Update on Terence Oliver

As reported here earlier, Terence Oliver is now teaching some design and infographics classes at the University of North Carolina. ‘’However,” he writes, “the exciting part is that I will also be teaching motion graphics, where students will tell stories utilizing contemporary infographics for the web that combine words, visuals, video, motion, sound and voice-over narratives to explain newsworthy stories in a fresh, dynamic and clear manner.”

Oliver has an associate’s degree in commercial art from Michigan’s Ferris State University, a bachelor’s degree in advertising from that same school and a master’s degree in art education from Ohio University.

He worked as an artist and designer at the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Beacon Journal, working his way up to art director and assistant managing editor at the Beacon. He has also taught at Kent State University and at the Poynter Institute.

See story about his move to the University of North Carolina

Also you can read a recent article about his teaching on poynter

Teaching journalism at Dubai

Former BJ staffer Cathy Strong reports she is still enjoying teaching the Emirate female students at Zayed University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

"The students are lovely," she said.. "There are some restrictions in teaching journalism, of course, but it is exciting being part of a cultural evolution. The UAE isn't part of the violent protests, but we are certainly surrounded by all the countries that are experiencing them."

Cathy reports she is also pleased with having grandchildren. "My oldest daughter has three kids (she had three under the age of 4!) They are the most special treats for me."

"The only real problem living in the Middle East -- I don't get to see my family as often as I would like."

Cathy's email address is cathystrong@gmail.com

BJ artists provide show of lifetimes

Home page editor Mary Beth Breckenridge checks work of BJ artists

Lifetimes of art were on display Friday at the opening of the “Beyond Newsprint” exhibition of Beacon Journal artists at Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St. You should not miss the show which runs through June 5.

If you were old enough you could recall seeing in the BJ art department a trio now considered legendary: chief artist Joe Grace, Clyde “Bud” Morris and Walt Neal. Their early Beacon Journal art was without the modern techniques and materials.

But they spawned others including Chuck Ayers (Crankshaft), John Backderf (Derfcity), Dennis Balogh and Art Krummel and the latest Kathy Hagedorn and Brian Shellito.

Each has a unique way of expressing art.

Just looking at the sheer volume and variety of the work by Art Krumell is amazing when you consider the effort and talent needed for just one painting.

Chuck Ayers with his trips around the city with reporter Russ Musarra has contrbuted a lasting panorama of life in the rubber city–that plus Crankshaft.

John “Derf’ Backderf has a huge online following of his Derfcity.

Balogh has provided newspage size illustrations in additon to stunning portraits.

The youngest–Kathy and Brian–are sadly saddled with non-artist tasks such as page design and makeup which lessens their creative time. Both, however, contributed outstanding art for the show which emphasizes their talent.

You can get an idea of what you might see by checking Snapshots on Flickr. But these are only poor snapshots. There is a beautiful capture of Chrissy Hynde by Hagedorn, for instance, that is ruined by light glare on the camera lens. You should go and see the original.

REMINDER; Beyond Newsprint: BJ artists on display

Exhibition
at Summit
Artspace

140 E. Market St. Akron, Ohio

April 29-June 5 , 2011

Opening reception will be Friday, April 29 from 5 to 7 p. m.

Get a chance to see and meet past and current artists of the Akron Beacon Journal including Chuck Ayers (Crankshaft), John Backderf (Derfcity), Brian Shellito, Art Krummel, Dennis Balogh and Kathy Hagedorn.

Last typewriter factory shuts its doors

A bit of history happened recently: Indian typewriter manufacturer Godrej and Boyce in Mumbai, India, stopped production after 60 years of manufacturing. Godrej is believed to be the last company anywhere in the world that manufactured typewriters. In recent years, most of the typewriters sold were for Arabic languages. The company's general manager, Milind Dukle, says, "We are not getting many orders now."


Read more in Atlantic magazine

Dawidziak is a busy guy

I got this response to my email to former BJ and current PD TV critic Mark Dawidziak about the April 8-25 trip to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales by Paula and me, bringing my countries visited total to 45 since my 1996 retirement from the BJ:

John,

A trip through the British Isles certainly would boost the authors' homes and graves numbers. You should also have added Dickens with the stop at Poets Corner. It's a modest stone, but he didn't even want to be buried there. His wishes were overruled by national desire.

And I know how much the pilgrimage to the Greyfriars Bobby grave meant.

I've been on my own authors' tour these last few days. Thursday night, I was introducing Michael Slater, author of the magnificent Dickens biography published by Yale in 2009, at the Hermit Club in Cleveland (always wanted to get into that place, and the inside looked just as I have imagined it all these years). Friday was spent all day at the John S. Knight Center and the Akron Antiquarian Book Fair (talking Tully). Saturday, I was down in Massillon to give the keynote address for the Big Read devoted to Twain (nice turnout, and we're back at the Lincoln Theatre to do "Twain By Three" on May 15).

We finally have copies of the Tully biography, and it looks grand. The big coming-out party will be a free May 21 reception at the Cleveland Public Library. I'll send you details. Paul and I will be making like Tully, hitting the road for Tully talks and book fairs from May to November.

Glad you and Paula made it safely home. Sounds like another glorious trip.

All best,
Mark


Poets Corner is in London's Westminster Abbey. A ton of famous authors, including Chaucer, are buried there.

I've made a habit of trying to visit homes and graves of authors over the years.

"Greyfriars Bobby," the title of the Disney movie about the dog, is famous for sleeping on the grave of John Gray, his master, for 14 years after Gray died. Bobby's grave is the first one you see when you enter the cemetery. Greyfriars got special permission to bury a dog in a grave full of humans.

Tully is the subject of Dawidziak's 12th book, "Jim Tully: American Writer, Irish Rover, Hollywood Brawler," which Kent State Press published and which is co-authored by Kent bookseller Paul J. Bauer. Tully, who was fired twice by the Beacon Journal and also worked for the Akron Press, became a boxer and Charlie Chaplin's ghost writer and biographer.

Last year Dawidziak and wife Sara Showman performed "Twain by Three" at the University of Akron's Wayne College in Orrville and participated in the Big Read program in Wayne County. This sounds like a triumphant return tour.

The photo is of William Shakespeare's grave, inside Stratford's Holy Trinity Church in England. The bard was born in Stratford. Shakespeare is buried next to his wife, Anne Hathaway, who grew up in a 12-bedroom farmhouse near Stratford in Warwickshire, England.

Paula and I just got home at 1 a.m. today after 18 days on the road and going without sleep for 25 hours while taking flights from London to New York City to Atlanta to Akron-Canton. More details and photos about that later, after I decompress and get caught up on my Ohio life.

I know some of you can't wait.

Printing problems delay BJ

Saturday's edition of the Akron Beacon Journal was late because of mechanical problems with the printing presses. Production crews worked through the night to resolve those problems and get the papers printed.

My newspaper was only about an hour late and was on the porch around 7 a,m,

The newspaper apologized for the inconvenience and noted that a complete electronic edition was available on Ohio.com

Al Hunsicker’s great-grandchild makes news

When Kaylie Elizabeth Coy was born, her father, Navy Reservist Ryan Coy, got to see the whole delivery room experience thanks to the marvels of Skype. Dad, 22, got online at a base in southern Afghanistan where he is stationed as a Seabee. Mom Sarah was at TriPoint Medical Center in Lake County but they were able to be together online for Kaylie’s birth on April 3.

You will want to read all about it and see a nice photo of Kaylie who is the great-grandchild of retired Beacon Journal printer Al Hunsicker. The story and photo were on the front of the Community Section of the Beacon Journal on Wednesday

See the story and photo by Paul Tople on Ohio.com

Ryan Coy is the grandson of Hunicker and son of Al’s daughter Pam and Donald McCoy.

Al Hunsicker, our regular viewers will know, is a regular at Beacon Journal retiree lunches.

PD cartoonist Dick Dugan dies

DUGAN JAMES RICHARD "DICK" DUGAN, 85, passed away Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Hospice of the Western Reserve surrounded by his family.

For 39 years his cartoons, especially Chief Wahoo and Cleveland Brownie, were a fixture on the editorial and sports pages. If a colleague left the paper, he would draw a caricature that friends would sign as a going away present.

For the death notice go to http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=james-richard-dugan-dick&pid=150393656

Tom and Dot Moore celebrate 60th

Dot and Tom Moore celebrated their 60 anniversary Thursday.

"Son-in-law John sprung even though he's still in Minnesota," Tom wrote. "but we had lobster and crab and the kids got a Crest Bakery cake for us. The girls, Carol, Kathy and Amy are in the picture with us."

Great article on Webb Shaw's father

Rob Oller wrote a teriffic column Thursday in the Columbus Dispatch on Bob Shaw, father of BJ Alum Webb Shaw. Bob Shaw, who died last week, was an all-American end on Ohio State’s 1942 championship team.

Read the story

BJ lunch becomes Civil War roundtable

From left are Al Hunsicker, Gene McClellan, Dick Gresock, Cal Deshong and Carl Nelson.

By Tom Moore
Attend a Beacon Journal retiree luncheon and you never know what comes up in conversation.

And regardless of how many or how few, something interesting from the present and the past is bound to show up. Take the Civil War; Somebody wanted to know what the big deal was--bringing up the war again. He was told that this was the 150 anniversary and that led to a story or two about ancestors.

And Dick Gresock had a good one about a retired and now deceased Beacon Journal printer, Joseph Parrot. Seems his two great-grandfathers were among the first recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The two were members of the special unit that went behind the rebel lines, seized a train and started burning bridges to cripple the Confederate supply line. (there was a movie based on their exploit starring Fess Parker). They were captured and sent to Andersonville prison.

A couple of the unit were executed and when President Lincoln heard about it, he informed the Southerners that if they killed any more, he'd execute 10 Confederate generals. When they were finally freed, Lincoln had them come to the White House where he presented them with the newly authorized Medal of Honor.

After the war, one of the men had a daughter, another a son. They got together and that was the grandparents of Joseph. When the anniversary of the Medal came around, President Kennedy had Joseph come to the White House with the two medals.Joseph, a printer, retired in 1978 at 72. He lived in West Salem.

This story led Cal Deshong to say that his great grandfather was buried in an Anderson Cemetery.

Next luncheon is Wednesday, May 11 at about 1p.m. at Papa Joe's in the Valley. Not only are retirees welcome, but their kin and those still working at the paper.

BJ to lease space in building

The Beacon Journal plans to consolidate all its departments on the third floor and lease all space on the other floors: first and second floors and mezzanine

See the story in today's newspaper.

Note from Carrie (Moore) Krack:

Hi Everyone!!!

Thanks so much for the cards (that are still coming) all the prayers and that you sent my family, John and especially me!!! I know that is the reason I'm here. That and I think God has something for me to do.

I really enjoyed all the good wishes you sent my way. One of the first things I can remember is John reading them to me until I could read them myself. What an uplifter!!!

I am now out of inpatient rehab and in out patient rehab Three times a week and getting stronger. I don't know how much longer I will be here. It depends on when I am released from rehab and the doctor. We are hoping around the end of April or middle of May or until my parents kick me out!

Again, many, many Thanks.

God Watch.

Lots of love and hugs,

Carrie ( Carol)

Andy Rooney at 92 is definitely not a retiree

[Albany Times Union photo by Cindy Schulz]

If you've noticed that you're not seeing Andy Rooney as often on "60 Minutes" or that his syndicated column is no longer published every Saturday in the Times Union, there's a good reason: He's 92 years old and even a curmudgeon starts to slow down at that age.

But don't expect the famously opinionated wordsmith and one of the oldest working journalists to be put out to pasture without a fight.

Read more of the story by Paul Grodahl of the Albany (NY) Times-Union, Andy's hometown newspaper.

The Rev.Fr. Kevin Elbert, parochial vicar of St. Mary parish in Hudson,who was just ordained last June, will speak at the Akron Serra Club noon luncheon on Tuesday at the Martin Center on the University of Akron campus.

Newsroom employment up slightly

The percentage of minorities in newsrooms totaled 12.79 percent, a decline of .47 percentage points from a year ago, according to the American Society of News Editors, which has conducted a census of professional full-time journalists since 1978.

This is the third consecutive year that the percentage of African-American, Asian, Latino, and Native American journalists has declined in U.S. newsrooms.

The number of professional journalists rose from an estimated 41,500 in 2009 to 41,600 in 2010, according to ASNE’s most recently completed census of online and traditional newspapers. American daily newspapers lost 13,500 newsroom jobs from 2007 to 2010.

In the most recent ASNE census, minority journalists declined from 5,500 to 5,300.

“At a time when the U.S. Census shows that minorities are 46 percent of the U.S. population, newsrooms are going in the opposite direction. This is an accuracy and credibility issue for our newsrooms,” said Milton Coleman, ASNE president.

“The slight decline in minority newsroom representation may be small, but is part of a disturbing trend that we need to reverse,” said Ronnie Agnew, co-chair of ASNE’s Diversity Committee.

Click on the headline to see the ASNE report

Ron Taiclet, familiar to BJ folks, dies

Ron Taiclet, a jokes-loving guy who crossed paths often with Beacon Journal employees as a Kent State Journalism graduate whose career included Tallmadge Circle founder (acquired in 1975 by Tallmadge Express); RonTac Publications, typesetting company; KSU journalism instructor; and Chapel Hill Marketing director. As the voice of "Archie," Chapel Hill's huge snowman entertaining children, he would tease friends who passed by.

His obituary in the BJ:


TALLMADGE -- Tuesday, April 5, 2011, St. Peter was introduced to a hoard of old jokes. Ron N. Taiclet was born on June 30, 1936 to Richard Nelson and Marjorie Belle. He grew up in Brookfield, Ohio and had lived in Tallmadge the past 47 years. A graduate of Kent State University in journalism and a seven year member of Army ROTC, he also served in the U.S. Army. Ron founded and operated the Tallmadge Circle Newspaper, which was acquired by the Tallmadge Express in 1975. He operated RonTac Publications, the largest type setting company in the Akron area for 13 years. He served as the first executive director of the Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce for one year, along with teaching journalism at KSU. After selling RonTac in 1987 he worked as marketing director for Chapel Hill Mall for 13 years, where he retired in 2001. Ron was three term president of North Akron Chamber of Commerce, was currently serving on the board of National Super Kids and on the board of directors at Tallmadge Lutheran Church, where he recently celebrated 50 years of membership.

Ron is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Dorothy (Wilch); sons, Jeff (Tina) and Eric; grandchildren, Elaina, Paul, and Jackson; brother, Rick (Robyn); sisters, Jean (Glenn) Baird and June.

Ron gave the gift of sight through eye donation.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Tallmadge Lutheran Church, with Rev. David Zachrich officiating. Interment will be at Tallmadge Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 until 8 p.m. Friday at the DONOVAN BAGNOLI FUNERAL HOME, 339 SOUTHWEST AVE., TALLMADGE. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tallmadge Lutheran Church, 759 East Ave., Tallmadge 44278 or the National Super Kids, P.O. Box 7372, Akron 44306


For more details about Ron Taiclet, click on the headline to read the Tallmadge Express story for Ron and Dorothy Wilch Taiclet's 50th wedding anniversary Feb. 25, 2011.

Contact Terence Oliver at UNC-Chapel Hill

After teaching at Ohio University for nine years, former BJ stafter Terence Oliver started teaching last year at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

His email address is terence.oliver@unc.edu.

Ott Gangl has new email address

Hi,

I changed my email address to my domain carrier because I may abandon
Roadrunner in the future, but both my existing email address and my new one
will be active for now, thanks.

New email address is:


shooter1@corrr1.com



....Ott

Caroline Moore has first outing with family

From left are Jane Williams, Kathy Moore, Amy Moore, Caroline Moore Krack, Amanda, Dot Moore and Mike Williams

Sunday was a special day for the family of BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore. Daughter Caroline Moore Krack, who has gone through coma and rehab since being hospitalized in January with meningitis, had her first outing – breakfast at Eat’n Park restaurant.

Joining Carrie, as husband John Krack calls her, were Tom and wife Dot, their children Kathy and Amy, their granddaughter Amanda and Mike Williams, still at the BJ, and Mike’s wife, Jane.

Carrie, Kathy and Amy were weekend copykids at the BJ.

In addition to his other BJ duties, Mike has been trying for a year to round up copies of every Tower Topics and Sidebar employee newsletters printed over the years.

Carrie/Caroline, who lives in Minnesota, moved into Tom and Dot’s house from Edwin Shaw Hospital rehab March 26.

Click on the headline for previous stories on Caroline/Carrie’s illness and recovery.

Proctor to retire as Times-Dispatch editor

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) ` The Richmond Times-Dispatch's executive editor plans to retire.

The newspaper announced Friday that Glenn Proctor will retire June 1. He started as the newspaper's executive editor and vice president for news in November 2005. Before joining the Times-Dispatch, Proctor worked at several editing positions at The (Newark) Star-Ledger.

The 64-year-old Proctor also was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team at the Akron Beacon Journal for its coverage of the takeover of tire maker Goodyear. He also has worked for United Press International, the Louisville Courier-Journal and other newspapers.

Under Proctor, the Times-Dispatch won the 2008 National Headliner Award for Breaking News for its coverage of the Virginia Tech massacre as well as Virginia's top journalism award for public service and freedom of information.

Hold the iPhone: Typewriters making comeback

Still have that manual typewriter in the closet? It might be worth more than you think.

The New York Times reports that the machines are all the rage among members of the digital generation who have discovered their tangible pleasures and are swapping them, showing them off to friends, and gathering at events called “type-ins.”

Click on the headline for the article.