News </CITE>in Los Angeles leads with  Students paying the price, about the financial problems of those attending colleges in the area. <CITE>The Denver Post </CITE>has an off-lead story about how  In falling economy, teen jobs get scarce and the <CITE>Norwich</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Bulletin </CITE>reports from a neighboring town that  Plainfield budget squeeze forcing hard choices. <P>For the <CITE>Charlotte </CITE>(Fla.)<CITE> Sun</CITE>, the Page One problem is about  Food stamp recipients pinched by high prices, while <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution </CITE>leads with  More Atlanta homes at risk in the mortgage crisis and the <CITE>Chicago Tribune </CITE>takes another tack with an off-lead story about  Vehicle repos in high gear. <CITE>The Hutchinson </CITE>(Kan.)<CITE> News </CITE>leads with the AP story but puts on a semi-good face with the head:  Forecast for economy has good and bad, and <CITE>The Town Talk </CITE>in Alexandria, La., leads with,  Some local&nbsp; businesses run up big utility bills, some of them delinquent. <P>For the <CITE>Times Herald </CITE>in Port Huron, Mich., the focus is on  Carpoolers fight gas prices. The <CITE>New Hampshire Union Leader </CITE>in Manchester has a Page One feature about  Soaring gas prices. The <CITE>Poughkeepsie </CITE>(N.Y.)<CITE> Journal </CITE>leads with  Insurance trusts collapse staggers, adding that  Nearly 5,000 employers may pay more for workers comp, while <CITE>The Morning Call </CITE>in Allentown, Pa., has a big Page One piece with photo about  Slow economy has more people turning to auctions to get rid of unwanted, unused goods for cash, as many other dailies find Page One space for the AP  gloomy forecast. <P>The <CITE>Dayton</CITE> (Ohio) <CITE>Daily News </CITE>tops Page One with what might be a search for the silver lining, reporting that  As bad as things are now, they re nothing to the great depression. True, and to those interested we offer our family motto from those days   damn the expense, give the canary another seed. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#051608"></a> <b>May 16, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Sir William Berkeley is rolling over<BR>in his grave at what has happened</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Sir William Berkeley was governor of Virginia in the long ago, appointed to that post in 1642 by King Charles I.&nbsp; Sir William must have done other things, but he is best remembered for his remarks in 1671, essentially in favor of keeping the populace in the dark. He wrote:&nbsp;  I thank God, we have not free schools nor printing; and I hope we shall not have these hundred years. For learning has brought disobedience, and heresy and sects into the world; and printing has divulged them and libels against the government. God keep us from both! <P>Times have changed, and we thought we would take a look at today s front pages in the royal colony of Virginia. <P>The biggest daily that calls Virginia home is the biggest daily in the nation, <CITE>USA Today</CITE> in McLean, which finds space on Page One for a major story for some newspapers  the California Supreme Court striking down the ban on same-sex marriages  but plays up everyone s  incredible shrinking nest egg and leads with  Airline fuel cuts concern pilots. <P>The <CITE>Danville Register &amp; Bee</CITE> manages to fill almost all of Page One with purely local stories, and <CITE>The Free Lance-Star</CITE> in Fredericksburg does much the same, except for the formal opening of the second span of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge near Washington that caused a traffic jam that you and Sir William wouldn t believe. The <CITE>Daily Press</CITE> in Hampton Roads also goes for local news to inform its readers, while <CITE>Link</CITE> in the same city gives over Page One to a tease for  10 Weekend Plans that you will find inside. <P><CITE>The Virginian-Pilot</CITE> in Norfolk whoops up a story that would bother Sir William, about the Virginia Sen. Jim Webb-sponsored  G.I. bill clears first big hurdle, a bill that includes education.&nbsp; The <CITE>Richmond Times-Dispatch</CITE> is the only daily in the state that leads with  California s highest court rules gay marriages legal, while <CITE>The News Leader</CITE> in Staunton can t help tweaking officialdom with  Congestion stems from bridge s dedication. <P>Since West Virginia was part of Virginia in Sir William s days, we thought we d look at those dailies as well.&nbsp; <CITE>The Charleston Gazette </CITE>goes local except for a national farm bill story at the bottom of the page and <CITE>The Herald-Dispatch</CITE> in Huntington does much the same, while <CITE>The Dominion </CITE>in Morgantown finds room for an update on the death toll from China s earthquake. <P>We ll leave it to our faithful readers to decide whether Sir William had a point or two to make. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#051508"></a> <b>May 15, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Look closely, news isn t<BR>all that s on the front page</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>Editors don t just use the front page to report the day s most important news, they also use it to promote their product. Mottos, advertising slogans and mission statements all can be found tucked around a newspaper nameplate. <CITE>The New York Times </CITE> motto,  All the News That s Fit to Print, is perhaps the most well-known. Still, the <CITE>Detroit Free Press </CITE>  ON GUARD FOR 177 YEARS is no less forthright. <P>Some editors use the space to declare their paper s dominance. <CITE>The Clarion-Ledger</CITE> is  Mississippi s No. 1 information source, while Montana s <CITE>Billings Gazette</CITE> is simply  The Source. Others focus on their ties to the community. In Vermont, <CITE>The Burlington Free Press</CITE> is  A Local Custom. <P>A handful of the taglines simply can t be categorized. Minneapolis <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> provides readers with a nugget of information that changes daily, whereas <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> sticks with an old faithful  a quote from the Bible. <P>Above an image of a fluttering American flag, the <CITE>New Hampshire Union Leader</CITE> in Manchester tells us:  There is nothing so powerful as truth.  Nuff said. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer for the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#051408"></a> <b>May 14, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>W.Va. primary: Putting<BR>Clinton s win in perspective</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>As expected, Hillary Clinton won West Virginia s Democratic primary. With the outcome anticipated, newspapers used today s front page to try to answer the question: What does it mean? <P> Observers still see Obama as nominee, <CITE>The Charleston Gazette</CITE> said. <CITE>The Herald-Dispatch</CITE> in Huntington topped its page with an analysis:  Clinton s big win could be too late. <CITE>The Dominion Post</CITE> of Morgantown printed a McClatchy-Tribune story that began:  & Her late win in a small state likely did little to slow her rival s march &  <P>From neighboring Kentucky, which has its primary next week, <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> of Louisville said:  Clinton s W.Va. win too late? Obama gains four more superdelegates. <P> But don t tell that to Clinton or her supporters, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> said in a staff-written story from West Virginia.  Clinton: Race isn t over, the <CITE>Tribune s</CITE> main headline said. <CITE>The Orange County</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Register</CITE> called Clinton s 2-1 defeat of Barack Obama  A home run late in the game but added  Clinton cruises to a large but likely symbolic win in W.Va. <P>In Mississippi, a Democrat won a runoff election for a seat in the U.S. House.  Dem claims 1st District, <CITE>The Clarion-Ledger</CITE> in Jackson said. <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> paired the Mississippi story with its coverage of the West Virginia primary and said in advance of fall elections:  Democratic Victory May Be a Bellwether. <P>Natural disasters remained on the front page, and images again proved to be an important part of coverage. <P><B>China earthquake:</B>  China faces herculean task of rescue and recovery, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> said. It used a haunting four-column photo of a youth trapped in rubble, a photo used by many other U.S. newspapers. <CITE>The Beijing News</CITE> pictured a trapped girl reaching out, and the <CITE>South China Morning Post</CITE> in Hong Kong printed a photo of rescuers finding the bodies of schoolchildren. <CITE>The Globe and Mail</CITE> of Toronto used a heartbreaking photo of a rescuer holding the hand of a trapped child. <P><B>Florida wildfires:</B> <CITE>Florida Today</CITE> in Melbourne photographed a resident  Returning to ashes after wildfires destroyed homes and forced evacuations. The newspaper also used images to promote video on its Web site and to solicit reader photos. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#051308"></a> <b>May 13, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Wrath of nature makes Page One<BR>in dailies here, there, everywhere</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The wrath of nature in many forms will be found on today s front pages  a massive earthquake in China and, closer to home, the rainstorm-flooding near Washington, D.C., and wildfires in Florida, with some references to the continuing problems of the cyclone in Burma. <P>The earthquake in China leads <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> and <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE>, but we thought we would look at the dailies near where it happened. The <CITE>South China Morning Post</CITE> in Hong Kong carries the banner headline  Thousands perish in quake with a large Page One photo of the devastation, while <CITE>The Beijing News</CITE> in China gives over all of Page One to the earthquake and <CITE>The Wall Street Journal Asia</CITE> in Hong Kong tells its readers,  Huge quake rips China, testing leaders. Hint to all gentle readers looking at dailies in languages they do not understand, look for the photo of the man in the blue shirt among ruins to spot earthquake coverage; he s on Page One of the China and Hong Kong dailies just listed. He s also on Page One of <CITE>Kompas</CITE> in Jakarta, Indonesia, <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, <CITE>United Daily News</CITE> in Taipei, Taiwan, and <CITE>The Age</CITE> in Melbourne, Australia. <P>The Pacific edition of <CITE>Stars &amp; Stripes</CITE>, published in Tokyo, keeps the Burma story alive with the lead about  A humanitarian catastrophe of genuinely epic proportions. <P>About that fire, <CITE>Florida Today</CITE> in the other Melbourne, the one in Florida, has an attention-grabbing Page One picture with the banner headline  Palm Bay in flames as the <CITE>Orlando Sentinel</CITE> tells it all with a picture and the one-word banner in all-caps:  INFERNO. <CITE>The Palm Beach Post</CITE> reports about the   Worst nightmare in Central Florida as  Hundreds flee wildfires. <P>Finally, and closer to where we sit, <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., reports in photos and stories  Coast thrashed by winds, rain, the Baltimore edition of <CITE>The Examiner</CITE> leads with  Power outages, flooding persist after heavy rain, adding that  90,000 lose electricity as roads, schools close and motorists are stranded throughout the area, as <CITE>The Daily Times</CITE> in Salisbury, Md., says it succinctly with  Late nor easter leaves a mess. <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in Baltimore, after telling its readers  Record rain across Maryland brings power outages, closes schools, flood roads, opens a huge sink hole, leads with  Worst not over, governor warns. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#051208"></a> <b>May 12, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Stories of loss follow<BR>trail of violent weather </SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>The story of tiny Picher, Okla., once a booming mining town, continued its tragic plot as tornadoes hit the northeastern corner of Oklahoma during the weekend. <P>Severe-weather roundups in newspapers across the U.S. focused on Picher, devastated by a category 4 tornado, and rural Missouri.  Picher toll reaches 7, said the <CITE>Tulsa World</CITE>, which printed two photos  an aerial view of the town and a close-up of two grieving residents. <P> Finishing blow to a dying town, said <CITE>The Oklahoman</CITE>, which reported that Picher is  a town torn apart by decades of zinc mining and federal buyouts. <P>Picher s story was picked up elsewhere. The <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> printed a five-column photo and said the violent weather was  a final indignity for a town  that was about to be abandoned under a government buyout program because of environmental concerns. Said <CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE>:  It may be death knell for Oklahoma town. <CITE>The Danville Register &amp; Bee</CITE> in rain-soaked Virginia and <CITE>The Gadsden Times</CITE> in tornado-prone Alabama were two of many newspapers that used photos from Oklahoma. <P>The violent weather that hit Oklahoma and Missouri caused damage and death in other states.  More than 20 Killed as Storms Race across U.S., <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> said. <CITE>USA TODAY</CITE> reported that 2008 is on track to be a record-breaking year for tornadoes. The <CITE>Arkansas Democrat-Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock and <CITE>The Anniston Star</CITE> in Alabama wrote about tornadoes in their areas. <P> Mauled by Mother Nature, <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> said, breaking out damage in metro Atlanta and the impact of a half-dozen tornadoes in Georgia. <CITE>The Marietta Daily Journal</CITE> paired state and national roundups, and the <CITE>Savannah Morning News</CITE> printed a locally produced story:  Coastal Empire mostly unscathed; southern coast sees heavy damage. <P>In Missouri, <CITE>The Kansas City Star</CITE> said:  No Safety from Storm. The <CITE>Springfield News-Leader</CITE> pictured what it called resiliency among Missourians and said:  Survivors mourn the dead, pick through remnants of their homes. <P>Newspapers outside the stricken areas published an AP report on the storms. <CITE>The Burlington</CITE> (Vt.) <CITE>Free Press</CITE> used a quote in a sub-headline:   I swear I could see cars floating.  The <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> called its weather roundup  stories of loss :  Between life and death, a matter of minutes. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#050908"></a> <b>May 9, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>There s plenty of news today,<BR>but nothing tops the Oscars</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>This is the kind of day that doesn t occur all that often, when the abundance of news makes an editor wonder where to put it all. The Oscars, the change-of-sorts of the regime in Cuba, Ralph Nader announcing that he will make still another run at the presidency and the national election with all its good, bad and other developments. Indeed, an early morning call to this desk from an artist on a ship that had just docked in Puerto Rico had questions about the Oscars and nothing about the  real news. <P><I>The Anniston Star</I> in Alabama managed to squeeze them all in on Page One  Oscar pictures and tease to an inside story, a photo of  The new Castro, noting that  Raul succeeds Fidel as Cuba s leader, with details inside and a head shot of Ralph Nader, a reference to  History repeats, and, again, details on another page. However, the lead story is none of the above, focusing instead on a  60 Minutes story from last night about the jailed state governor and  Charges allege prosecution was politically motivated. <I>The Arizona Republic</I> in Phoenix has a sky box above the nameplate teasing the Oscars, the lead is  Nader declares bid amid criticism, and there is a Page One photo and story about Cuba. <I>The Sentinel-Record</I> in Hot Springs, Ark., has a sky box about the Oscars, a top-of-the-page square-off of the Cuba story and a  Fight for the White House story down at the bottom. <I>The Denver Post</I> also plays up the Oscars and leads with Cuba, while the <I>New Haven</I> (Conn.) <I>Register</I> gives over much of Page One to the  Magic of Hollywood while everything else is of local or regional interest. <P>In Florida, where the Cuban story is of major interest, <I>The Miami Herald</I> has a photo of Raul Castro giving the V-for-victory sign topped with the head  The old guard, while the off-lead story is about the Oscars. For the <I>Redeye</I> in Chicago, nothing trumps the Oscars, with a photo filling Page One of the tabloid with the head  Oscar bromance, adding that  Academy shows its love for the Coen brothers  the pair in the picture  who pick up 3 top Oscars. <P>Here and there some dailies decided to ignore the Oscars. When the day is done we re going back to the <I>Anchorage Daily News</I> in Alaska that has whooped up the  Running of the reindeer, complete with photo and the headline  Antlers away. ` <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#050808"></a> <b>May 8, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>College life hits the front pages</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Emily Hedges</P> <P>As the school year winds down, many college- and university-related stories are making front pages around the country. Some of the topics of front-page stories include: <P><B>Money:</B> Mesa, Ariz.'s <CITE>East Valley Tribune</CITE> reported that  ASU (Arizona State University) fears its enrollment will fall with budget cuts. In good financial news, <CITE>The Morning News</CITE> (Springdale, Ark.) reports that the University of Arkansas is planning raises for its employees next year. <P><B>Students:</B> The <CITE>Moscow-Pullman</CITE> (Idaho) <CITE>Daily News</CITE> did a personality profile on students who came to local New Saint Andrews College and found their future spouses. <P><B>Athletics:</B> The (Tucson) <CITE>Arizona Daily Star</CITE> featured a front-page story about a University of Arizona softball player who is making a comeback from a brain injury. <P><B>Fraternities:</B> "Reputation of frat is hardly brotherly: Allegations include drugging, sex assaults" at a Tulane fraternity, according to New Orleans's <CITE>Times-Picayune</CITE>. <P><B>Drugs:</B> The president of San Diego State University is receiving praise and criticism for inviting federal drug agents to try to get undercover information from students about drug use on campus, according to a story in <CITE>The San Diego Union-Tribune</CITE>. <P><B>Dorms:</B> DeKalb, Ill.'s <CITE>Daily Chronicle</CITE> said Northern Illinois University was seeking $7.7 million to remodel a campus dormitory. An 83-year-old women's dormitory at the University of Tennessee saw its last residents move out this week, according to Knoxville's <CITE>News Sentinel</CITE>. The building will be renovated and converted into a research lab. <P><B>Transportation:</B> <CITE>The Honolulu Advertiser</CITE> reported on the addition of a new public transit stop only a short walk from the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, making it more convenient for students to access the campus. <P><B>Campus:</B> The main building at Our Lady of the Lake University was destroyed by a fire, according to a front-page story from the <CITE>San Antonio</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Express-News</CITE>. A dramatic aerial photo of the burned building tells the story. <P><B>Professors:</B> Professors and their crazy commencement wear is the topic of a feature in the <CITE>Fort Worth</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Star-Telegram</CITE>. Perhaps the most bizarre front-page college reference of the day comes to us in the form of a (Bridgeport) <CITE>Connecticut Post</CITE> photo of two community college teachers battling with chicken-shaped piñatas on sticks. No word on how to win the game or what the prize was. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:ehedges@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Emily Hedges</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#050708"></a> <b>May 7, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A solid win and a squeaker:<BR>2 primaries produce 2 results</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Drama continued in the presidential campaign Tuesday with heavy voting in North Carolina s primary and late-night results from Indiana. But in the end, the news was the margin of victory: How close was it? <P>Two of the country s larger newspapers summed it up well.  Obama cruises; Clinton clings, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> said. <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> described the outcome as  His Decisive Win, Her Photo Finish. <P><CITE>The Charlotte Observer</CITE> called Barack Obama s 56% to 42% win in North Carolina lopsided, and the <CITE>News &amp; Record</CITE> of Greensboro used the word  rout. The <CITE>Winston-Salem Journal s</CITE> lead said:  In the end, it wasn t close. <P> Two minutes after the North Carolina polls closed & networks declared an Obama primary victory, <CITE>The Fayetteville</CITE> (N.C.) <CITE>Observer</CITE> reported. North Carolina might have been devoid of suspense, but Indiana was a  nail-biter, as the <CITE>Journal &amp; Courier</CITE> of Lafayette noted. <P><CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE>, sporting a  Clinton, Barely banner headline, featured a column about the drama:  Indiana loved its moment in the spotlight so much it refused to give it up Tuesday night. The late-night results meant early editions of some newspapers did not pronounce a winner in Indiana. <P> Hillary Holds On as Lake Holds Out, said <CITE>The Times</CITE> of Munster, reporting its county s  snail-slow pace of election reporting. The <CITE>South Bend Tribune</CITE> called it a  Hoosier cliffhanger and printed at the top of its page Hillary Clinton s win, 51% to 49%. <P> High drama, but no KO, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> declared, adding in an analysis:  In the home stretch, advantage to Obama. <P>A flood of voters swamped polling places. <CITE>The Journal Gazette</CITE> in Fort Wayne, Ind., noted a  Large turnout for Democrats, and <CITE>The Herald-Times</CITE> in Bloomington, Ind., said,  Voters turn out in droves. A  record primary turnout was reported by <CITE>The Daily Reflector</CITE> of Greenville, N.C. <P>Tuesday s primaries had been called historic because of their impact late in the campaign. History was made in another way. A column in today s <CITE>News &amp; Observer</CITE> in Raleigh highlighted Obama s win and the victories of female candidates in other races on the ballot in North Carolina, a state  clouded by the era of Jim Crow and a deep skepticism about women s role in politics. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#050608"></a> <b>May 6, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Numbers make the difference<BR>as cyclone toll makes Page 1</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Numbers make the difference. Yesterday, when the death toll stood at 350 for the cyclone in Burma (aka Myanmar), a few U.S. dailies carried the story on Page One. Today, with the guesstimated toll in the multiple thousands, it s Page One news on an international basis. <P>Starting with <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE>, which carries a banner headline  Burma says storm killed 15,000, and <CITE>The New York Times</CITE>, which leads with  Myanmar reels as cyclone toll hits thousands, we thought that we would play hopscotch with the dailies on our Web site. <P>The same photo appears at the top of the page of <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> in Berlin, Germany, with an off-lead story,  Thousands dead after cyclone in Burma, and the <CITE>Salzburger Nachrichten</CITE> in Salzburg, Austria, which refers to 10,000 dead. <CITE>Prazsky Denik</CITE> in Prague, Czech Republic, has a small story about the cyclone, while <CITE>Taxydromos</CITE> in Volos, Greece, has a picture and a story about 10,000 dead. <CITE>The Irish Examiner</CITE> in Cork, <CITE>Corriere della Sera</CITE> in Milan, Italy, AD in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and <CITE>El Periodico</CITE> in Barcelona, Spain, all play up the cyclone, all refer to 10,000 dead and all carry photos. AD offers a map for those uncertain about where to find Burma. <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> in London also leads with the cyclone, with the headline,  Burma seeks emergency aid as cyclone kills at least 10,000 and photo of the devastation. <P>And in Asia, the <CITE>South China Morning Post</CITE> in Hong Kong has as its off-lead  Myanmese cyclone leaves 10,000 dead, <CITE>Manila Standard Today</CITE> in the Philippines has the headline  Cyclone kills 3,969 in Myanmar above the nameplate, and <CITE>The Chosun Ilbo</CITE> in Seoul, South Korea, has a Page One photo. <CITE>The Nation</CITE> in Bangkok, Thailand, leads with  Toll to rise by thousands, and <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> Asia in Hong Kong leads with  Myanmar cyclone kills at least 4,000. Farther south, <CITE>The Age</CITE> in Melbourne, Australia, has a photo topped by  Burma devastated/ It s clear that this is a major disaster.  <P>Finally, in the Middle East, <CITE>Gulf News</CITE> in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has a picture and the lead story  Cyclone toll hits 10,000 and the English-language <CITE>Iran Daily</CITE> in Tehran has a Page One piece reporting  Cyclone Nargis kills thousands in Myanmar. <P>And is it Myanmar or is it Burma? The U.S. government calls it Burma and so do dailies. In Europe, it s some form of  Burma but not Myanmar. An in Asia, it s either one. When we sing Kipling s  Road to Mandalay in the shower it will always be Burma to us. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#050508"></a> <b>May 5, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Wherever Myanmar (aka Burma)<br> is, editors go for a killer cyclone</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>As we flipped through our collection of U.S. front pages, two things struck us. First, 350 dead in a cyclone is a BIG story to some editors even if it happened in a country that many of our readers never heard of. Second, the  gasoline tax holiday issue in the U.S. elections is a major item. <P>The cyclone that killed 350 or more happened in Myanmar, an Asian country that the U.S. State Department and many of us of a certain age prefer to call Burma. Quick, where is Myanmar or Burma? That s a true gotcha question. <P>As to the gas-tax holiday, Hillary Clinton has proposed canceling the federal tax on fuel during the summer months, while Barack Obama calls it a  bogus gas tax gimmick. <P><cite>The Anniston</cite> (Ala.) <cite>Star</cite> leads with  Cyclone kills hundreds in Myanmar but takes a pass on the gas tax, while the <cite>Scottsdale Tribune</cite> in Arizona does it in reverse, with a Page One story about  Clinton, Obama make final pleas to voters, including the gas tax. <cite>The Sentinel-Record</cite> in Hot Springs, Ark., says:  Cyclone kills 350+ in Myanmar but skips the election, while <cite>The Herald</cite> in Monterey, Calif., gets both stories on Page One, with a map for all to see about where Burma is. <P>The <cite>Aurora</cite> (Colo.) <cite>Sentinel</cite> has a banner headline reporting  Cyclone toll tops 350 and a drop head explaining that  Thousands of homes in Myanmar are destroyed as a powerful cyclone ripped through the nation, which may get you to turn to Page 9 for the details. <cite>The Day</cite> in New London, Conn., leads with the Indiana and North Carolina primaries roundup. Just below is  Hundreds are killed by Myanmar cyclone. <P>The <cite>St. Petersburg</cite> (Fla.) <cite>Times</cite> has an election story at the bottom of Page One and nothing about the cyclone, while <cite>The Lewiston Tribune</cite> in Idaho puts  Obama, Clinton squabble over taxes, policy on Iran at the top of Page One while giving the cyclone a favored position. The <cite>Chicago Tribune</cite> leads with  Rivals get grillings on gas, pastor, as <cite>The Journal Gazette</cite> in Fort Wayne, Ind., plays up  Crushing cyclone kills 350 in Myanmar over the  Hoosier homestretch voting tomorrow. <cite>The Boston Globe</cite> leads with the election and  Rivals spar on gas tax, while teasing to the cyclone story inside. The <cite>Albuquerque</cite> (N.M.) <cite>Journal</cite> has  Dems bicker over Iran, gas tax and no cyclone, but <cite>The Blade</cite> in Toledo, Ohio, leads with the cyclone as do the <cite>Amarillo Globe-News</cite> in Texas and <cite>The Roanoke Times</cite> in Virginia. <P>At break time, we re going to read the Page One story in <cite>The Sun</cite> in San Bernardino, Calif., about the last orange grove in Rialto  and the passing of an era. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#050208"></a> <b>May 2, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>On Friday, it s all about<BR>Saturday and Sunday</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>TGIF. Except that Fridays pose a challenge. Should festivals, music performances, sports and other weekend events be promoted on Page One? Contained to a weekend section? Ignored? <P>The largest and most popular events often are advanced and then covered on Page One of community newspapers. <P> What a Weekend! screamed today s <CITE>Indianapolis Star</CITE>.  There s a political race, a 13.1-mile footrace and opening day at the Speedway &  <P><CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE> combined a story, photo, info box and reference to video online to promote the three-day music and wine SunFest. The <CITE>Herald Journal</CITE> in Spartanburg, S.C., profiled the resident who named the city s festival Spring Fling. And the <CITE>Wisconsin State Journal</CITE> in Madison chronicled 40 years of the Mifflin Street Block Party. <P>Will leeches suck readers into a story? The <CITE>Sioux City</CITE> (Iowa) <CITE>Journal</CITE> thought so as it promoted the Great Walleye Weekend (that s fishing) and reported the scarcity of leeches (bait) because of the late spring. <P>A stand-alone photo is a common way to advance events. The <CITE>Anchorage</CITE> (Alaska) <CITE>Daily News</CITE> used the technique for the state aviation trade show. The <CITE>Fort Worth</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Star-Telegram</CITE> included  Three reasons not to miss Mayfest in its expanded cutline. <P><CITE>The Desert Sun</CITE> in Palm Springs , Calif., used the top of its page to advance a country music event, promising live blogs and photo galleries online. <P>Images from Robert Downey Jr. s new superhero flick  Iron Man appeared on many pages, including the <CITE>South Florida Sun-Sentinel</CITE> of Fort Lauderdale. <CITE>RedEye</CITE> from Chicago divided its page in half for a  Metal Head illustration. <P>And what would a weekend be without sports? It s NASCAR for the <CITE>Richmond</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Times-Dispatch</CITE>, which provided an eight-page race section inside. And it s the Derby in Kentucky, where <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> of Louisville profiled a past winner and referred to Derby material throughout its print and Web products. A <CITE>Lexington Herald-Leader</CITE> illustration combined the Derby with a different kind of a horse race to promote a weekend story:  Tip sheet for candidates if they come to derby. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#050108"></a> <b>May 1, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>In stagnant economy,<BR>money matters on Page 1</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>How well do newspapers make sense of money news? <P>A day after the Fed lowered interest rates another quarter percentage point, let s consider newspapers cited in the general-excellence category of the annual Society of American Business Editors and Writers contest. <P> Latest cut may be last for now, said <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE>, which bulleted  What the cut means to you. <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE> combined news of the rate cut with a Commerce Department report on economic growth:  Lower Spending is taking a Toll on the Economy/Growth Held to 0.6%. <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> of Phoenix led with a <CITE>Christian Science Monitor</CITE> story on sagging growth:  Grim economy, silver linings/Downturn may last long, but analysts expect it to be mild. <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> localized the growth report with information from the University of Massachusetts:  Economy in state outpaces US growth. <P>The <CITE>St. Paul</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE> paired economic stories at the top of its page.  Free food, long line  a sign of the times, it said about a food giveaway in rural Wisconsin. A second story   Sellers step back in slow housing market  centered on the tough Twin Cities housing market. <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> focused on what matters to Michigan, the auto industry:  GM to cut more after $3B loss. <P>With rising gas prices and declining home values, economic issues have been a key Page One topic this year. The news continued on other front pages today.  Pain beyond the gas pump is how the <CITE>San Jose</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Mercury News</CITE> titled a package on how business owners pass on to consumers the added expense of gasoline. From ag country, <CITE>The Bismarck</CITE> (N.D.) <CITE>Tribune</CITE> quoted farmers about rising food prices:  Don t blame ethanol. <CITE>The Richmond</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Times-Dispatch</CITE> used arrows to illustrate an  economy just limping along. <P>The <CITE>Poughkeepsie</CITE> (N.Y.) <CITE>Journal</CITE> used much of its page to report on federal tax-rebate checks and their potential impact on local counties. The package that included an analysis of IRS and Census data referred to a  Let s shop local special section inside, which featured a first-person essay from the local Chamber of Commerce president. In an analysis, the <CITE>St. Petersburg</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Times</CITE> noted that  the government has done what it can to boost the economy. It added:  Now it s your move. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#043008"></a> <b>April 30, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Obama s breakup tops news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>Breaking up is hard to do, especially when the split occurs at the height of your campaign for the presidency. <P>Sen. Barack Obama s public distancing from his former pastor was front-page fodder across the country.  Obama s Achilles Heel? <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> asked. The <CITE>New York Post</CITE> promised a scoop in  BARACK STABBER with a story that says the Rev. Jeremiah Wright  delights in revenge on  traitor Obama.  Test of faith, pronounced Colorado s <CITE>Aurora Sentinel</CITE>, with a dramatic side-view image of Obama, eyes downcast. <P>The <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> filled its tabloid-sized front with a typographical treatment of the story:  What Obama Now Thinks of Rev. Wright:  Divisive  Outrageous  Appalling  Objectionable  Offensive  Inexcusable.  Teasers promised six more pages of coverage inside on the matter. <P>The <CITE>St. Petersburg Times</CITE> had a gloomy analysis by its political editor, Adam Smith, writing from Indiana:  Obama doomed in small towns. And in a headline we wish we d written, the <CITE>Metro-Boston Edition</CITE> blared,  Obama declares Wright is wrong.  Candidate lets down some of N.J. clergy, wrote Newark, N.J. s <CITE>Star-Ledger</CITE>, in a reaction story from fellow pastors. <P>But with one candidate s strife comes another s opportunity.  Hillary Thrills Hobart, reported the <CITE>Post-Tribune</CITE> in Merrillville, Ind., with a kitchen-table photo of Sen. Hillary Clinton surrounded by voters and cameras. <P>The news that baseball superstar Roger Clemens, already besieged by accusations that he used steroids, had a relationship with then-under-age country singer Mindy McCready inspired the Nashville <CITE>Tennessean</CITE> to do a Page One story on the career crisis for both stars. <P>In yet another sign of the spasms in the newspaper business, <CITE>Today s Local News</CITE> in San Marcos, Calif., announced in front-page letter to readers that it would go from a Wednesday through Sunday publication to just Wednesday and Sunday, starting May 7. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#042908"></a> <b>April 29, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Obama, pastor make the news<BR>but not in primary states</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>An Associated Press lead puts it this way:  The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is going after his critics on an incendiary tour that is doing his one-time congregant, Barack Obama, little good. Page One of our local daily, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> puts it this way,  As minister repeats comments, Obama tries to quiet fray, and offers some inside pieces, including an editorial about  The audacity of Rev. Wright. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> has a Page One story, with photo, under the headline  Not speaking for Obama, pastor speaks for himself, at length, and a column-long sidebar with the jump about  Obama adds to distance from pastor and opinions. <P>But what about dailies in the two states where voters will go to the polls next Tuesday, Indiana and North Carolina? Will the stories about Wright be whooped up and possibly hurt Obama? Well, as some comedian put it in the long ago, there we make it different. <P>We have more than a half-dozen Indiana front pages on our Web site today. Would you believe that only one, <CITE>The Journal Gazette</CITE> in Fort Wayne, has a Page One story about Obama and his former pastor? The bottom-of-the-page piece is labeled  analysis and carries the clever head  Obama woes: Wright out of the box. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> has a small tease for an inside story about Wright. As for the other Indiana newspapers, several play up the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Indiana voter ID law, a story that leads both <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> and <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE>, and several have coverage of the Obama-Clinton duel for voters, but not the pastor. <P>Moving over to North Carolina, we have about a dozen front pages and, again, only one has a Page One piece about Obama and his former pastor. The <CITE>Winston-Salem Journal</CITE> has a bottom-of-the page piece with the headline  Impact? Media rounds by pastor may hurt Obama. Again, one newspaper, <CITE>The News & Observer</CITE> in Raleigh has a brief tease to an inside piece about Wright. The other dailies offer Page One coverage of the upcoming primaries and the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Obama, but Wright didn t make the cut. <P>No more politics and no more second-guessing the editors. For coffee-break time, we re going back to <CITE>The Times</CITE> in Munster, Ind., which has a story at the bottom of Page One reporting that it is the  fastest-growing newspaper in country, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. How did they do that? <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#042808"></a> <b>April 28, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Probable closing of iconic airport<BR>rates limited interest in Germany</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>The people of Berlin, the capital of Germany, went to the polls yesterday to cast their ballots on an emotional issue that has divided the city and has national implications. It was a non-binding, first-ever referendum forced on the city by a public petition to determine the future of a longtime icon of the city  Tempelhof Airport. It has been called the oldest airport in the world and the third largest building in the world, and it may be neither or both. But it always will be remembered as the key hub of the Berlin Airlift, when the Soviet Union blockaded the city and everything  from coal to food  had to come in by U.S., British and French military aircraft to West Berlin from June 24, 1948, to May 12, 1949. Now the airport in downtown Berlin is outmoded, cannot handle today's jet traffic, and should be shut down. Or so the mayor and his coalition say. Only 21% of the 2.4 million eligible voters turned out yesterday, with 25% needed for the vote to count, even in non-binding fashion. Of those who voted, 60% want to keep Tempelhof open. <P>For <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE>, arguably Berlin s leading daily, Tempelhof is the story of the day, with a big Page One photo and a headline that says it all:  For most Berliners, Tempelhof is all the same, meaning the people really don t care. There also is a sidebar with the headline  In the hangar of history. For <CITE>Die Tageszeitung</CITE>, another Berlin daily, Tempelhof rates a big Page One photo, with words about the campaign having failed and the airport to close in October, all as a tease to stories inside on Pages 21 and 22. The third Berlin daily on our Web site, <CITE>Die Welt</CITE>, is a puzzle, with not a word on Page One about Tempelhof, although there are stories on the daily s Web site. <P>There are more than a dozen other German dailies on our site this morning, so we thought that we would check them all. We found four of them with some Page One reference to Tempelhof. The <CITE>Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten</CITE>, not all that far from Berlin, has a Page One piece about the Babelsberg film studios making plans to move to Tempelhof when the flying days are over. The <CITE>Suedwest Presse</CITE> in Ulm has a short piece about  Defeat for the Tempelhof supporters, while the two Bremen newspapers, the <CITE>Weser Kurier</CITE> and the <CITE>Bremer Nachrichten</CITE>, have brief Page One stories about the vote. <P>To close with a note of personal bias: We have flown in and out of Tempelhof a great many times, particularly in the days when propeller planes were the preferred means of travel; it remains our favorite airport in all the world. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#042508"></a> <b>April 25, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Beyond words: Page One<BR>tells stories in photos</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Just call the front page image conscious. <P>Editors used photos and illustrations today to help tell news, sports, economic and health stories. <P><CITE>The Independent</CITE> in Helena, Mont., captured a reaction to a guilty verdict in a dominant Page One photo. In Nebraska, the (Neb.)<CITE>World-Herald </CITE>documented the concern after an eighth-grader apparently was hit by a stray bullet during a soccer game. And <I>The Washington Post</I> pictured a 20-foot-wide hole  a sinkhole on the busy Interstate 70.</FONT></P> <P>An  accidental tourist was featured on the <I>San Francisco Chronicle</I>. The wayward gray whale was shown in San Francisco Bay,  posing for pictures along the waterfront. </P> <P>A dead man  or so his family thought after he went missing in 2003  was pictured alive on the front of the <I>Albuquerque</I> (N.M.) <I>Journal</i>. <I>The Detroit News</I> incorporated an old newspaper clipping and current photos with a story about a man who seeks his birth parents 55 years after being abandoned as a baby in a department store. <P><CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> of Portland inserted a story about the price of rice into a package that contained a photo of a rice bowl, while <I>The Globe and Mail</I> of Toronto had its own view of global food prices.</FONT></P> <P>A sports image made the long jump from the sports section to Page One in <I>The Philadelphia Inquirer</I>, which photographed the Penn Relays. A contender from the U.S. Paralympic team, among those disabled in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is shown on <I>The Denver Post.</I> <P>While some front pages used news photos, others used photos to illustrate stories. <I>The State</I> in Columbia, S.C., donned a close-up of Kenny Chesney with reverse text appearing in the singer s cowboy hat. With a nose for news, <I>The Oklahoman</I> in Oklahoma City used photos to illustrate allergy season. And <I>The Forum</I> in Fargo, N.D., used a  Faux News illustration for a story about U.S.  secret plans to invade Canada. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#042408"></a> <b>April 24, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Money on your mind?</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>From pricey school proms in Norwich, Conn., to the cost of gas for car-racing fans in Anniston, Ala., articles on Americans financial woes marked today s front pages. <P><CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> gave readers a double-dose: The top story focused on the country s deepening economic crisis, while, just below that, readers learned hard times for restaurants meant  No free sour cream. <P>In Los Angeles, the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> reported at the top of its page that city budget shortfalls will be  Hitting Angelenos in wallet. While over in Colorado, <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> gave prominence to a report about big-box grocery stores limiting customer purchases:  As rice gets pricey, stores clamp down. <P>Up in Michigan, <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> told families  Student loan plan dropped because of the poor credit market, while down South there was this stark prediction from <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE>:  Airline woes likely to push fares up. <P>Less prominent but still on the front page: The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> noted that  At $3.75 a gallon, more drivers park it, and <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> announced,  Agency for the poor faces financial crisis. <P>After seeing all that doom-and-gloom, check out the <CITE>Las Vegas Sun</CITE>, where the leading news story,  Buyers sign $30 million deal for topless club, is curiously juxtaposed with a feature titled,  Through his church a community thrives. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#042308"></a> <b>April 23, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>The beat goes on after<BR>Clinton gets must-win in Pa.</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>A margin of 10 percentage points was good enough for front pages to use forceful descriptors of Hillary Clinton s win in Tuesday s important Pennsylvania primary. <P> Clinton Takes Pennsylvania, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> said after the Democrat got 55% of the vote to Barack Obama s 45%. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> said,  Clinton Clearly Outduels Obama. <P>Noting that the win keeps Clinton s campaign alive, <CITE>USA Today</CITE> said,  Clinton boosted by big win. Today s headline goes to the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE>, which said:  Good night, not goodbye for Clinton. <P>From the Keystone State, <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> proclaimed:  A convincing victory, and the race goes on. Managing Editor Sandra Long said:  We wanted our front page to capture what went on across the state; the excitement and diversity of voters and the unprecedented high voter turnout in the election. <P>The <CITE>Bucks County Courier Times</CITE> in Levittown used  historic and  urgent in describing the primary.  Clinton grinds out must-win, the <CITE>Reading Eagle</CITE> said. Clinton has childhood ties to Scranton, where <CITE>The Times-Tribune</CITE> called her win a  Gritty Victory. <P>From the state capital, Harrisburg, <CITE>The Patriot-News</CITE> devoted most of its page to results.  We stewed over the hed  10 points was less than a blowout but more than a win  before going with  Slam Dunk,  said David Newhouse, executive editor.  Of course, Obama is the one who plays basketball, but we figured this was better than a whiskey-swigging metaphor. <P>Headlines were more tempered in other communities. <CITE>The Morning Call</CITE> in Allentown said:  Clinton Wins, But & was her margin of victory & big enough to make a dent in Obama s delegate lead? The <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE> pictured Obama, saying:  Obama shifts quickly to Indiana, next battleground. <P>Analysts have noted that age, gender and race are playing roles in voter decision-making. The <CITE>Tribune-Review</CITE> of Greensburg said:  White workers deliver the victory, exit polls show. <P>After six weeks in Pennsylvania, the campaigns turn to Indiana and North Carolina, which have May 6 primaries.  It s Our Turn, <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> said. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#042208"></a> <b>April 22, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Don t know about today s primary?<BR>Look at your local newspaper</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>In towns you ve never heard of and places you ve heard of but never visited, readers of the front page have no excuse for not knowing that the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania today is a major political event in selecting the next president of the United States. <P>There it is, squared-off at the top of the <CITE>Times Daily</CITE> in Florence, Ala.:  Clinton seeks Pennsylvania win. In California, <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> has  Campaign  08: Pennsylvania Primary Preview, with pictures of the two candidates high on Page One, just below a tease for a story on A12 about the  Price of beer brings on tears. The Spanish-language <CITE>La Opinion</CITE> in Los Angeles touts  Elecciones decisivas with photos of the candidates at the top of the page. <P>In Little Rock, the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat-Gazette</CITE> leads with,  Hopefuls make final sweep of Keystone State, while <CITE>The Day</CITE> in New London, Conn., tells its readers that  Clinton steps up the attack on Obama in Pennsylvania. <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., squares off  Pa. s Democratic voters take center stage. <P>In Florida, <CITE>The News-Press</CITE> of Fort Myers reports that  Clinton reaches for Pa. win; Obama says he ll be close, and in neighboring Georgia the <CITE>Ledger-Enquirer</CITE> in Columbus says that  Clinton fights to catch Obama. For the <CITE>Northwest Herald</CITE> in Crystal Lake, Ill., it s  Clinton reaches for win, and <CITE>The Times</CITE> in Munster, Ind., plays both with  Clinton reaches for primary win; Obama says he will be close. <CITE>The Kentucky Enquirer</CITE> in Fort Mitchell notes that  Clinton, Obama bare their knuckles in Pa., the <CITE>Kennebec Journal</CITE> in Maine reports Obama saying  Clinton will win primary, and the <CITE>Independent Record</CITE> in Helena, Mont., uses a promotion above the nameplate to tease an inside story about  Clinton, Obama fight over suburban vote in Pennsylvania. <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Nashua, N.H., localizes the vote in faraway Pennsylvania with the headline  Four months later, it s N.H. version 2.0, while our friends in McAllen, Texas, have photos of the two candidates almost as part of <CITE>The Monitor</CITE> nameplate with the tease,  The End? Hillary s bid for president may be over if she loses in Pennsylvania. <P>In most cases when the two candidates are named, Clinton comes before Obama, so we re going to ponder whether it s done alphabetically, or by age, or by sex. <CITE>The Daily News Journal</CITE> in Murfreesboro, Tenn., goes with  Obama, Clinton tout Penn strongholds, but we re going to wonder about the others. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#042108"></a> <b>April 21, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Pope s visit to U.S. is Page 1 news<BR>for some German dailies, not others</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Pope Benedict XVI has completed his visit to the U.S. That s Page One news for some American dailies but not for others, for <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> but not for <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> (except for a tease). But this is the first German pope in several hundred years  historians are not in agreement about the nationality of at least two of his predecessors  so we wondered how the German-language press in Europe is playing the story. <P>Starting with the <CITE>Sueddeutsche Zeitung</CITE> in Munich  and Munich is the capital of the pope s home state of Bavaria  there is a big Page One photo of the pope praying at Ground Zero in New York, a caption and a reference to inside coverage. Not far away, in Augsburg, the <CITE>Augsburger Allgemeine</CITE> has a brief item noting that  The Pope ends his USA trip, similar to the Page One treatment in the <CITE>Neue Westfaelische</CITE> in Bielefeld, the <CITE>Braunschweiger Zeitung</CITE> in Braunschweig  which also has an editorial about the trip  and the <CITE>Saechsische Zeitung</CITE> in Dresden. However, the <CITE>Weser Kurier</CITE> and the <CITE>Bremer Nachrichten</CITE>, both in Bremen, each carries a large Page One photo and story about the pope praying at Ground Zero in New York. The <CITE>Suedwest Presse</CITE> in Ulm  home of the tallest cathedral in the world, albeit a Lutheran one  has a photo of the pope at Ground Zero. In Berlin, <CITE>Die Welt</CITE> has a big top-of-the-page photo, while <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> and <CITE>Die Tageszeitung</CITE> have nothing about the pope on Page One. The European edition of <CITE>Stars and Stripes</CITE>, the daily for U.S. service personnel, fills most of Page One with a photo and the headline  Pope blesses ground zero, with story inside on page eight; we thought we would slip this one in because it s published in Griesheim. <P>The Austrian press handles the story in much the same way. Cut into its nameplate, the <CITE>Kurier</CITE> in Vienna has a picture of the pope with hand outstretched and the headline,  Pope waves goodbye, with story on page six. The <CITE>Salzburger Nachrichten</CITE> in Salzburg has a brief Page One story with details on page seven, while <CITE>Die Presse</CITE> in Vienna has nothing on Page One about the pope. <P>Yesterday was a big sports day in Europe, which to some editors is what Monday s Page One is all about. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#041808"></a> <b>April 18, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Papal Mass a bit of heaven;<BR>earthly sins discussed in private</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> Prayers, public and private appeared on Page One a day after Pope Benedict XVI said Mass at Washington Nationals stadium and talked privately with victims of priest sexual abuse. <P>The <CITE>Pensacola</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>News Journal</CITE> used one of a host of photos available from the Mass. <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> pictured  Faces in the Crowd, and <CITE>The Bradenton</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Herald</CITE> pictured three views. The <CITE>Daily Herald</CITE> of suburban Chicago matched its colorful photo with a bright headline:  Sermon on the mound. The <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis summed up the excitement:  For Catholics, a bit of heaven. <P> 45,000 united by one man, the <CITE>Rochester</CITE> (N.Y.) <CITE>Democrat and Chronicle</CITE> said. Yet, coverage of the spiritual leader of more than 1 billion people worldwide and news about priest sex abuse, a story that had national impact, did not appear on front pages in some places. <P><CITE>The Times-Picayune</CITE> of New Orleans noted the  landmark meeting about abuse, saying:  Benedict makes issue centerpiece of his visit. The five who met privately with Benedict came from Massachusetts, where the <CITE>Globe</CITE> said:  Tears, prayers as pope meets with abuse victims from Boston. The <A class=chan href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/papalvisit/" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG><CITE>Globe s</CITE> story</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> was written by religion writer Michael Paulson, who has been blogging the visit. <P>Other front pages offered local angles. Several, including the <CITE>Press-Register</CITE> of Mobile, Ala., reported on those who attended Thursday s events:  Mobilians moved by sight of pope. <CITE>The Wichita</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>Eagle</CITE> focused on Benedict s comments on education and included a sidebar on Catholic schools. <P> Next Stop: NY, announced <CITE>Newsday</CITE> on Long Island. <CITE>The Advance</CITE> in Stamford, Conn., pictured two young men who will serve as altar servers. <CITE>The Journal News</CITE> of Westchester County, which has had <A class=chan href="http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=SPECIAL13" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>excellent advance coverage</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> by religion reporter Gary Stern, used a graphic to explain  Pope s busy schedule. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> reported Benedict s meeting with sexual-abuse victims in its lefthand column but put photos and other coverage inside. <P><B>Flashback:</B> Today s <CITE>Oshkosh Northwestern</CITE> takes a step back in time  to 1934  to report on the filming of Universal Studio s  Public Enemies in the Wisconsin city.  Downtown Shoot Out, blares the banner headline on the black-and-white page. Below, a photo shows Johnny Depp as John Dillinger in a bank-robbery scene. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#041708"></a> <b>April 17, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>All the news that s<BR>fit to print barely fits</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>The front page is only so big, yet today s pages managed to make room for three significant stories  the first full day of the pope s U.S. visit, a Democratic debate and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding execution by lethal injection. <P>Which story took the lead depended upon proximity. <P>In Washington, Pope Benedict XVI appeared at the White House and addressed American cardinals. <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> pictured Benedict in a sea of well-wishers and digital cameras:  Multitudes Gather for a Glimpse Or, Perhaps, a Touch of the Hand. <CITE>The Examiner</CITE> of Washington focused on his speech at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception:  Benedict: Child sex scandal  badly handled.  <P>In Philadelphia, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama participated in the 21st debate of the presidential campaign. <CITE>The Inquirer</CITE> described  A Bitter Aftertaste and, in an analysis, said,  Obama had the tougher night. The <CITE>Philadelphia Daily News</CITE> pictured smiling candidates and asked:  Who ll have the Last Laugh? <P><CITE>USA Today</CITE> reported that several states are ready to resume executions after a Supreme Court decision upholding lethal injection. In one of them, Texas, the <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> said:  6 from area likely among first to die. The case originated in Kentucky, where <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> of Louisville said,  Court: Punishment isn t cruel, unusual. <CITE>The Tennessean</CITE> of Nashville broke out  What Happened,  Tenn. Impact and  What s Next. <P>The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> managed to feature today s three big stories  and make room for an enterprise story after the newspaper tested local water and found drugs and chemicals. <P>But no story offered as much color as Pope Benedict s Washington events, which continue today. <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> called it  pomp and substance, and <CITE>The Orange County</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Register</CITE> said,  Revelry, Reproach. Benedict s 81st birthday was noted in <CITE>La Repubblica</CITE> in Rome, and a photo with President Bush appeared on <CITE>Die Welt</CITE> in the pope s native Germany. <CITE>The Providence</CITE> (R.I.) <CITE>Journal</CITE> wrote about its bishop s surreal experience at the papal gathering. The Religion Newswriters Association estimates that 500 people across the U.S. write about religion in the general news media. Among them is Ann Rodgers, who broke from the pack in her reporting for the <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE>:  Pope wants a spark / Tells U.S. bishops to make Masses lively to keep flock. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#041608"></a> <b>April 16, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Pope's visit is news across U.S.;<BR>a year later, we remember Va. Tech</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Emily Hedges</P> <P>From Oregon to Florida and Texas to Maine, Pope Benedict XVI's first visit to the U.S. was a natural choice for large front-page photos and stories. Cleveland's <CITE>Plain Dealer</CITE> even put a photo of the pope and President Bush above its nameplate. <CITE>The Anniston</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>Star</CITE> also showed the pope with the president and gave readers a front-page itinerary for the pope's six-day visit. <P>Pope Benedict's message on the priest sex scandal was on many front pages. <CITE>The Citizens Voice</CITE> (Wilkes-Barre , Pa.) quoted the pope in its headline, "Pope 'Deeply Ashamed.'" Eugene, Ore.'s <CITE>Register-Guard</CITE> used alliteration to get the message across with "Pope decries pedophile priests." <P>Even though the pope's visit is confined to two East Coast cities, Tucson's <CITE>Arizona Daily Star</CITE> provided local context with the story "Tucsonans are thrilled by chance to see pope." Madison's <CITE>Wisconsin State Journal</CITE> allowed readers to see the pope's view, in his own words, on issues such as Iraq, abortion and redemption. <P>The U.S.'s Spanish-language press, including <CITE>Hoy</CITE> in New York and <CITE>El Nuevo Herald</CITE> in Miami, gave the pope a lot of room on the front page. Yet the papal arrival wasn t a universal front-page choice for dailies. <P>Creative headlines were scarce (perhaps the subject seemed too sacred?), but Los Angeles's <CITE>Daily News</CITE> gave us "The Pontiff Has Landed," and the <CITE>Aurora</CITE> (Colo.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE> said the pope's first day was punctuated by "Amens and amends." <P>We would be remiss if we did not pause to remember the first anniversary of the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech. The story dominated the front page for several Virginia papers. <CITE>The Roanoke</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Times</CITE>, which published a special section on Sunday, used the headline "We remember" and listed the names of the victims on the front page. The <CITE>Richmond</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Times-Dispatch</CITE> put the victims' names above the nameplate with "4.16.07" in bold. Hampton Roads, Va.'s <CITE>Link</CITE> had a remembrance-ribbon illustration, in the Hokies' maroon and burnt orange. <P>Newspapers in other parts of the nation also remembered. The <CITE>Times Union</CITE> (Albany, N.Y.) and the <CITE>South Florida Sun-Sentinel</CITE> of Fort Lauderdale used the anniversary as a platform to discuss increased campus security. The <CITE>Times Union</CITE> included a touching picture of a mourner at the Virginia Tech memorial. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:ehedges@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Emily Hedges</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#041508"></a> <b>April 15, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Do newspapers offer food<BR>for thought on local issues?</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>We read an interesting story yesterday about a commission that will be established to analyze whether people are getting the local news they need from newspapers and television stations to make decisions in their communities. Except for the unfortunate suggestion that government action might be proposed to cover broadcasting, it s a study that sounds worthwhile. We decided to check a few dailies, including in capital cities, to see what local or state news makes Page One. <P><CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix squares off a story claiming  Ariz. deportation policy a model, a political issue these days, and also has a piece about how  Campaign 2008 gives students real-life lessons. The <CITE>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock leads with problems of the homeless after February twisters. <CITE>The Denver Post</CITE> leads with the labor problems of area agricultural growers and shippers, while the <CITE>Hartford</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Courant</CITE> plays up several local stories on Page One, including who pays the most state income tax. The <CITE>Tallahassee Democrat</CITE> in Florida really fits the bill with stories about a tax commission rejecting revenue limits, new fees for parks, arts funding problems and health-care solutions. <P>The merger of Delta and Northwest airlines is played up in <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> because it is a local story, as it is for <CITE>The Cincinnati Enquirer</CITE> and <CITE>St. Paul</CITE> (Minn.) <CITE>Pioneer Press</CITE>. <P>For <CITE>The State Journal Register</CITE> in Springfield, Ill., the big story is that city population tops 120,000, coupled with a push for a water-rate hike. <CITE>The Advocate</CITE> in Baton Rouge, La., also is replete with state news  a bill to limit phoning while driving, high river-level problems, parking scarcity near the Capitol, and so on. The <CITE>Nevada Appeal</CITE> in Carson City tops Page One with,  Leaner public safety question could go on ballot, and reports,  Sheep to protect city from wildfires. <CITE>The Santa Fe New Mexican</CITE> leads with,  Councilors weigh in on police plan, and the <CITE>Statesman Journal</CITE> in Salem, Ore., has a story about dead geese raising alarms with the hope that labs will find an explanation. <CITE>The State</CITE> in Columbia, S.C., is another daily with local issues topping the day   Staffing, salaries worry city leaders leads, with  DUI law sets sobering new penalties the off-lead. <P>Yes, there are local issues being covered that give local readers food for thought. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#041408"></a> <b>April 14, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Just because television plays up<BR>election doesn t mean it s news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>With the broadcast news divisions and cable news networks spending part of the weekend whooping up the Clinton-Obama contretemps over voter attitudes in advance of the important Pennsylvania and Indiana primaries, we thought that it would be worth checking the dailies in those states to see whether they thought it was a BIG story. The simple answer is yes and no. <P>Starting with Pennsylvania, <CITE>The Intelligencer</CITE> in Doylestown plays up  Bill Clinton comes calling, with pictures and teases to election stories inside, including one that we were looking for, while <CITE>The Philadelphia Inquirer</CITE> has as the off-lead story  Obama goes on the offensive, complaining about Hillary Clinton calling him  elitist. The <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE> squares off  Democrats quizzed on God, faith, which is right on target, even as <CITE>The Times-Tribune</CITE> in Scranton plays up  Clinton stays on offensive, adding  In local stop, senator calls Obama remarks on guns, religion  elitist.  <CITE>The Citizens Voice</CITE> in Wilkes-Barre gives over almost all of Page One to the election, with a photo of Clinton meeting the people in West Scranton while slamming Obama, as the <CITE>York Daily Record</CITE> reports on Clinton and Obama visiting Messiah College. <P>But the <CITE>Philadelphia Daily News</CITE>, the <CITE>Reading Eagle</CITE>, the <CITE>Pocono Record</CITE> and the <CITE>Williamsport Sun-Gazette</CITE> find no Page One space available for the Clinton-Obama fracas, although the last-named daily does have a state election story at the bottom. <P>In Indiana, it s also no and yes. <CITE>The Journal Gazette</CITE> in Fort Wayne squares off  Decatur quickly preps for Clinton visit. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> teases two primary election stories way down at the bottom of the page, as does the <CITE>Post-Tribune</CITE> in Merrillville with its one inside piece. The nothing re the primary on Page One list includes <CITE>The Herald-Times</CITE> in Bloomington, the <CITE>Kokomo Tribune</CITE>, the <CITE>Chronicle-Tribune</CITE> in Marion and the <CITE>South Bend Tribune</CITE>. We ll give partial credit to the <CITE>Journal &amp; Courier</CITE> in Lafayette for a major piece on  New rural election centers may create problems for some voters in county. Well, it <CITE>is</CITE> about the election. <P>Now we re going to ponder the earthshaking news we watched on the telly yesterday. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#041108"></a> <b>April 11, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Slovak newspapers use few<BR>words to make a statement</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>The power of the newspaper front page was tested today in Europe, where main newspapers in Slovakia used blank pages and editorials to protest a new media law. <P>Journalists say the law violates freedom of the press and editorial independence. Slovakia s cultural minister says the law guarantees accuracy. Leading Slovak daily <CITE>SME</CITE> from Bratislava left its page blank, except for an editorial. The page had a black  funeral frame. To journalists, press freedom is black-and-white. <P>In the United States, the <CITE>Houston Chronicle</CITE> also gave special treatment to an important story. During a week that President Bush announced an indefinite suspension of troop withdrawals from Iraq, the <CITE>Chronicle</CITE> marked  A Somber Milestone when the  Area s War Toll Reaches 100. The <CITE>Chronicle</CITE> printed the 100 names of men and women who  sought to serve and gave lives doing so. <P>Bush also announced Thursday that combat tours would be reduced to 12 months. <CITE>The News &amp; Observer</CITE> of Raleigh, N.C., pictured a military family and said:  Bush promises shorter Iraq tours for troops. <CITE>The Orange County</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Register</CITE> included comments from presidential candidates. <P>As the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings approaches, news of a settlement for families of victims was reported by <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> and the <CITE>Richmond</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Times-Dispatch</CITE>. <CITE>USA Today</CITE> used its cover-story space to report that  For families and survivors, grief becomes call to action. <CITE>The Roanoke</CITE> (Va.) <CITE>Times</CITE>, which covered the shootings extensively, plans a special section in Sunday s newspaper. <P><CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> also pictured the Newseum and noted today s opening. <P>Is that the front page or the sports page? <CITE>The Augusta</CITE> (Ga.) <CITE>Chronicle</CITE> looks like it has Mastered coverage of the men s golf championship. Scores from the first round were printed above the nameplate, and the entire page was devoted to The Masters. In another golfing hot spot, Florida, <CITE>The Palm Beach Post</CITE> used an image of Arnold Palmer hitting an honorary first tee shot as its dominant photo. <P>It was another sport that made the cover of the <CITE>New York Post</CITE>.  Curses! said the <CITE>Post</CITE>, which pictured a Red Sox T-shirt and reported that a construction worker had buried a Boston T-shirt under a concrete slab in the visitors clubhouse at the new Yankee Stadium. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#041008"></a> <b>April 10, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Olympic torch zigzags; <BR>airline passengers zapped</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>The headline for Wednesday: A change in plans. <P>Protesters and spectators gathered in San Francisco for the appearance of the Olympic torch, but they were met with a detour. The <CITE>Chronicle</CITE> called it a  Tortuous Journey as the torch was rerouted through the city because of protests over China s human-rights policy and Tibet independence. The <CITE>Chronicle</CITE> paired conflicting images of the day: a torch runner flashing the peace sign and pro- and anti-China protesters arguing toe to toe. <P>The <CITE>San Jose</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Mercury News</CITE> called it a  Torch shell game and, like the <CITE>Chronicle</CITE>, mapped the announced route and the actual route. The <CITE>Toronto Star</CITE> noted that the torch disappeared for a half-hour and called it a  bizarre game of hide-and-seek. <P>Headline writers creatively summarized the story. <CITE>San Francisco Examiner</CITE>:  City scorches torch activists. <CITE>St. Petersburg</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Times</CITE>:  Olympic torch zigs, protesters zag. <CITE>The Kansas City</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>Star</CITE>:  The passing of the torch has its problems. <P>First Amendment freedoms were represented on Page One  from freedom of speech in San Francisco to freedom of assembly in the form of school protests reported by the <CITE>Lansing</CITE> (Mich.) <CITE>State Journal</CITE> and the <CITE>Connecticut Post</CITE> in Bridgeport. It was freedom of the press in <CITE>The Star Press</CITE> of Muncie, Ind., which noted that an elections official was jailed after attacking a reporter covering an election board. <P>Unfortunately, travelers were not free to fly about the country. <P> With plans up in the air, fliers frustrations rise, <CITE>The Dallas Morning News</CITE> said after American Airlines cancelled 1,000 flights so it could re-inspect planes. The <CITE>Star-Telegram</CITE> pictured the inspection of wiring by the Fort Worth-based airline and broke out:  How much will this cost the airline? and  What to do if you re traveling soon. O Hare was disrupted, and the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> led with  Airline s travelers hit hard. <P>In the American hub of St. Louis, Mo., the <CITE>Post-Dispatch</CITE> pictured two grounded fliers and offered news-you-can-use for consumers. <CITE>El Nuevo Día</CITE> in San Juan, Puerto Rico  another busy American location  showed weary travelers.  Traveling by air? <CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE> asked,  Good luck getting there. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#040908"></a> <b>April 9, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>The general and his inquisitors<BR>top front pages</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>Many front pages today pitted photos of Iraq war commander Gen. David Petraeus against the three people vying to be his next commander-in-chief. <P> Petraeus wants more time, said <CITE>The Birmingham</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>News</CITE>, reporting on the general s testimony before Congress on Tuesday. The general faced a skeptical-looking Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain with  the general s response opposite  the candidates comments. <P><CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE> had Petraeus s image as the backdrop to the newspaper s nameplate, with the pullout quote,  I certainly share the frustration and the headline,  Entrenched? <P>Stately packaging and insight marked Nebraska s <CITE>Omaha World-Herald</CITE> front page, with  The candidates and the commander and  After the surge, a pause.  Petraeus, Democrats square off, said the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE>.  Progress in Iraq fragile, <CITE>The San Diego</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Union-Tribune</CITE> said.  Petraeus: Stay put, said the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> in Denver, adding,  Three White House hopefuls make rare return to Senate, sound off at hearing on Iraq war. <P>For the people most affected by the debate, <CITE>Stars and Stripes MidEast</CITE> edition led with  Petraeus: After  surge ends, no reductions. <P>Back inside the Beltway, <CITE>The Washington Times</CITE> used candid images of the candidates with the analytic sidebar headlined,  Presidential candidates hear what they want to hear. <P><CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> put the candidates questions with the general s responses to them in a helpful Page One package.  Too Weak to Leave, said the tough-talking <CITE>Dodge City</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>Daily Globe</CITE>, referring to Iraq s fragile state. In Shreveport, La., <CITE>The Times</CITE> was a bit more upbeat with  Gen. Petraeus: & It is Worth It. <P>A teary moment for President Bush, as he presented a posthumous Medal of Honor to the mother of a Navy SEAL who dived on a grenade in Iraq to save his comrades, made news. For <CITE>The Orange County</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Register</CITE>,  Courage and Tears, was a local story, as SEAL Michael Monsoor was from Garden Grove. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#040808"></a> <b>April 8, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Olympic torch trouble in Paris<BR>makes some European front pages</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>As we started to look at the U.S. front pages this morning and found much coverage of the Olympic torch relay in Paris beleaguered by protests against host China and its activities in Tibet, we thought that we would check out the European reporting of the fracas. The coverage is there, albeit spottier than we anticipated. <P>We re not here to second-guess our colleagues, but the one Paris front page we saw, <CITE>La Tribune</CITE>, a business daily, had other stories for Page One, while the European edition of <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> published in Brussels, Belgium, felt the violence was worth a Page One photo and story about  Torch protests in Europe anger Chinese globally. <P>The <CITE>Kleine Zeitung</CITE> in Graz, Austria, has a riot-type photo of Paris police in action taking up most of Page One with stories on pages six to eight. <CITE>De Morgen</CITE> in Brussels, Belgium, also goes for the police photo and starts the story on Page One, while <CITE>Hospodarske Noviny</CITE> in Prague, Czech Republic, has three pictures and a story. In Germany, from <CITE>Der Taggespiegel</CITE> in Berlin to the regional <CITE>Heilbronner Stimme</CITE> in Heilbronn there are photos and stories about the Olympic torch going out in Paris. <CITE>Nepszabadsag</CITE> in Budapest has a Page One photo below the fold with the unmistakable Eiffel Tower showing up clearly. In Italy, it s big news, with pictures, from <CITE>Corriere della Sera</CITE> in Milan to <CITE>La Stampa</CITE> in Torino. The <CITE>Basler Zeitung</CITE> in Basel, Switzerland, and <CITE>AD</CITE> in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, used the same photo of the relay runner with one hand on his head and the other holding an empty torch. The Swiss editor labeled the picture  Torch without a flame, but it sounds better in German. <CITE>Gazeta Wyborcza</CITE> in Warsaw, Poland, whoops up the story as does <CITE>SME</CITE> in Bratislava, Slovakia, while <CITE>El Mundo</CITE> in Madrid, Spain, plays the story at the bottom of the page. <P>As for the mother country, the  unlawful killing verdict about the death of Princess Diana came in yesterday and nothing can trump a good story about the royal family, which tops the news in the London dailies. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#040708"></a> <b>April 7, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Are there any news? <BR>Well yes, no and maybe</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>In the long ago we worked in a newsroom where the boss would come in every morning and ask  Are there any news? to which the accepted reply was  No, there are not a single new. That s the way we felt this morning when we looked at today s dailies on our desk, struck only by a typo  an unusual occurrence  in a headline on Page One of <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> ( When Foreigners by the Factory: 2 Towns, Opposite Paths. ) So we looked at dailies we don t read too often to see if  there are any news besides the election, the war in Iraq and the economic situation. <P>The <CITE>Dothan</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>Eagle</CITE> squares off  Attack kills three U.S. troops, wound 31, and leads with  Depression-era work program made an impact, while <CITE>The Morning News</CITE> in Bentonville, Ark., leads with a local killing, plays up the economy cutting college scholarships and notes that the state Senate is less unified. <CITE>The Sun</CITE> in San Bernardino, Calif., also plays up area news, squaring-off  Casinos hit jackpot, reporting how gambling places owned by Southern California American Indian tribes are doing well. The <CITE>Fort Collins Coloradoan</CITE> plays up a plan for a reservoir that would restock the trout supply and get rid of  invaders, and the <CITE>Republican American</CITE> in Waterbury, Conn., focuses on proposed crime legislation, noting that  Three-strikes bill likely to be hot campaign issue in next election. <P><CITE>The Ledger</CITE> in Lakeland, Fla., goes with the war, leading with  4 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq, and <CITE>The Valdosta</CITE> (Ga.) <CITE>Daily Times</CITE> reports  No Iraq progress, while the <CITE>Mattoon Journal Gazette</CITE> in Illinois plays up another national story  Study: Medicine mix-ups hurt about 1 in 15 hospitalized kids. The <CITE>Porter County Post-Tribune</CITE> in Merrillville, Ind., goes for the election, reporting  Chelsea stumps for mom at rally in East Chicago and pointing out  Indiana key in presidential primary. The <CITE>Times-Republican</CITE> out in Marshalltown, Iowa, finds Page One space for two international stories  Iraq and the meeting of Bush and Putin. We were a little puzzled by the <CITE>Daily World</CITE> in Opelousas, La., Page One story about  Trash for roads debated, while <CITE>The Telegraph</CITE> in Nashua, N.H., has a similar Page One story that  Trash cash could fix town s potholes, both meaning that handling trash from other areas could provide money for roads. <P><CITE>The Forum</CITE> in Fargo, N.D., has an all-caps head offering the rhetorical question  SAY IT AIN T SNOW with a Page One photo to prove that it is. <P>We re not beaten. We ll check again tomorrow to see if there are any news. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#040408"></a> <b>April 4, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Have we been to the mountaintop?</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Bridget Gutierrez</P> <P>The 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s assassination was marked by front-page centerpiece packages and lead news stories throughout the U.S. today&nbsp; from the tiny <CITE>Erie</CITE> (Penn.) <CITE>Times-News</CITE> to <CITE>The Seattle Times</CITE>. <P>Many of the country s largest newspapers, however, had nary a mention on their front pages of one of the 20th century s most shocking crimes&nbsp; which not only took down a vaunted Civil Rights leader but also touched off fierce rioting. Perhaps some editors didn t think that a 40th anniversary had as nice a ring as say, the 45th. <P>Either way, smaller papers clearly took the lead on the story today with many offering innovative front-page graphics, online extras and localized articles. Standard reflection-type pieces were well represented, but there also was new news to report: <CITE>The Clarion-Ledger</CITE> in Jackson, Miss., topped its front page with an exclusive article about King contemporaries who want a re-examination of the murder. <P>While many designers used historic black-and-white photographs to pair with the copy, a few bucked the trend. <CITE>The Repository</CITE> in Canton, Ohio, designed an interesting photo collage for a package that dominated its front, while the <CITE>Norwich</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Bulletin</CITE> used a colorful photo illustration. <P><CITE>The Commercial Appeal</CITE> in Memphis, Tenn., where King was slain on April 4, 1968, may have summed up the anniversary best with a classic-looking, full-page design and the heart-stopping headline:  WE REMEMBER. <P><EM>Bridget Gutierrez is an exhibits writer at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#040308"></a> <b>April 3, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Spring has sprung; newspapers<BR>going to the animals</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Emily Hedges</P> <P>Spring is in the air! Several front pages noticed the warming weather and blooming flowers. Monterey, Calif.'s <CITE>Herald</CITE> said, "Spring Hues: Wildflowers are out & you just have to look," and the front page has five pictures of the brightly colored flowers to prove it. The <CITE>Rockford</CITE> (Ill.) <CITE>Register Star</CITE> asked, "Is it finally spring?" and gave 10 ideas for enjoying the great outdoors in spring, including kite-flying and watching Cubs games. <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> (Wilmington, Del.) used a picture of spring lilies being watered to go along with a story about a program that finds jobs for special-needs adolescents. <CITE>The Gazette</CITE> in Colorado Springs had a slightly different take to the season. The headline read, "Spring forward, but don't fall back"; the story was about mountain climbing in the warmer conditions. <P>The spring fever has us all feeling a little like zoo animals  wild, yet penned up at the great indoors of our workplaces. Front-page editors must be feeling the same way, as several featured animals on their front pages today. The <CITE>Record Searchlight</CITE> (Redding, Calif.) showed a picture of a black bear climbing a tree in a residential neighborhood. San Luis Obispo, Calif.'s <CITE>Tribune</CITE> showed a cow crossing the road, right next to a well-placed cow-crossing sign. The <CITE>Santa Barbara</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>News-Press</CITE> featured a photo from the relocation of an elephant seal pup. <P>California front-page editors weren't the only wild animals out there. Levittown, Pa.'s <CITE>Bucks County Courier Times</CITE> selected a silhouetted photo of horses on the prairie for its front page. The <CITE>New Haven</CITE> (Conn.) <CITE>Register</CITE> also featured a horse photo out front; restored carousel horses are being put into place on the outdoor carousel just in time for spring. The <CITE>Reading</CITE> (Pa.) <CITE>Eagle</CITE> featured a cute piglet in front of the Capitol for a story on spending titled, "Where's the pork?" Spartanburg, S.C., had a circus coming to town and showed the elephants on its <CITE>Herald Journal's</CITE> front page. <P>Last but not least, spring chicks and bunnies "peeped" out from around the name plate of the <CITE>Carroll County Times</CITE> (Westminster, Md.). Photos from the local arts center's "Peep Show"  featuring art created from the marshmallowy Easter Peeps  reminded us of spring and animals, and made us want to drive up to Westminster to see the show. Preferably with the windows down to take in the fresh, spring air! <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:ehedges@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Emily Hedges</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#040208"></a> <b>April 2, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Page 1 gets a lot of mileage from<BR>oil execs congressional testimony</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> It s not our fault.  Don t blame us. <P>Headline writers focused on blame in summarizing oil executives comments about rising fuel prices and record oil-company profits. <P><CITE>The Charlotte</CITE> (N.C.) <CITE>Observer</CITE> used a trading-card treatment to illustrate news about the executives testimony before a House committee. The <CITE>Wyoming Tribune-Eagle</CITE> of Cheyenne used photos of the executives from large U.S. oil companies and their company logos. The <CITE>St. Joseph</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>News-Press</CITE> broke out dollar figures. <P>The story appeared on front pages in states that produce oil, although it was absent from Page One in the country s largest newspapers.  Oil profits under attack, said <CITE>The Desert Sun</CITE> in Palm Springs, Calif., noting criticism from Congress.  Big oil cashing in, but not middlemen, the <CITE>Waco</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Tribune-Herald</CITE> said. <CITE>The Daily Advertiser</CITE> in Lafayette, La., led with the story from Washington and invited readers to  Talk Back in the chat section of its Web site. <P> More fuel for the fire, the <CITE>Beaver County</CITE> (Pa.) <CITE>Times</CITE> said in an economic package that included stories on oil execs, truckers, natural gas and building. <P>In what <CITE>The Forum</CITE> of Fargo, N.D., called  Diesel Distress, truck drivers across the U.S. are protesting high fuel prices. That story appeared on front pages from Portsmouth, N.H., to Carson City, Nev.  Squeezed truckers rebel, the <CITE>St. Petersburg</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Times</CITE> said. <CITE>The Columbus</CITE> (Ohio) <CITE>Dispatch</CITE> used a stand-alone photo. Its caption:  The truck stops here. <P>News from Zimbabwe reached the front page of the largest U.S. newspapers three days after longtime President Robert Mugabe apparently lost the presidential election.  Mugabe s rival claims victory in Zimbabwe, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> said. From Africa, <CITE>The Namibian</CITE> of Windhoek quoted sources as saying the president was ready to step down:  Mugabe on brink. <P><B>Today s photo:</B> Many, many news photos are available each day. Occasionally, one jumps out. Today, the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> pictured President Bush kissing the wife of the Ukrainian president farewell as Laura Bush holds on. The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> couldn t help but say:  We ll always have NATO. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#040108"></a> <b>April 1, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>All joking aside, Page One gives<BR>only passing nod to day of pranks</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>A serious question on this April Fool s Day: Is anyone having fun? <P>From the look of some of today s front pages, you might not think so. <P> Best to pick the spots for a fool s finest hour, the <CITE>Times Union</CITE> of Albany, N.Y., said, adding that our culture just  can t take a joke like we used to. The <CITE>Milwaukee</CITE> (Wis.) <CITE>Journal Sentinel</CITE> cautioned:  April Fools tomfoolery in the workplace can be funny, but should be safe, legal. And <CITE>The San Diego</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Union-Tribune</CITE> opted to add a scientific spin:  Pranks just might benefit their targets. <P>Thank goodness for <CITE>The Hutchinson</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>News</CITE>. Without it, front pages would be sans whoopee cushion. And there was vindication in Youngstown, Ohio, where <CITE>The Vindicator</CITE> recapped the  Greatest Pranks Throughout History. <P>The opening of baseball season is too early to say that any team is a joke, especially in Major League cities where expectations are high.  The Fun Begins! proclaimed the <CITE>Detroit Free Press</CITE>.  Having a ball, said the <CITE>South Florida Sun-Sentinel</CITE> of Fort Lauderdale, which used a photo, highlighted the Mets-Marlins score and referred to baseball content inside and online. <P>It may seem a little loony, but a bird was pictured at the top of the <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> in Minneapolis. Turns out a teacher left her fortune  $1.8 million  to help protect the loon, Minnesota s state bird. <P>On a serious note & Presidential candidate John McCain was  Revisiting His Roots, the <CITE>Sun Herald</CITE> of Biloxi said in describing the Republican s weeklong biography tour and his first stop in Mississippi. <P>In what <CITE>The News Tribune</CITE> of Tacoma, Wash., called  An attempt to boost morale, the Army is allowing married couples to live and sleep together in the war zone in Iraq. Headline writers went to work.  Together in sickness, health  and war, <CITE>The Virginian-Pilot</CITE> of Norfolk said.  To have and to hold & in Iraq, <CITE>The Day</CITE> of New London, Conn., said. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#033108"></a> <b>March 31, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Violence in Iraq, cholesterol drug<BR>test failures are on Page One</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Violence in Iraq and the apparent failure of a popular anti-cholesterol drug were prime candidates for Page One play today  sometimes one, sometimes the other and sometimes both. <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE>, the nation s newspaper of record, leads with Iraq and a one-column headline:  Cleric suspends battle in Basra by Shiite militia, and teases to  Doubt about cholesterol drugs in the business section. <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> leads with  Sadr tells his militia to cease hostilities, while whooping up the Nationals baseball victory over the Atlanta Braves. <P>In Alabama, <CITE>The Gadsden Times</CITE> skips Iraq to play up  Study: Vytorin, Zetia fail to aid heart health. <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix plays up  Iraqi cleric calls for a cease-fire and  Vytorin performs poorly in key study. The <CITE>Arkansas Democrat-Gazette</CITE> in Little Rock leads with  Al-Sadr calls off Shiite fighters, and the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> leads with  Iraqi cleric orders end to fighting and teases the inside story about the cholesterol drugs. <P>In Connecticut, <CITE>The Day</CITE> in New London reports  Study discredits use of cholesterol drug Vytorin but gives prime space to  A dam nuisance caused by beavers. <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> in Wilmington, Del., leads with  Al-Sadr calls for end to violence, and <CITE>The Christian Science Monitor</CITE> in Boston cautiously reports that  Sadr sends mixed signals. The <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> leads with  Iraqi cleric offers truce, and <CITE>The Truth</CITE> in Elkhart, Ind., tells its readers that  Cleric recalls fighters and the <CITE>Lincoln Journal Star</CITE> in Nebraska plays it the same way. In Corvallis, Ore., on Page One of the <CITE>Gazette-Times</CITE> you will find both stories   Al-Sadr orders ceasefire in Iraq and  Study results cast doubt on alleged heart benefits of cholesterol drug. <P>But at lunch break today we re going back to <CITE>The Birmingham</CITE> (Ala.) <CITE>News</CITE> to read the BIG Page One story reporting that  Teens say baggy pants ban would hit below belt. We never understood those sagging slacks; maybe this story will help. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#032808"></a> <b>March 28, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Baghdad, brawling and a hoaxer<br>fill front pages</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>Violence in Baghdad s U.S.-protected Green Zone topped front pages in many newspapers. <P>In Monterey, Calif., <CITE>The Herald s</CITE> editors put the story in the lead position, with the headline,  Iraqi PM vows fight to the end in Basra, and an arresting photo of a Shiite woman wearing a photo of a radical cleric on her veil. <P> Baghdad, Basra on fire  Bush upbeat in speech, the <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> said. <CITE>The Orange County</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Register</CITE> deemed it one of  6 must-read stories you ll find inside today s paper, with a photo of the prime minister and his  Vow to restore order.  Barrage rocks Green Zone, reported the Wilmington, Del., <CITE>News Journal</CITE>. <P>An all-too-frequent image of mourning Iraqi parents topped <CITE>The Day</CITE> in New London, Conn., with  Al-Maliki Vows Fight to the End.  Iraqi leader cracks down on militants, <CITE>The Miami Herald</CITE> said. The <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> in Boise offered some perspective with an AP story headlined,  Iraqi premier plays for big stakes in Shiite showdown. <P>In Redding, Calif., the FBI s announcement that a contractor kidnapped in Iraq was dead was a local story.  Munns death confirmed/Anderson man one of four kidnapped workers ID d, the <CITE>Record Searchlight</CITE> said. <P>An AP story about organized extreme fighting among the grade-school set raised editorial hackles across the country.  Midwest sees rise of kiddie combat, reported the <CITE>Aurora</CITE> (Colo.) <CITE>Sentinel</CITE>, with photos of brawling youngsters. <P>In media news, <CITE>The Palm Beach</CITE> (Fla.) <CITE>Post</CITE> had a story about the local man who duped the <CITE>Los Angeles Times</CITE> by providing the newspaper with fake FBI documents about the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. The <CITE>Times</CITE> apologized for the story on Thursday. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#032708"></a> <b>March 27, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>From Albany to Sacramento,<BR>capitalizing on state news</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>State capitals are the home to legislatures, politics and debate, and today s front pages from U.S. capital cities show all three. <P> Legislature gives formal apology for slavery in Florida, the <CITE>Tallahassee Democrat</CITE> said. Legislative action also made news elsewhere. <CITE>The Charleston</CITE> (W.Va.) <CITE>Gazette</CITE> reported on a clause in a bill that increased legislators salaries:  Lawmakers to collect per diem back pay. The <CITE>Times Union</CITE> in Albany, N.Y., noted  Tenure clash over tests, a fight between lawmakers and school officials over teacher tenure. <P><CITE>The Clarion-Ledger</CITE> of Jackson, Miss., used a photo illustration to report on deadlines for legislative measures on casinos, Medicaid and school supplies.  Lawmakers play beat the clock, it said. <P>From Pennsylvania, <CITE>The Patriot-News</CITE> of Harrisburg devoted much of its page to a tentative deal in a teachers strike. At the bottom of its page, it noted that the governor had dropped a proposal to give the state s poor rebates. <P>Money matters were on minds in other state capitals, too. <CITE>The Providence Journal</CITE> led with  The Budget Battle, as Rhode Island faces the largest budget deficit in two decades. California also faces a deficit, and <CITE>The Sacramento Bee</CITE> quoted Arnold Schwarzenegger:  Governor won t pin deficit on migrants. But there was good economic news for the downtown in Utah s capital, where <CITE>The Salt Lake Tribune</CITE> said:  Big plans: SLC in for extreme makeover. <P>Transportation was topic No.1 in the <CITE>Idaho Statesman</CITE> of Boise.  Roadblock ahead for transit taxes? it asked. The front page broke out  In favor,  Against, and  On the fence. <P>Politics and economics made Page One in <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE>:  Spotlight on jobs in governor s race. <CITE>The Columbus Dispatch</CITE> reported that John Kasich, a former U.S. representative and Fox News Channel pundit, will run for the Republican nomination for Ohio governor in 2010. <P>And <CITE>The Advocate</CITE> in Baton Rouge produced a good news-bad news front page with a main headline:  La. income surges and off lead:  La. listed as 2nd-unhealthiest state. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#032608"></a> <b>March 26, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Road game: America s pastime<BR>opens season on another continent</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> Opening Day, Japanese Style. <P>That s how <CITE>The Day</CITE> of New London, Conn., described Major League Baseball s new season, which started with a game in Japan. <P><CITE>The New York Times</CITE> used an opening-day photo as its lead art.  A Homecoming, at a Road Game Far Away, its caption said. <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> pictured the crowd and said:  Japan s Starry Gems of the Diamond, a reference to three Japanese superstars, including Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Boston Red Sox. <CITE>El Universal</CITE> in Caracas, Venezuela, showed a young fan. <P>The Red Sox won, defeating Oakland, 6-5 in 10 innings.  With late heroics, a sunny start, <CITE>The Boston Globe</CITE> said. It was the best of two seasons in the <CITE>Morning Sentinel</CITE> of Waterville, Maine, which pictured Manny Ramirez of the Red Sox and ran a photo and story with the headline  Snowmobiling in May? Maybe. <P>Politics returned to the front page after a hiatus during Easter weekend. The <CITE>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</CITE> paired coverage of a Hillary Clinton event with a story about John McCain s comments on the economy. McCain was in California, where <CITE>The Orange County Register</CITE> said:  McCain shuns housing heroics. McCain made other news:  McCain says no to Secret Service help in campaign, <CITE>The Arizona Republic</CITE> in Phoenix said. <P>Several newspapers looked beyond horse-race political coverage.  Younger and black  but not Democrats, the <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> said. <CITE>The Indianapolis Star</CITE> also focused on demographics:  Young voters flex political muscle. And yet other newspapers printed an AP story on genealogy. In a  Celebrity Cousins package, <CITE>The San Diego</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Union-Tribune</CITE> said:  Candidates related to famous entertainers, presidents, other notables, genealogists find. Said <CITE>The Forum</CITE> in Fargo, N.D.:  Obama related to Pitt, Hillary Clinton to Jolie. <P>A day after Detroit s mayor was accused of perjury, the <CITE>Free Press</CITE> said:  Text message casts more doubt on mayor. <CITE>The Detroit News</CITE> noted that not-guilty pleas by the mayor and his former chief of staff were entered to felony charges. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#032508"></a> <b>March 25, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Olympics torch-lighting and protests<BR>make Page One for European newspapers</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>This seemed like a good day to see what European newspapers are telling their readers. <P>Starting with A for Austria, the <CITE>Kurier</CITE> in Vienna has a banner head  What health costs, offering to tell you on Pages 2 and 3 what the experts say about how one can save and what changes there will be for the patients. In Brussels, Belgium, <CITE>DeMorgen</CITE> leads with the start-up of the new government but also offers a photo of the Tibet protest at the lighting of the Olympic torch. In Prague, beautiful capital of the Czech Republic, <CITE>Prazsky Denik</CITE> plays up the Olympic torch-lighting with a large photo of a Greek woman holding aloft a ceremonial bowl. <CITE>Der Tagesspiegel</CITE> in Berlin does the Olympic torch story in artistic fashion, with a five-column photo that finds the torch held high enough to go through the nameplate, a story quoting the International Olympic Committee that  Olympics help the people of Tibet, while next to the photo in the space where one may generally find an editorial is a comparison of Olympics   Berlin 1936, Peking 2008. Still in Germany, <CITE>Stars and Stripes</CITE> plays up for its military audience the 4,000th U.S. troop death in Iraq. As one might expect in the birthplace of the Olympics, the Greek daily <CITE>Makedonia</CITE> in Thessaloniki gives over much of Page One to the games. <P><CITE>Nepszabadsag</CITE> in Budapest also plays up the Olympic games, both the torch ceremony and the protests, while <CITE>la Repubblica</CITE> in Rome also reports on the protest but plays up the troop situation, including Italians, in Iraq, even as <CITE>Gazeta Wyborcza</CITE> in Warsaw leads with domestic news but finds Page One space for a story and photo of the Olympic protest. <CITE>SME</CITE> in Bratislava, Slovakia, does the same, including an arty photo of the lighting of the Olympic torch, while <CITE>Avui</CITE> in Barcelona, Spain, has two Olympic pictures  the protest and the lighting of the torch. <CITE>El Mundo</CITE> in Madrid skips the Olympics but does have a Page One story about the 4,000th U.S. death in Iraq, while the <CITE>Basler Zeitung</CITE> in Basel, Switzerland, also goes for the big, arty, Page One Olympic picture, while reporting  Flame lit, ceremony disturbed. Finally, <CITE>The Daily Telegraph</CITE> in London has a big photo and the head  Tibet protesters disrupt Olympics ceremony but two stories at the bottom of the page attracted this reader s attention. One, that  Muslims  will soon outnumber traditional churchgoers  and the other about the French president, claiming that  Sarkozy  appy to try English on the Queen. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#032408"></a> <b>March 24, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>A gentle look at what tabloids<BR>are whooping up this morning</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Having looked through two free tabloids while commuting this morning, we thought we might check what other tabloids  free and pay  around the country are reporting to their readers. <P>We were somewhat surprised to find only two tabloids playing up, at least in a big way, the Iraq war death toll for U.S. troops having reached 4,000. The <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> in Denver has a Page One photo of the tombstones in a national cemetery and the big number 4,000, even as the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> in New York City offers a photo of a helmet, a weapon and boots topped by  4,000 DEAD. The <CITE>Times Herald-Record</CITE> in Middletown, N.Y., has a head above the nameplate:  U.S. dead in Iraq hits 4,000, adding,  Milestone reached on violent day, with story on Page 11. <CITE>Newsday</CITE>, out on Long Island, does it the same way with  War s grim milestone: 4,000th U.S. death, while whooping up a story about 11 of Long Island s school superintendents earing more than $250,000 each. <CITE>Metro</CITE>, which calls itself  The world s largest global newspaper, has a Page One piece reporting  Death toll for U.S. troops in Iraq hits 4,000 in its New York edition but it didn t make Page One of the Philadelphia and Boston editions. The U.S. probably has never fought a war where so many newspapers carry a daily body count, which at 4,000 after five years is fewer than the number of Allied troops killed in the invasion of France on June 6, 1944. We didn t know the numbers then and they are still being debated today. <P>What are the other tabloids playing up? The <CITE>New York Post</CITE> on Page One teases to an inside piece, with pages 4 and 5 given over to the resigned N.Y. governor:  Spitzer s kinky sex secrets. The <CITE>Chicago Sun-Times</CITE> leads with a 12% pay raise for a Cook County official. <CITE>Tampa Bay Times</CITE> in St. Petersburg, Fla., has a big Page One Iraq photo  of an officer reunited with his abused dog. <CITE>Philadelphia Daily News</CITE> gives over most of Page One to a Villanova University sports victory as <CITE>The Citizens Voice</CITE> in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., plays up a FEMA trailer story. <CITE>Tahoe Daily Tribune</CITE> in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., reminds us that  Spring has sprung, <CITE>Quick</CITE> in Dallas whoops up sports while <CITE>Bluffton Today</CITE> in South Carolina leads with a council debate about whether money should be spent on a veterans memorial or on some buses. So much for the war weary. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#032108"></a> <b>March 21, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>If it s March, it s madness;<BR>Page One wins with basketball</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Disastrous flooding in the Midwest and economic troubles for U.S. consumers and cities dampened the spirits of the front page. But the saving grace on this Good Friday was college basketball. <P><CITE>The Spokesman-Review</CITE> in Spokane, Wash., called it  That Magical Feeling. There is madness in many corners of the country, including in Tampa, where the <CITE>Tribune</CITE> used a Cinderella-clad Dick Vitale to promote its NCAA basketball special section. <P><CITE>The Gazette</CITE> of Colorado Springs, Colo., inserted photos into a bracket to illustrate surprises from the first round of tournament play. Double-digit wins in four games played in Omaha, Neb., prompted the <CITE>World-Herald</CITE> to proclaim:  Blowout City. A large photo in the <CITE>Las Vegas Review-Journal</CITE> told the story of UNLV s roll over Kent State. But for Arizona, it was  One and done, the <CITE>Daily Star</CITE> of Tucson said. <P><CITE>The Sun</CITE> of Baltimore examined the quandary that Mount St. Mary s students find themselves in on this holy day and game day:  Piety vs. March Madness. <P>A photo of a Missouri church surrounded by floodwaters appeared in the <CITE>Times-Courier</CITE> of Charleston, Ill. Illinois and Missouri were among five states coping with early spring flooding.  Flooded roads hamper rescuers, commuters, the <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> reported. In Little Rock, the <CITE>Arkansas Democrat-Gazette</CITE> said:  River towns put on high-water alert. Along the Ohio River, <CITE>The Cincinnati Enquirer</CITE> said:  Floodwaters bring heartache. <CITE>The Courier-Journal</CITE> in Louisville, Ky., saw a silver lining in a rising Ohio River:  Spring drenching is drought defense. <P>In a front-page consumer report, the <CITE>South Florida Sun-Sentinel</CITE> of Fort Lauderdale offered info on the economic stimulus rebates in chart form, referring to details inside and online. Neighboring <CITE>Miami Herald</CITE> incorporated charts and photos in a  Feeling the Pinch package that quoted economists:  The recession is already here. <CITE>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</CITE> paired national and local stories under the headline,  Simple Economics/Wisdom stays priceless in volatile times. <P><CITE>The Salt Lake Tribune</CITE> found inspiration from a back-yard barbecue for its  The sizzle goes fizzle comparisons of Utah s 2007 and 2008 economies. And with the city of Los Angeles facing a $400 million deficit, the <CITE>Daily News</CITE> gave a platform to money-saving ideas in a package headlined,  Wake up, City Hall. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#032008"></a> <b>March 20, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Five years later: Analyzing<BR>the costs, benefits of Iraq war<SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P> Americans reflect on 5 years in Iraq, the <CITE>Chicago Tribune</CITE> said on a day that reflection appeared on many U.S. front pages. <P> Five Years Later: No end in sight as deaths, price tag climb, said <CITE>The State</CITE> in Columbia, S.C. Like many newspapers, it paired varying views of the war in reporting on the fifth anniversary:  Bush: War a Success/Critics: We Disagree.  Mix of Pride, Pain, said <CITE>The Sun</CITE> of Baltimore, which included a Maryland story on  3 soldiers take look back and a story from Washington:  Bush defends invasion. <P>In a photo illustration, <CITE>The Oklahoman</CITE> of Oklahoma City remembered  Iraq and the Oklahomans who died there. <CITE>The Register-Guard</CITE> of Eugene, Ore., asked:  What has it cost Oregon? and answered in the numbers killed. The <CITE>Lincoln Journal Star</CITE> highlighted a new book by Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican:  War in Iraq was  a historic blunder.  <P><CITE>Gulf News</CITE> in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, pictured American officials in its analysis of the war:  They Came, They Lied, They re Gone. <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> of London, named one of the  World s Best-Designed Newspapers by the Society for News Design, pulled dueling quotes from Bush and a Baghdad resident. <P>Heavy rains and deadly flooding filled top headlines in the central U.S. In Ohio, <CITE>The Columbus Dispatch</CITE> used a map and charts in  Gauging the flow of floodwaters. In Arkansas, the <CITE>Democrat-Gazette</CITE> of Little Rock printed an aerial photo and said:  Roads closed in 20 counties; every river likely to overflow.  Crests in coming days could top levees, set records, said the <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> in Missouri. <P>The weather forecast also got prominent play in other locations.  Spring is here. No, really, said the <CITE>Sun Journal</CITE> of Lewiston, Maine. On this first day of spring, <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> of Wilmington, Del., was one newspaper that printed an AP story about the effect global warming is having on the season. Today s photo comes from <CITE>The Gillette News-Record</CITE> in Wyoming, where the first day of spring is a slap in the face.  Still getting hit with snow, its caption said. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Kate Kennedy</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is front pages editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#031908"></a> <b>March 19, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>War and race Page 1 topics</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Patty Rhule</P> <P>On a day with big news about an interest-rate cut and New York s new governor s admitting to past affairs, two other stories dominated front pages. <P>Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama s speech about race in America and the fifth anniversary of war in Iraq were the top headlines of the day. <P>The <CITE>Times Daily</CITE> in Florence, Ala., borrowed a page from Jane Austen to say,  Pride and prejudice: Obama urges nation to break its racial stalemate. <P> Obama: Racial resentment colorblind said the <CITE>Arizona Daily Star</CITE>, with pullout quotes, pro and con, of reaction to the speech.  Obama s Pivotal Moment: Church Leaders Keep Their Eyes on Race Drama was the local take of <CITE>The Bakersfield Californian</CITE>.  The Speech of His Life declared Chicago s <CITE>Sun-Times</CITE>. <P>The <CITE>St. Louis Post-Dispatch</CITE> reported  Obama says blacks have no monopoly on anger, with helpful subheads  Context on controversy and  Unity reemphasized. <P>Long Island s <CITE>Newsday</CITE> asked the question on many minds:  Can Obama Bridge the Divide? <P>The fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion in Iraq found varied approaches: <UL> <LI>The <CITE>Anchorage Daily News</CITE> led with images of a toppled Saddam Hussein statue, and the snow-flecked coffin of a U.S. soldier, for  5 years in Iraq. <BR><BR> <LI>In Berkeley, a city known for its anti-war protests, the <CITE>East Bay Daily News</CITE> was  Bracing for the masses. <BR><BR> <LI>Ontario, Calif. s <CITE>Inland Valley Daily Bulletin</CITE> took a provocative approach. Against a backdrop image of a burning Baghdad, editors asked, in giant typeface,  How much longer? <BR> <LI>The <CITE>San Francisco Chronicle</CITE> put 53 photos on its front page of  The Bay Area s Fallen. <BR><BR> <LI>In Colorado, the <CITE>Rocky Mountain News</CITE> of Denver took a personal approach to the toll of war, with a photo of a Marine s widow and the son he never met in  & sacrifice isn t limited to soldiers and happy endings can be few and far between. <BR><BR> <LI>In New Hampshire, the <CITE>Portsmouth Herald</CITE> had a photo of a soldier holding his Purple Heart reaching through its nameplate.</LI></UL> <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:prhule@newseum.org" target=blank><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=#184174 size=2><STRONG>Patty Rhule</A></SPAN></FONT></STRONG> is an assistant editor at the Newseum.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#031808"></a> <b>March 18, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>It s the economy that newspapers<BR>all over the world are reporting</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>Economic crises make brothers and sisters of us all. <CITE>USA TODAY</CITE>, the largest newspaper in the U.S., leads with a poll reporting  3 in 4 see a recession, <CITE>The Washington Post</CITE> plays up  Crises of confidence in the markets, while <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> leads with  Plunge averted, markets look ahead nervously. For U.S. dailies from Alabama  where <CITE>The Birmingham News</CITE> asks  Is hope ahead for economy?  to Wisconsin  where the <CITE>Green Bay Press-Gazette</CITE> reports on action  to plug plummeting performance of the markets  the economy is the news. <P>It s true all over the world as well. The <CITE>South China Morning Post</CITE> in Hong Kong leads with  HK stocks plunge leads regional rout, <CITE>DNA</CITE> in Mumbai, India, banners  Your money is going up in smoke, the <CITE>Asahi Shimbun</CITE> in Tokyo is concerned about the  yen s surge over the dollar, while <CITE>Stars and Stripes</CITE> in Tokyo tells its American military readers in Japan about a cost of living adjustment and that an  Increase to offset weak dollar will be in next paycheck. <CITE>Joong Ang Daily</CITE> in Seoul, South Korea, quotes the nation s president about the  beginning stages of a crisis, <CITE>The Nation</CITE> in Bangkok, Thailand, leads with  Turmoil hits markets as US crisis deepens, the <CITE>Financial Review</CITE> in Sydney, Australia, reports  Fear grips global markets and <CITE>Manila Standard Today</CITE> in the Philippines tells its readers about markets falling on bear news as  gold, oil soar to new highs. <P>In Israel, <CITE>Haaretz</CITE> of Tel Aviv plays up how  world markets sink, adding that  shekel soars again against dollar, the <CITE>Turkish Daily News</CITE> in Istanbul tells of the market problems with Page One graphs, and the European edition of <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE>, published in Brussels, Belgium, leads with  For world s bankers, trust is now a rare commodity. The <CITE>Gazeta Mercantil</CITE> in Sao Paulo, Brazil, leads with expected cuts in the U.S. interest rate, while in America s neighbor to the north <CITE>The Globe and Mail</CITE> in Toronto plays up  moves to contain deepening credit crisis in the U.S. <P>If your local daily isn t reporting all this doom and gloom, try one of these newspapers  or just be happy with what your hometown editor sees as the news of the day. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#031708"></a> <b>March 17, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Looking at the world we share<br>through European editors eyes</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Gene Mater</P> <P>This seemed like a good morning to check out newspapers far afield to see what is going on beyond U.S. shores. We took a quick look at some of the European front pages on our Web site. <P><CITE>Kleine Zeitung</CITE> in Graz, Austria, has a large Page One photo of hands checking money in a wallet with the headline  What remains for us is always less, and a reference to taxes. The weather forecast doesn t help, with rain expected, as seems the case universally. Moving over to Brussels, Belgium, what caught our eye in looking at <CITE>Het Nieuwsblad</CITE> was not the news but the offer above the nameplate of four DVDs of the Smurfs, another bow to universality. Also in Brussels, the European edition of <CITE>The Wall Street Journal</CITE> leads with  Global crisis will worsen, run into  09, banks warn. <P>But for several dailies, the troubles in Tibet and the accusations of the Chinese being involved in cultural genocide made Page One. That s the story that leads <CITE>Lidove Noviny</CITE> in Prague even as it rates major Page One play in <CITE>Die Welt</CITE> in Hamburg and <CITE>Nepszabadsag</CITE> in Budapest. <CITE>Corriere della Sera</CITE> in Milan, Italy, also has Tibet on Page One but prefers to play up  The French punish Sarkozy, reporting on the election losses of the French president. But for <CITE>DAG</CITE> in Amsterdam, Netherlands, it s the Chinese stepping on the Tibetans, with photo, while <CITE>Jornal de Noticias</CITE> in Lisbon, Portugal, has the Dalai Lama accusing the Chinese of  cultural genocide. <P>Moving over to the English-speakers, <CITE>The Daily Telegraph</CITE> in London notes,  Market turmoil expected as US bank runs out of cash, which is a little behind reports that the matter has been resolved. <P>But when we turned to <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> in London we decided that civilization was safe. No, it s not the exclusive lead story reporting that former Prime Minister Tony Blair supposedly offered  to meet masked IRA leaders. No, it s the even bigger type above the nameplate reading  FREE Great poets of the 20th century Seamus Heaney, noting that <CITE>The Guardian</CITE> is  continuing our unrivalled series of collectable booklets, and promising Siegfried Sassoon tomorrow. <P><EM>Gene Mater is a Freedom Forum media consultant.</EM></P> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><br><font size=2><a href="#top">back to top</a></font><br>-------------------------<br><br><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a name="#031408"></a> <b>March 14, 2008</b> <P><SPAN class="style23 style7 style32"><FONT color=black size=3><STRONG>Economic woes push business<BR>news out front</SPAN></FONT></STRONG> <P>By Kate Kennedy</P> <P>Money news took the lead on many front pages today in what <CITE>The San Diego</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Union-Tribune</CITE> described as  Economy, consumers repeatedly taking hits. The newspaper broke out developments on the rising prices of gold and oil, falling value of the U.S. dollar and declining retail sales. <P> No Light At End of Economic Tunnel, <CITE>The Day</CITE> of New London, Conn., said. <CITE>The Modesto</CITE> (Calif.) <CITE>Bee</CITE> described the U.S. economy as  Coming apart at the seams. <P>Gold prices are at an all-time high, and <CITE>The Oregonian</CITE> in Portland said:  $1,000 an ounce: Gold rush is on. <CITE>The News Journal</CITE> of Wilmington, Del., had bad news for anyone who likes a doughnut with his morning newspaper:  Bakeries see rising costs as a recipe for disaster. <P><B>News:</B> Fallout from New York s sex scandal continued on the state s front pages. <CITE>The New York Times</CITE> said,  U.S. is examining Spitzer s funds and whether he used campaign money in his dealings with prostitutes. NYC tabs continued to spotlight a woman linked to the governor.  Spitzer s hooker a MySpace millionaire, <CITE>AM New York</CITE> said. The state capital newspaper, the <CITE>Times Union</CITE> of Albany, turned to the man who will become governor on Monday:  Paterson shows humanity, humor during first comments. <P>As the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq approaches, the <CITE>Star Tribune</CITE> of Minneapolis is sharing first-person essays.  Five Minnesotans tell how the war changed their lives. Today, a 29-year-old National Guardsman writes,  Serving  Wasn t What I Expected.  <P><B>Sports:</B> News from basketball s conference tournaments appeared on some front pages. <CITE>The Kansas City</CITE> (Mo.) <CITE>Star</CITE> used three-quarters of its page to report on Big 12 fans flocking to its downtown. <P><B>Weather:</B> A 41-degree temperature swing in one week prompted the <CITE>Fort Worth</CITE> (Texas) <CITE>Star-Telegram</CITE> to print photos of warm and cold scenes. <P><B>The offbeat:</B> Earlier this week, <CITE>The Hutchinson</CITE> (Kan.) <CITE>News</CITE> reported that a local woman had refused to come out of a bathroom for two years and was stuck to a toilet seat. The <CITE>News</CITE> followed up today with  Case of woman living in bathroom shocks town, baffles a nation. <P><EM><A class=chan href="mailto:kkennedy@freedomforum.org" target=blank><SPA