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Alumnus Clarence Page to be presented Carr Van Anda Award for excellence in journalism Sept. 16

Clarence Page

Ohio University 1969 alumnus, journalist, author and Pulitzer Prize winner Clarence Page will be presented the Carr Van Anda Award for excellence in journalism by the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, in Schoonover Center 145.

Page, a syndicated columnist and Washington-based member of Chicago Tribune’s editorial board, has received similar lifetime achievement awards from Chicago Headline Club, National Society of Newspaper Columnists, National Press Foundation and National Association of Black Journalists.

Page has worked for the Chicago Tribune since graduating from OHIO — an “amazing journey,” according to Dr. Robert Stewart, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

“He’s made one of those enduring contributions to society through his commentary,” Dr. Stewart said. “We don’t normally give this award to alums. I think he’s only the second alumnus to ever receive this award. The reason he’s receiving it is because of his significant contributions to society through his syndicated columns that are read coast-to-coast.” 

In addition to receiving the Carr Van Anda Award, Page will be sharing some words of wisdom during the first OHIO Talks series presented by the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in collaboration with OHIO’s Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR). 

OHIO Talks is a new series similar to the “90 Minutes Series” that addressed subjects such as racism, sexism, politics and other global topics. 

Page’s talk will be free and open to the public, and it will take place after he accepts the Carr Van Anda award. 

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Carr Van Anda
Awards
Published
September 11, 2019
Author
Staff reports

About Carr Van Anda: The Carr Van Anda Award was created in 1968 for Van Anda, a 21-year active managing editor of the New York Times. 

In 1880 at age 16, Van Anda entered Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he studied for two years. During college, he worked as a correspondent for newspapers in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Van Anda left OHIO and returned home, where he became a foreman on the weekly Auglaize Republican, providing him invaluable experience in the mechanical aspects of newspaper work.  

In 1883 he landed a job as a typesetter on The Cleveland Herald, which eventually merged with The Plain Dealer. His reporting skills were recognized and he was promoted to telegraph editor.

In 1886 he went to work for the Cleveland Evening Argus which soon folded. At the young age of 22 he moved to Baltimore and landed the important position of night editor on the Baltimore Sun, but Van Anda was lured by the dream of working in New York.

On March 12, 1888, he was hired as a reporter/copy editor on the New York Sun. Van Anda became the night editor on January 1, 1893. Van Anda's legendary 21-year career as the active managing editor of the New York Times began February 14, 1904.