APME changes name to reflect evolving industry

The Associated Press Managing Editors association is now the Associated Press Media Editors.

 

The organization founded by newspaper managing editors in 1933 has long embraced the changes that the digital age has brought to the news industry, and now its name reflects that evolution.

 

The association's board voted today to change the name, and APME president Hollis R. Towns, announced the new name as he opened the 2011 APME annual conference in Denver.

 

"It's an acknowledgement by the board that the organization needs to change with the times," said Towns, executive editor and vice president of New Jersey Press Media. "A simple name change also is reflective of the larger tent that we intend to pitch to bring in a broader, more diverse group of members.

 

Towns said he is "extremely proud of this accomplishment," which he said sets the group on a solid path for the future.

 

"We're moving forward in the right way to bring in broadcasters, educators and student editors into APME," said incoming APME president Bob Heisse, executive editor of the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa. "This is the first of several significant announcements coming during this conference, all with the goal of working with editors and delivering for newsrooms.

 

News from the conference will be posted at www.apme.com and on Twitter using the hash tag #2011APME.

 

The APME board voted in June to extend membership to broadcasters and journalism educators, as well as journalism students. A broadcast representative will be elected to the APME board during the conference.

 

APME is an association of editors at news organizations in the United States and Canada.

 

It works closely with The Associated Press to foster journalism excellence and to support a national network for the training and development of editors who will run multimedia newsrooms in the 21st Century. The association has held a multi-day conference every year since 1933 in various cities around the U.S. and Canada.

 

APME's elected officers serve as national leaders in speaking out on journalism issues. APME also provides feedback to the worldwide cooperative directly and through the Sounding Board.

 

Any person who is the editor, executive editor or managing editor, or holds any other title that provides for senior responsibilities for the news, online or editorial staffs of a member news organization, is eligible for membership. APME is on the front line in setting ethical and journalistic standards for newspapers and in the battle for freedom of information and the First Amendment.