Des Moines, New Haven win first APME honors of the year!

    The Des Moines (Iowa) Register and New Haven (Conn.) Register are the winners of The Associated Press Media Editors' first monthly Innovator and Great Ideas contest in 2012.

     Des Moines won for its digital coverage of the Iowa Caucas. The Register's multiplatform effort included launching a website, mobile app and mobile site and using social media strategy to deliver breaking news, videos, photos and data from Republican presidential candidates’ campaign stops across Iowa.

    One judge wrote that "Des Moines' online coverage was simply amazing: comprehensive, reader-friendly and innovative."

    As for the "Great Idea of the Month," New Haven is the first 2012 winner. The Register won for its "Digital Ninja School," a comprehensive, structured approach to digital skills training, using a martial arts-style belt system to get the entire newsroom immersed in five areas — digital publishing, social media, blogging, video and data journalism.  

    A judge wrote about the training approach: "This is a great idea, seemingly well-executed, and sure to engender excitement at all levels of the newsroom. It's one thing to say our journalists and co-workers have to learn digital tools: It's another entirely to enable, motivate and reward learning that's taken to heart and applied. Love the name, love the concept, plan to steal it all."

   Kathy Best, managing editor of the Seattle Times, Laura Sellers-Earl, digital development director of the East Oregonian Publishing Co., and Gary Graham, editor of The Spokesman-Review, served as judges for the monthly honors. Joe Hight, director of information and development for The Oklahoman/NewsOK.com, and David Arkin, vice president of content & audience for GateHouse Media Inc., are the co-chairs of the Innovator/Great Ideas Committee.

    You can read a special Q&A with the two winners by going to:

      -- Des Moines Register: http://www.apme.com/news/85560/Januarys-Innovator-of-the-Month-Des-Moines-Re

gisters-digital-coverage-of-Iowa-caucus.htm

   -- New Haven Register: http://www.apme.com/news/85563/Januarys-Great-Idea-of-the-Month-New-Haven-Re

gisters-Digital-Ninja-School.htm