Already, I’m seeing folks whining about the coverage they’re about to see regarding the big anniversary a week from today.
Did folks in other times hear similar complaints?
For example, in 1951, did folks whine:
“Oh, God. Do we HAVE to see all those photos again of Pearl Harbor? It’s SO painful…”
Way back in 1846, did folks out on the frontier have to listen to the guy in the next chair at the saloon lament:
“Aw, man. I’m not sure I can look at lithographs of the Alamo. The memories are still so raw…
In 2377, will folks in ten-forward nod in sympathy when they hear:
“Geez, do we HAVE to see all those stories and photos again about the battle of Wolf 359?”
Yes. Yes, I think you do have to see those photos again.
9/11 is one of the most significant days in American history. That day changed us and it changed our country. For the most part, perhaps, in ways not for the better.
If you don’t want to read about it or hear about it, simply turn off your TV or put down your newspaper. Now you know how I feel about all the stories I see about American Idol. Or Jersey Shore. Or Dancing With the Stars. Or the Great Race. Or Mad Men.
But unlike all those examples, this is a story that actually merits the media din it’s going to attract. So buck up.
Here’s one 9/11 retrospective cover that caught my eye. It’s by Robert Newman and his folks at Reader’s Digest and intentionally mimics an iconic cover by the Village Voice.
Q: Why would Robert “rip off” the Village Voice for such an important cover?
A: It’s not a “rip off” if it’s intentional and you make it clear it’s intentional. Like Robert writes in his Facebook gallery, that’s actually the same photo.
We went back to the classic cover of The Village Voice from right after 9/11 and re-ran their photograph by Andre Souroujon. Special thanks to then-Voice art director Ted Keller for his help in putting this together.
In fact, a number of magazines have taken a similar approach…
…including the official book of the national memorial site, published by National Geographic books.
Speaking of books, here’s one you might want to be aware of: Field of Honor, a look back at Flight 93 and the 40 passengers and crew who fought back to keep their plane from being the fourth missle of terror that day.
The book is published by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the paper where I taught a couple of weeks ago. That’s staffer Elizabeth Jackson, who designed the book.
—
Most likely, you’re working on your own 9/11 special section or front page for next Sunday. Naturally, I’m hoping to publish a gallery of the most interesting.
Send me yours, please. All embargoes gladly observed. You know the address:
chuckapple [at] cox.net
