4 I Tuesday, April 13, 2010 Editor offers optimism By Katrina Wehr COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Journalism still matters, but the way it’s delivered is changing dramatically. That was USA Today executive editor John Hillkirk’s message in his presentation Monday night in the Kern Building. Hillkirk has been with USA Today since its launch in 1982. His career at the national paper began as a reporter, and from there he became the managing editor of the "Money” section, and eventually the executive editor, a position he has held since May 2004. As editor, Hillkirk has wit nessed the recent shift away from print and towards digital news firsthand. While USA Today’s print circulation is one of the highest at 1.9 million readers, the Web site sees around 2 million unique visitors per day, he said. The newspaper's iPhone appli cation, however, has 2.5 million downloads, and the version for Apple’s new iPad was down loaded on 25 percent of devices I-' g ' Amanda August. Collegian Members of the Greek community freeze in place in the HUB-Robeson Center on Monday afternoon for the event Greek Freeze, which raises awareness about cardiovascular disease. Raul Mendez (junior-crime, law and justice) said that they wanted to raise awareness about this disease because it kills more peo ple than cancer each year and it is not often discussed. Senate to vote on ticket law to prevent scalping By Megan Rogers COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The Pennsylvania Senate may vote today on legislation that would prohibit software allowing a single purchaser to buy tickets in bulk and then re-sell the tickets at a marked-up price. Unless the legislation passes, Penn State students may find themselves paying more than they anticipated for tickets to concerts and other events, said Tor Michaels, chief of staff for Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed the legislation last year, but the Senate has not acted until now. Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, said he will lend his support to the proposal when it comes up for vote. It’s one thing to buy a ticket and then resell'it on a one-time basis, but it’s another thing entire ly to make a business out of reselling tickets, he said. “We want to make sure that people who want tickets can buy tickets, not scalpers who want to make a profit,” he said. But those in the industry say that’s not a problem at Penn State. Associate Athletic Director for Institute to bring Chinese culture to Penn State By Colleen Boyle COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER As the United States watches China grow into one of the world’s superpowers, students at Penn State will soon be able to connect with the culture of the most popu lated nation in the world. The Confucius Institute at Penn State, opening in the fall of 2010, will offer students the chance to enhance their knowledge of not only the Chinese language, but also the nation’s history and cul ture. purchased so far which only proves that news reporting is changing, Hillkirk said. “We don’t worry about how you’re getting news,” he said. “Just that we’re there when you need it.” USA Today is also pushing its “E-edition” a subscription to the paper in digi tal form, but with video, he said. Hillkirk also discussed the importance of social networking sites like Twitter, and utilizing blogs. Hillkirk These outlets allow news to travel quickly, a key factor to suc cessful reporting. “If it weren’t for the business challenge, now would be a great time to be a journalist,” Hillkirk said. Nicole Morgan, a student lis tening to Hillkirk’s presentation, said the statistics about the new media were surprising. “Social media is all survival of “We want to make sure that people who want tickets can buy tickets...” Sen. Jake Corman Marketing and Communications Greg Myfbrd said scalping for ath letic events is rare in State College. Most tickets are pur chased by season ticket holders and not on a game-by-game basis, leaving little room for scalpers. “We don’t have that occurring at all here for Penn State athletic events,” he said. And because the Bryce Jordan Center uses a paperless ticket system, ticket director Kevin Kozak said he does not have to worry about scalpers. While he does occasionally hear of scalpers at BJC events, the center does not see the volume the legislation is targeting. Major one-time events like the Olympics and the World Series are more prone to scalpers, he said, and the bill would be more effec tive in preventing marked-up tick et prices for those events. The China-based Office of Chinese Languages Council International, also known as the Hanban, awarded a $1 million grant to help support the institute at Penn State. Similar institutes have already opened at the University of Michigan, University of Minnesota and Columbia University. Faculty members Denis Simon and Eric Hayot will direct the institute, as both have experience in the study of Chinese culture. “We’re thrilled,” said Hayot. “It’s going to help us grow. It’s LOc A L the fittest," Morgan (sophomore- i public relations) said. “But it's amazing to hear how much suc cess they're having with it." As far as the job outlook for aspiring journalists, Hillkirk said the best bet is to start out small at local papers, no matter how unap pealing school board and borough meetings may seem. He also said there appears to be a need for Web designers and ; other information technologists. These are positions that he has ; a hard time filling, he said. “It's important to know how to ! use all the tools," Hillkirk said. "Reporters have to bring more to the story than just the text." This outlook on the changing industry was good news to Amanda Sokolski. She said hearing about the paper's success with the iPad and other new media was comforting. "It made me a little less pes simistic," Sokolski (sophomore communications) said. "It's good to know there are options." To e-mail reporter: kmws34o@psu.edu R-Centre A paperless ticket system was introduced for last fall’s football season to discourage ticket scalping. Picturei above is the student ID swipe station at Gate A at Beaver Stadium. When introduced last year, the her concert tickets, Michaels said, a vender bought all of the tickets legislation was jokingly called the “Could you just imagine if you and you now have to go to the mid-? “Hannah Montana” bill because waited all night at the Bryce die man?” Michaels said, many parents were outraged they Jordan Center for tickets only to had to pay marked-up prices for get to the front window to find out To e-mail reporter: mers2oo@psu.edu going to give students and the community opportunities they did n’t have before.” The Confucius Institute will also provide 10 student scholarships for those wishing to study the lan guage in China. Many students said they agree working with the people of China is an important step for the United States and one in which Penn State should be involved. “China’s right behind the United States,” Maria Robles (freshman-sociology and interna tional politics) said. “The more we West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, at podium, asks for a moment of silence at a memorial service Monday to honor the 29 miners killed. Mine blast probe awaits recovery By Lawrence Messina and Tim Huber ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITERS : CHARLESTON, W.Va. Federal investigators arrived Monday at the West Virginia mine where 29 men died in an explosion last week to begin piec ing together what caused the worst U.S. coal mining disaster since 1970. Thirty 7 miles to the north, hun | dreds of mourners including the governor observed a moment of silence at the state Capitol, dur ing a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of a statue honoring the state's miners. Karen Barker was among scores of state workers who ; attended. “Mv dad was a miner and my grandfather was a miner. I have i no idea how these people feel ; about losing their family member, but I can imagine," said Barker, ! 46. of Charleston. The team of inspectors at the Upper Big Branch mine weren't heading underground until searchers removed all the bodies i from the mine. The team from the Mine Safety and Health Administration brieled Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and MSHA director Joe Main at the mine. The last bodies were expected I to be taken out Monday, state | mine office spokeswoman Jama Jarrett said. Recovery efforts had been stalled in previous days by volatile gases, but teams entered after the tunnels were ventilated. She said the crews late j Monday were near where the bodies are located. The state panel that writes ! mining safety rules and typically I reviews inspectors' reports after | the investigations are complete ! said it would like to join the know China, the more we can bet ter the U.S.” Penn State’s Confucius Institute aims to advance the study of China’s language, its cul ture and the importance of cre ativity. Working with a Chinese partner school, it’ll also focus on outreach to the larger community and local schools. “We will use Penn State as a hub to deepen and expand the avail ability of courses dealing with Chinese language and culture,” Simon said. The institute is not the first ini The Daily Collegian investigators underground this time. Richmond. Va.-based Massey has been under scrutiny for a string of safety \iolations at the mine, though CEO Don Blankenship has defended the company's record and disputed accusations that he puts profits ahead of safety Authorities have said high methane levels may have played a role in the disaster. Massey has been repeatedly cited and fined for problems with the system that vents methane and for allowing combustible dust to build up. Hours after the blast, the com pany flew Gov. Joe Manchin back from a Florida vacation on one of its planes. Manchin said. The governor's top lawyer told him the use of the company's plane was acceptable because it was an emergency and a flight on a state plane couldn't immediate ly be arranged. New York state's comptroller and a pension lund adviser called for Blankenship's resignation immediately as chairman of Massev's board. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, trustee of a retirement fund hold ing more than 300.000 shares of Massey stock worth Sl4 million, said the company failed to ade quately manage risks at the West Virginia mine where 29 died after an explosion. A similar challenge came in a letter to Massey from William Patterson, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based CtW Investment Group, which works with union pension funds. Mourning continued exactly a week after the explosion, with the ceremony at the state Capitol and a moment of silence at 3:30 p.m. President Barack Obama ordered all U.S. flags in the state flown at half-staff until sunset Sunday tiative on Penn State’s campus to expand the understanding of Chinese culture. The Penn State Forum on Contemporary China began in fall 2009, aided by Simon. The forum brings outside speakers and Penn State faculty to address the issues China is facing. “The institute is but another positive step in the strengthening of intellectual resources here on campus for the study of Chinese affairs,” he said. To e-mail reporter: cabs3s6@psu.edu
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers