Print Says Goodbye to 'America's Anchor'

The man who defined television network news was remembered and honored today -- in print.

Front pages across the country reported the news that Walter Cronkite, former anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News," died Friday night at his home in New York. He was 92.

"America's Iconic TV News Anchor Shaped the Medium and the Nation," says this morning's Washington Post. Cronkite was the anchor of America's first half-hour TV news program. In an appreciation and a column, The Post noted Cronkite's authoritative but calm delivery and a rapport with viewers that garnered him the title "the most trusted public figure in the United States" in 1973.

Before spending 20 years as CBS News anchor, Cronkite's career included radio, public relations and the wire service United Press. Today's Houston Chronicle noted that Cronkite was raised in Houston and got his journalism start there. As a high school student, he delivered The Houston Post. He later wrote for the newspaper. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, a fact The Austin American-Statesman mentioned in its headline. He dropped out to pursue journalism full time.

Cronkite worked in news and sports at KCMO radio in Kansas City. But he was part of the KC media scene long before then, The Kansas City Star reported. His biography noted that at the age of 9, he peddled the Star, making about 10 cents a week.

He loved newspapering but saw the potential of a new medium -- television.

In all, the reporter and anchor covered five decades of history, including stories that defined generations -- the assassinations of JKF, his brother, Robert, and MLK; man's first landing on the moon; and the Watergate scandal.

Cronkite's signature sign-off was "And that's the way it was" followed by the date. Said The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, "most Americans took him at his word."

King of Entertainment News

About noon Pacific time yesterday, a 911 call was made from the mansion where Michael Jackson was living. Less than an hour later, news of his death was reported. Not by cable news channels, newspaper Web sites or the AP. The first news of the pop star's death came from the gossip Web site TMZ.

"With the death of pop star Michael Jackson," the Los Angeles Times reports, "TMZ gave the most potent demonstration yet of its ability to stir the pot of entertainment news."

Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. TMZ, owned and operated by Time Warner, reported the news 18 minutes later. Suspicious of TMZ after its past reporting, many news outlets instead used as a source the Los Angeles Times, which posted the news of Jackson's death at 2:51 p.m.

"The gossip site once again left TV networks and other traditional media outlets scrambling in its wake, even as they attempted to distance themselves from a source widely regarded as salacious, if not disreputable," wrote Scott Collins and Greg Braxton of the Times.

When the Impossible Happens

Twelve hours after a Metro commuter train crash killed at least seven in the nation's capital, the printed edition of The Washington Post arrived at door steps this morning across the D.C. region. With dual "Probe" and "Impact" headlines, The Post provided some clarity to the frantic live local television coverage of the night before.

The Post examined the What -- "Train Strikes Another, Injuring Scores, Stalling Commute" -- and the Why -- "Experts Suspect Failure of Signal System, Operator Error." An additional headline, "Crash Was Supposed To Be Impossible," highlighted key information and a focus of the investigation:"Metro was designed with a fail-safe computerized signal system that is supposed to prevent trains from colliding."

The Post's online coverage began late Monday afternoon with live blogging by the newspaper's commuter/traffic reporter, Dr. Gridlock, and quickly grew to include audio, video and photo galleries. At one point Monday evening, a local TV anchor quoted comments from witness accounts posted to the site.

The Post allowed viewers to share photos from the scene of the worst accident in Metro's 33-year history and provided an interactive that traces the history of accidents on the Metro commuter line. The death toll was increased from six to seven in an 8:30 a.m. update.

Last Day for the Rocky

With today's edition, the Rocky Mountain News in Denver ceases publication.

The newspaper was closed by Scripps after the company lost $16 million in 2008 and was unsuccessful in finding a buyer. "Rocky silenced 55 days short of 150th birthday," the newspaper said on its front page. In a commemorative wrap, the newspaper bid "Goodbye to Colorado" in a note framed by an image of the Rocky's first edition in 1859. The Rocky's Web site features a collection of front pages.

The closure leaves Denver with one newspaper, The Post, which devoted three-quarters of today's front page to the "sudden end to a good friend." In 2001, the Rocky and the Post joined forces in a joint operating agreement.

In writing its obituary, the Rocky described its past: "The Rocky was founded in 1859 by William Byers, one of the most influential figures in Colorado history. Scripps bought the paper in 1926 and immediately began a newspaper war with The Post. That fight ebbed and flowed over the course of the rest of the 20th century, culminating in penny-a-day subscriptions in the late '90s. Perhaps the most critical step for the Rocky occurred in 1942, when then-Editor Jack Foster saved it by adopting the tabloid style it has been known for ever since. Readers loved the change, and circulation took off."

But the Rocky's editor, John Temple, wrote today about current circulation and advertising challenges and "Why Denver can't support two newspapers."

In its goodbye note, the Rocky looked back at its history and ahead to the unknown future of news: "To have reached this day, the final edition of the Rocky Mountain News, just 55 days shy of its 150th birthday is painful. We will scatter. And all that will be left are the stories we have told, captured on microfilm or in digital archives, devices unimaginable in those first days."

Nothing but The Truth

The RV capital of the country, Elkhart, Ind., got a visit from Barack Obama on Monday, as the president pushed for passage of an economic stimulus package. "Who was that guy with Obama?" asked the city's daily newspaper, The Truth. It was Ed Neufeldt, a 62-year-0ld laid-off RV worker chosen to introduce the president during an appearance before 2,000 people at a high school.

Neufeldt believed he was chosen to do the introduction because he earlier was featured on ABC News doing volunteer work at his church.

From the small city with double-digit unemployment, Neufeldt said he hoped the attention from Obama's visit would help his fellow unemployed get back to work.

In the quote of the day, Neufeldt told the newspaper: "It's a new world for me. I feel like Joe the Plumber, except I'm Ed the Unemployed."

An extra edition was published by the The Truth on Monday and included in Tuesday's newspaper.

Six Wins, Seventh Heaven

With Sunday's win over the Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Steelers claimed their sixth Super Bowl victory. "A championship is the Pittsburgh version of seventh heaven," Robert Dvorchak wrote in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Post-Gazette labeled the team "Lord of the Rings" and summed up the thrilling game with "Harrison's immaculate interception, Holmes' dramatic reception seal Steelers sixth Super Bowl victory, 27-23." Receiver Santonio Holmes, named the game's most valuable player, was pictured the width of the page with arms wide.

The Arizona Republic was all about "Heartbreak" and a "Stinging end to a profound season." Dan Bickley began his front-page column, "In the NFL, they say that nobody remembers who loses the Super Bowl." But in a reference to inside content, the front page said, "Game will be remembered as a classic." "Cardinals nearly win first Super Bowl, then see it snatched away."

Eye on the (Foot) Ball

For the few who weren't tied to their televisions, news Web sites provided top Super Bowl headlines from quarter to quarter:

7:24 p.m.: USA TODAY: "Steelers taking early command."

7:33: The Arizona Republic: "Cards strike back; close lead in second quarter."

7:53 p.m. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Steelers 10 Cardinals 7. Second quarter in progress."

8 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Cardinals go to their strength to close gap."

8:01 p.m.: The New York Post: "Jennifer Hudson returned to the spotlight ... with a flawless performance of the national anthem ..."

8:28 p.m.: USA TODAY: "'The Boss' lights up the Super Bowl."

8:59 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Cards' first drive of second half stalls."

9:02 p.m.: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Steelers fans get rowdy after late first-half TD."

9:05 p.m. Los Angeles Times: "Arizona: 7 Pittsburgh: 20."

9:18 p.m.: The New York Times: "Ads That Pushed Our Usual (Well-Worn) Buttons/Few commercials that ran during Super Bowl XLIII offered anything special."

9:28 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Fitzgerald touchdown gives Cardinals some hope."

9:50 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Cardinals lead on Fitzgerald touchdown."

9:52 p.m.: The New York Times: "Cardinals 23, Steelers 20/In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the momentum has shifted to Arizona."

9:57 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Fitzgerald's Leap Breathes New Life into Cardinals."

10:01 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Fitzgerald's 2 TDs Thrust Cardinals Into Remarkable Lead."

10:02 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Tampa shocker: Cardinals storm back."

10:09: The Washington Post: "Steelers Lead Cardinals, 27-23."

10:10 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Miracle season ends inches from title." It added: "The Cards lose a nailbiter in Tampa."

10:12: The New York Times: "Steelers 27, Cardinals 23."

10:14: The Tampa Tribune: "Amazing: Holmes Catch Regains Lead for Steelers."

10:15 p.m.: The New York Times: "Steelers Win Super Bowl."

10:17 p.m.: The Washington Post: "Steelers Capture Super Bowl Over Cardinals."

10:18 p.m. USA TODAY Sports home page: "Steelers Rally to defeat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII."

10:19 p.m.: USA TODAY: "Curtains for Cards: Steelers win thriller."

10:23 p.m.: Post-Gazette: "Steelers 27 Cardinals 23/Late drive wins sixth Super Bowl."

The Word on Illinois Governor

After weeks of accusations, allegations and denials, only a few words were needed by front pages in Illinois to report on the fate of Rod Blagojevich.

"Thrown Out," the Northwest Herald of Crystal Lake said after the Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to impeach the embattled governor.

"He's Gone," The State Journal Register said from Springfield. The state capital newspaper noted that Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat once held by Barack Obama, was the first Illinois governor to be tossed from office. "Ousted," proclaimed the Daily Herald of suburban Chicago.

From "Bye-Bye Blago" to "Game Over" to "Blag-Gone," Illinois newspaper headlines reflected the gritty style of the state's first Democratic governor in 25 years. The Chicago Sun-Times quoted Blagojevich, the son of a transit ticket taker: "Sorry for what?"

The Chicago Tribune looked forward with a quote from Patrick Quinn, the No. 2 who immediately was sworn in as governor: "The ordeal is over."

The headline on the Southtown Star front page in Tinley Park was just a hair too cute, but it did sum up the news: "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow."

Inaugural Pages Celebrate Hometown Heroes

Washington is now home to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. But America's new president and vice president are tied to Chicago and Wilmington, Del. Hometown newspapers the Chicago Tribune and The News Journal provided extraordinary coverage of the inauguration. The Tribune's front page reversed a quote from Obama's inaugural address into a picture of the new president taking the oath of office. "A dream that once seemed inconceivable became an irrefutable fact on Tuesday," it said, with a reference to an inside commemorative section. The Chicago Sun-Times pictured a close-up of Obama with his right hand raised and an inset quote "So Help Me God."

The News Journal chose a photo that included members of the Obama family and incorporated its nameplate and a reference to 25 pages of coverage in its front-page design. "Delaware's Biden becomes nation's 47th vice president," it added with a photo of Joe Biden and his wife, Jill.

Obama is the first president from Hawaii, and The Honolulu Advertiser used the Getty Images photo that appeared on The News Journal and paired it with a photo of the crowd gathered for the ceremony. "President Barack Obama, born and raised in our Islands, launches the next chapter of American history."

Portraits of Obama and Scranton-native Biden appeared on the cover of a special section of The Times-Tribune in Pennsylvania. Its "Souvenir Edition" front page said: "Hope and History."

Wide Shot Stars at Inaugural

CBS' Bob Schieffer said in his analysis of the inauguration that the real star of the afternoon ceremony was the sea of humanity gathered at the Capitol and along the Mall to witness the historic event. "The star of this show is the wide shot," he said. CBS included a crowds photo gallery in its inauguration coverage, and USA TODAY used an image of the crowd on its Home Page. The Chicago Tribune's The Swamp blog quoted a Washington Post estimate of a record 2 million in attendance.

An Oath Anticipated Around the World

Through campaign stops, primaries and debates, images and stories from the American presidential election appeared on front pages around the world in 2008. The international media was especially captivated by the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Clinton has worldwide recognition as a former first lady. The history-making promise of Obama's campaign also was a tug for an international audience. Or maybe it was a worldwide need for change that created the interest. Whatever the reason, the interest was intense. So it is no surprise that Inauguration Day is front and center from Austria and the United Kingdom to Brazil and Chile to India and Indonesia. "The United States of Obama," said the front page of Die Presse in Vienna, Austria. "A Monumental Moment," declared The Namibian in Windhoek, Namibia. Like some U.S. newspapers, the international press used the U.S. ritual that happens every four years and the election of America's first African-American president to expressed hope. In a front-page column from Washington, The Guardian of London proclaimed the events as a "Magic spell that will open new American era."

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2009

"A-list stars and an equally diverse crowd jammed the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate the nation and its historic president-elect yesterday," The Washington Post noted this morning. Indeed, "entertainment royalty" made headlines and images of Bruce Springsteen, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Denzel Washington and others appeared in print and broadcast coverage. But today's most poignant image might actually come from Newsday on Long Island, almost 400 miles from the Mall in Washington. A photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. filled Newsday's tabloid front page. Inset was a photo of the president-elect with a quote that began among African Americans and went viral during the campaign: "Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so Obama could run. Obama ran so we can all fly."

Along Historic Train Route

President-Elect Barack Obama and family boarded a train in Philadelphia on Saturday for a 137-mile journey into history. In a rally before departing for Washington, D.C., Obama paid tribute to his political hero -- President Abraham Lincoln. The Philadelphia Inquirer noted on its Sunday front page that the train trip "was meant to evoke Abraham Lincoln's travel by train to his inaugural in 1861."

2009's inaugural journey stopped in Wilmington, Del., to pick up another passenger -- Vice President-Elect Joe Biden. The News Journal of Wilmington noted that the train stopped to pick up Obama's "co-worker" and described the trip to the capital as "perhaps the most celebrated commute in history."

Before reaching Washington, the train also made a stop in Baltimore, where "Thousands brace the cold to see their next president." The Sun used its dominant image to focus on Obama and said, "Next stop: history."

"A Long Journey Ends," The Washington Post said atop its package of photos, stories and references to inside and Web site content. Its special coverage included a "Grab & Go" Metro section inaugural package and a commemorative Washington Post Magazine.

It might have been a vintage train car, but there isn't anything old-fashioned about new media coverage of the inaugural. The Post offered mobile inaugural alerts starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday. The News Journal led its inaugural Web site with the appropriate headline "Road to the White House Goes Through Delaware."

A Miracle on the Hudson

No deaths or serious injuries are being reported after a US Airways plane with 155 people on board went down in the Hudson River. The plane that took off from LaGuardia airport apparently hit a flock of birds that disabled two engines.

Newsday on Long Island published a staff-written story on its Web site: "Jet crashes into Hudson River; all passengers rescued." The site offered video and photos and asked readers for the names of passengers on the flight.

From the plane's destination in Charlotte, N.C., The Observer reported that a passenger called a neighbor by cell phone from a rescue ferry and that Bank of America and Wells Fargo confirmed some employees of the Charlotte-based banks were on the flight. The Observer also had a photo gallery of AP photos and stills taken from TV video. Among the photos was a shot of passengers standing on a wing waiting to be rescued.

"Ferries and other boats quickly converged to help with a rescue effort, as the plane drifted south in the water," The New York Times Web site said.

The Observer's "All survive crash of Charlotte-bound flight" and The Washington Post's "'A Miracle on the Hudson'" headlines were reminiscent of the "Miracle" headline in the first edition of USA TODAY.

Florida is No. 1

The University of Florida defeated Oklahoma 24-14 to win the BCS title game Thursday night in Miami. Hometown newspaper, the Gainesville Sun, celebrated with a "Three-rific" headline, a reference to the three national titles won by the Gators. A front-page note apologizing for the late delivery of the newspaper (blame the game's late start) accompanied a dominant photo, a main story and information on a victory event planned for Sunday. The Sun's Web site provided video highlights and photos of post-game celebrations. Disappointment appeared on the Tulsa World, as "OU Swamped. Gators hand Sooners fifth-straight BCS loss." The title game was played in Miami, where the Herald promoted the win by the in-state team with "No. 1!" Its front-page coverage was a photo and column -- "Game lived up to hype -- for unexpected reasons."

Mr. President Times Five

The Washington Post called it "Presidents' Day at the White House" as the current president, the three living former presidents and President-Elect Barack Obama met for 90 minutes over lunch. Obama requested the meeting -- the first White House gathering of all living U.S. presidents since the early 1980s. The Globe and Mail of Toronto called it "The fraternity of five." Newsday simply said, "Power Lunch." Pictures of the group -- George H.W. Bush, Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter -- made front pages far from Washington, including in South America and Europe.

What's That ..

... at the bottom of today's New York Times? An advertisement.

The newspaper joined others across the U.S. and around the world in printing ads on Page One. The first ad was bought by CBS, promoting its No. 1 status among networks. The headline in the ad: "Front Page News."

Still publishing sans advertisements (at least for now) is The Washington Post's Page One.

A Shocker in New Mexico

New Mexico's largest newspaper called the news a shocker after the state's governor withdrew from consideration as commerce secretary in the Obama administration. The Albuquerque Journal devoted three-quarters of Page One to the news that broke Sunday, along with reaction and a recap of the reason Bill Richardson withdrew -- a federal investigation into one of the governor's political donors. The New Mexican in Santa Fe said, "New grand jury will be impaneled to probe a possible 'pay-to-play' scheme." The newspaper broke out the fallout -- that the lieutenant governor's plans to take over for the governor have been put on hold. The New Mexican led its Web site today with Richardson's comment from this morning that he "was hurting" over the decision.