WHAT'S NEXT: INNOVATIONS IN NEWSPAPERS

The departure of Big Luciano has been celebrated on Flickr by his friends posting amazing pictures and illustrations like these ones in a few hours:

(Pavarotti in 1968)

Only a few newspapers were able to cover the expected death of the Italian opera tenor (1935-2007).

I am leaving today going to Brazil, but I had an interesting visit and discussion this morning at home with two excellent Spanish newspaper designers, Luis Vilches (The Virginian-Pilot) and Eduardo Cruz (La Gaceta de los Negocios)

The question was:

What can newspapers do tomorrow about Pavarotti?

Not too much.

Perhaps a locally-connected story, a tribute from a local friend or just a nostalgic story of his last show in their city…

Well, if you go to YouTube or to any of the leading Italian news Web sites you will be amazed by the number of emotional reactions and comments from around the world.

This is another example of how online video and sound is needed for the right obituary.

Please watch and litsen to Big Luciano here with Liza Minelli singing New Yok, New York in 1996 and here singing a dramatic Nesum Dorma at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympic Games.

Il Corriere della Sera offers a great selection of videos and songs.

Now it is time for the Angels to be delighted by his voice.

(By Jan Op De Beeck)