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Page Given ‘Hall Of Fame’ Honors To Kick Off OU Communication Week
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
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The Scripps College of Communication is observing Communication Week 2014. Events kicked off Monday afternoon with Visual Communication Day speakers and continued in the evening with the induction of 1969 alumnus and Pulitzer Prize winner Clarence E. Page, into the Ohio Communication Hall of Fame.
Page has been a Chicago Tribune columnist and a member of the newspaper’s editorial board since July 1984. His column is syndicated nationally by Tribune Media Services. He won the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and also was part of the Chicago Tribune team that won the 1972 Pulitzer Prize for public service for a vote fraud investigation. He has returned to campus many times, notably as Ohio University Foundation Board Trustee, the 2001 commencement speaker and a 2012 Schuneman Symposium speaker.
“When deciding who to induct into the Ohio Communication Hall of Fame this year, I was surprised to learn Clarence was not yet among its members,” said Scripps College of Communication Dean Scott Titsworth. “His career has been remarkable, both as a newspaper feature writer and columnist and as a frequent political commentator on a number of television shows. Clarence has also been an exemplary alumnus in giving of his time and talent to his alma mater many times over the years. It gives us great pleasure to finally welcome him into the Hall of Fame.”
The Scripps Celebration, during which this year’s staff and employee, faculty mentor and student organization awards will be presented, is set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Baker University Center Ballroom. In addition, the seven finalists for the Scripps Innovation Challenge will be announced. These teams will move on to the Pitch Day event April 21, where they will compete for $25,000 in prizes.
The roots of Communication Week in the Scripps College of Communication date back to 1968, when the School of Journalism held its first Journalism Week in early May and awarded the first Carr Van Anda Awards “for enduring contributions to journalism” to Turner Catledge, Edward W. Barrett and Walter Cronkite. In 1970, Journalism Week was changed to Communication Week to incorporate the entire college. The annual event included events, speakers and panel discussions designed to encourage student interaction with prominent leaders in the communication field and draw alumni to campus.
Over the years, the Scripps College of Communication has hosted such notable professionals as Rev. Jesse Jackson (1998), Peter Arnett (1992), Roger Ailes (1989), Ted Turner and Hugh Downs (1982). In 2006, events were no longer held during a concentrated five-day period, but spread throughout Ohio University’s 10-week spring quarter. This year marks the return of Communication Week.
Numerous activities, all free and open to the public, are planned to celebrate the individual units of the Scripps College throughout the week. For a full list of events, visit www.ohio.edu/communicationweek. Follow coverage on Twitter at #commweek14.