Note: Headquarters will write a national release that also can be used and localized for events. A Spanish-language national release will also be available.
[City, State] In recognition of the contributions of journalists to our nation, the Postal Service™, and [insert name of partners], will join together to celebrate the issuance of the American Journalists commemorative stamps. The event will honor local journalists [change to reflect event elements and participants], and will feature [a panel discussion comprised of distinguished journalists, journalism educators, etc.].
The [event/ceremony] will be held [insert time of event] on [exact date] at the [insert exact time of event] on [insert date] at the [insert name of Post Office, community center, university, etc., where event will be held].
[Insert event agenda]
[Insert quote from Postal Service unveiling official e.g., The American Journalists stamps recognize the contributions of American journalists to the betterment of American society, exposing and exploring the people, processes, challenges and accomplishments of a country, its people and its role in the world.]
[Insert quote from organization official you are working with]
The five journalists featured on the American Journalists stamps risked their lives reporting some of the most important events of the 20th century. The five stamps honor the following journalists:
Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998) covered the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War in a long career that broke new ground for women. With her constant focus on harm to civilians, her reporting was considered a morally courageous model.
John Hersey (1914–1993) was a versatile writer whose most famous work, Hiroshima, describes what happened when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city that gave the work its title. It has been acclaimed as the greatest work of journalism of the 20th century. Hersey’s work appeared in various publications, including Time, Life and The New Yorker.
George Polk (1913–1948) was a talented young CBS radio correspondent who filed hard-hitting radio bulletins from Greece describing the strife that erupted there after World War II. He was working on reports of corruption involving U.S. aid when he disappeared. His body was found a week later. The exact circumstances of his death remain a mystery.
Ruben Salazar (1928–1970) was the first Mexican-American journalist to have a major voice in mainstream news media. His writings in the Los Angeles Times and segments at KMEX-TV on the Chicano movement of the 1960s added richly to the historical record. While in Los Angeles covering a Vietnam War protest, Salazar was killed by a tear gas projectile.
Eric Sevareid (1912–1992) was a writer for the New York Herald Tribune and later a broadcast journalist for CBS radio recruited by Edward R. Murrow. He covered World War II, reporting on the approach of the Germans to Paris, the exodus from the city and on life in London during wartime. In 1943, while en route to China, Sevareid parachuted from a disabled plane and emerged from the jungle on foot some time later. His later television commentaries in the 1960s and 1970s on the CBS Evening News were widely admired.
Fred Otnes of West Redding, CT, worked under the guidance of Howard Paine of Delaplane, VA, to illustrate the stamp pane. The American Journalists stamps will be officially dedicated at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on April 22 as part of the club’s centennial celebration.
The American Journalists stamps are being issued at the new 42-cent rate, which takes effect May 12.
To obtain high-resolution images of the American Journalists stamps, e-mail michael.p.woods@usps.gov.
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.
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Media Advisory
Local Journalists, [Distinguished Guests], Educators
Celebrate American Journalists Stamps
EVENT: The U.S. Postal Service® teams up with [fill in names of organizations or persons] for a [celebration/dedication/panel discussion] of the American Journalists stamps. [Change or add to this info if your event is different, but keep it short.]
WHO: [List dignitaries, key postal officials, and any well-known special guests participating and/or attending event]
WHAT: [Describe what makes event newsworthy — list any entertainment, refreshments, sales, etc.]
WHEN: [Insert Hour, Day, Date]
WHERE: [Insert exact event location and parking information]
BACKGROUND: With this stamp sheet, the U.S. Postal Service honors five distinguished journalists who reported — often at great personal sacrifice — some of the most important stories of the 20th century. Working in radio, television or print, the distinguished members of this group did their part to keep citizens informed about the world around them. They were drawn to hot spots, and their description of conflicts and issues helped people respond more intelligently to events. The stamps are being issued at the new 42-cent rate, which takes effect May 12.
American Journalists stamps honor the following journalists:
CONTACT: [List area Public Affairs and Communications representative or postmaster’s name and phone number]
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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.
