Postmaster General Dedicates Stamps, Celebrates National Press Club
Centennial
High-resolution images of the stamps are available for media use only at:
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008stamps/downloadcenter.htm
WASHINGTON, April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- They broke barriers,
influenced nations, changed American history and played their lives on an
international stage.
Five ground-breaking, distinguished reporters were honored today, their
work and legacy commemorated by the U.S. Postal Service, as Postmaster
General John Potter dedicated the "American Journalists" stamps:
-- Ruben Salazar, the first Mexican-American journalist to have a major
voice in mainstream media, whose work chronicled the evolution of Mexican-
American politics.
-- Martha Gellhorn, a ground-breaking war correspondent who covered the
Spanish Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War.
-- John Hersey, whose most famous work documented the story of
Hiroshima; the book was named the top work of journalism of the 20th
century by New York University.
-- George Polk, a CBS radio correspondent who filed hard-hitting
reports on the civil strife in Greece in the aftermath of World War II.
-- Eric Sevareid, broadcast journalist, commentator and writer, whose
work influenced a generation of reporters.
"These stamps recognize the contributions of American journalists to
the betterment of American society, who exposed and explored the people,
processes, challenges and accomplishments of a country, its people and its
role in the world," Potter said.
Working in radio, television or print, they reported, often at great
personal sacrifice, some of the most important stories of the 20th century.
They were drawn to hot spots, and their description of conflicts and issues
helped people respond more intelligently to events.
Potter was joined by esteemed journalists who spoke on behalf of the
reporters commemorated on the stamps: Eleanor Clift, contributing editor at
Newsweek and a panelist on "The McLaughlin Group"; Frank Sotomayor,
Pulitzer Prize winner and associate director of USC's Annenberg Institute
for Justice and Journalism; Daniel Zwerding, Peabody Award recipient for
NPR; Jeff Price, foreign correspondent and cousin of George Polk; and Bob
Schieffer, anchor of "Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer" and CBS News
chief Washington correspondent.
The stamps were dedicated at the National Press Club in recognition of
the club's Centennial Celebration. Donna Leinwand, National Press Club vice
president, acknowledged the sacrifices made by journalists, many of whom
lost their lives covering conflicts around the world and in cities across
America.
"The distinguished journalists honored on these stamps deserve this
place in American history for having shown great courage in the pursuit of
truth," Leinwand said.
The stamps feature a photo of each journalist and a few lines of type
that are meant to suggest newspaper print headlines of articles by or about
each reporter. Art director Howard Paine worked with designer Fred Otnes of
West Redding, CT, to create the stamp art. The abstract backgrounds were
meant to imply the "wordliness" of the subjects, without referring to
specific events.
The Postal Service previously has issued stamps honoring other
journalists, including Edward R. Murrow, Ernie Pyle, Walter Lippman, Henry
Luce, Nellie Bly, Ida May Tarbell, Ethel L. Payne, Marguerite Higgins and
publishers Adolph S. Ochs, Henry Luce and Joseph Pulitzer.
Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and
other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/welcome.htm.
An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only
delivery service that visits every address in the nation -- 146 million
homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale
of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax
dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers
nearly half the world's mail.
How to Order the First Day of Issue Postmark
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by
mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, or at The
Postal Store Web site at http://www.usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They
should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes
(to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed
to:
AMERICAN JOURNALISTS STAMPS
POSTMASTER
SPECIAL CANCELLATIONS
WASHINGTON DC 20066-9998
After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will
return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark.
All orders must be postmarked by June 21, 2008.
How to Order First Day Covers
Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp
issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official
first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number
and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may
request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:
INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014
Philatelic Products
There are three philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
-- 462063 *First Day Cover/Set of 5, $4.00
-- 462091 *Ceremony Program with 5 stamps, $6.95
-- 462093 *First Day Cover Keepsake with 5 First Day Covers, $12.40
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