By: Dave Astor Given that National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) members chronicle and examine their communities, perhaps it's appropriate for them to meet in San Francisco this week. After all, San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner staffers will be among the speakers at the May 31- June 3 event.
Both dailies have new owners, and a topic that may come up at the conference is the importance of columnists as many papers change hands and become part of chains usually headquartered out of town. "Columnists are one way a newspaper can maintain a sense of community," said NSNC President Peter Rowe.
Ben Bagdikian, who has written extensively about media monopolies, will be one of the speakers in San Francisco.
Other subjects that will be addressed by speakers or might come up informally include online rights, video columns, the trend toward shorter columns, and the move by some papers to use free- lance instead of full-time columnists.
The NSNC, like other growing groups, may also address internal topics such as sponsorships (for instance, the San Francisco Chronicle is funding the NSNC's Herb Caen Memorial Notes- Items Award) and what the mix should be between fun and education.
"We need a social component, but have to be primarily concerned with supporting members in their jobs," said Rowe, who praised his presidential predecessor, Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, for being one of those working to make the NSNC a more professional organization.
Rowe, 45, is an award-winning San Diego Union-Tribune columnist serving a 2000-02 term at the helm of NSNC (http://www.columnists.com).
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POSTHUMOUS 'PEANUTS' PRIZE
Congressional Gold Medal For Schulz
"Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz will posthumously receive the Congressional Gold Medal at a June 7 ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Schulz's family will accept the medal -- first given to George Washington -- in front of attendees expected to include President Bush, cartoonists, and others.
When the prize was proposed last year, it was blocked by a U.S. Senator. But Marie Woolf, a cartoonist working for Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, succeeded in getting Hatch to intervene with his colleague.
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CARTOON AUCTION EXTENDED
Early Mickey Mouse Art Not Sold Yet
Less than $100,000 was raised at a May 19 auction in New York to benefit the struggling International Museum of Cartoon Art in Boca Raton, Fla. But bidding may resume on June 2 or 3.
Bidding on a set of 73-year-old Mickey Mouse drawings hadn't reached $1 million May 19 when halted after the credibility of an online bidder couldn't be verified. Other cartoon items were also sold that day (no official price total yet) and still other items will be offered when the auction resumes.
The museum was the subject of National Cartoonists Society debate last year when a minority of the NCS board questioned whether the museum had the long-term financial viability to merit an NCS donation.
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THIS SPUD'S FOR JIM DAVIS
From 'Garfield' To 'Potato' Strip
"Garfield" creator Jim Davis and Brett Koth will co-bake a "Mr. Potato Head" comic for Universal Press Syndicate starting July 16.
It stars the Hasbro toy character, Mrs. Potato Head, and kids Julienne and Chip.
Davis does the Universal-distributed "Garfield" for 2,600 newspapers.
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ET CETERA ...
Guy Gilchrist's daily "MudPie" and Sunday "Night Lights & Pillow Fights" cartoons are moving from self-syndication to Copley News Service. ...
ScreamingMedia has named Kevin Clark chairman, with Jay Chiat moving to chairman emeritus. Clark will temporarily continue as CEO, and then remain chairman after a new CEO is chosen. SM is also offering airline passengers with inflight news and travel information via the "Connexion by Boeing" service.
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