Community project winner to present at APME conference

A small Wisconsin newspaper will show the impact that a special project had on its community during a workshop at the upcoming APME Nashville 2012.

The Daily Citizen, a newspaper in Beaver Dam, WI., won the first APME Community Public Service Initiative competition for its project on mental health issues. The Daily Citizen received a $1,000 grant and a stipend to present a workshop at the APME conference in September.

 The Daily Citizen has been publishing a three-part series that Megan Sheridan calls "Mental Health on Hold." Sheridan, a staff writer and photographer for the Daily Citizen, has been working with reporter Trista Pruett on the project.

With only six reporters, an editor and a layout editor, the Daily Citizen is the newspaper for Beaver Dam, a city of more than 16,000 people about 70 miles west of Milwaukee. Beaver Dam is in Dodge County, which has about 90,000 people.  

Sheridan said the reporting team has found that the waiting list for any kind of mental health care in Dodge County can take from six to nine months. A minor waiting for a psychiatrist may wait for up to 15 months. Anyone needing a medication adjustment may wait three months.

          “Three months is a long time not to feel quite right," Sheridan said. "If you want to get into the system, it's getting more and more difficult.”

Sheridan said she hopes the newspaper can use social media to open up a conversation with readers and find even more residents who are having similar issues, as well as community organizations that are bridging the gap in services.

          “It seems everyone I talk to about the project has a story to tell," she said. "We want to tell about their experiences.”             

          Sheridan and Pruett will present their workshop on the project at 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20.

          APME president Bob Heisse, executive editor of the State Journal-Register in Springfield, Ill., said: “We've taken steps in recent years to recognize innovative work in newsrooms, and this new APME program gave an opportunity to a smaller organization. Our conference attendees will find out the result and have another takeaway from Nashville.”             

Sign up at http://www.apme.com/?page=2012Conference

Wondering what to do in Nashville? Tips from APME president

There's so much to do in our APME 2012 conference city, and we encourage you to stay after the sessions for a great weekend. As an occasional visitor to Nashville and a country music fan, I'll offer a few tips. Give these a try:

Of course you know about the Country Music Hall of Fame, and you should make time to visit. But while there, don't overlook the Studio B tour, which can be added on and is too special to miss. Studio B on Music Row but only accessible through the museum. You'll take a short ride to this landmark where than 35,000 songs came to life, including 200 from Elvis Presley. There's nothing like this for a country fan, and you'll need a couple hours for it on top of your museum visit.

What's a visit to Nashville without a trip to the Grand Ole Opry, and you're in luck. Shows are scheduled Sept. 18, the night before the conference begins, and Sept. 21 and 22, just after the conference. Just get a ticket and enjoy a celebration of country music in four segments that zip along. And who knows, you might pick a night when a big star is on the program. Here's hoping.

The Grand Ole Opry started as a radio show and found a home at the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville in 1943. It stayed there for the next 31 years until it moved to its present location. But the Ryman continues to hold rich history and host performances. It's a must tour for any country fan, and don't forget the gift shop. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

When in Nashville you have to check out a Honky Tonk or two, and you can't walk past Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. Started in 1960, it's a platform for artists with stages upstairs and down and music virtually all the time. Just stop in and look around and listen for a unique experience. You might stay awhile.

How many record stores -- remember them? -- have you been in lately? Well, don't miss a classic when in Nashville. The Ernest Tubbs Record Store downtown has been serving customers for 65 years and is going strong. If you're a country music fan you might spend some quality time -- and money -- in here. If not, you have to at least visit. It's an original.

-- Bob Heisse, APME president

Your T-shirt is waiting: Today is the last day

Today is the last day to get a free APME Nashville Conference T-shirt just for registering for the Sept. 19-21 conference.

These shirts are classy and colorful and a tribute to Music City and APME.

Sign up here: http://www.apme.com/event/2012Conference

More information here: http://www.apme.com/?page=2012Conference

But make sure you do it today!

Hatch print to celebrate APME Nashville 2012

We’re headed to Nashville and we need a Hatch print celebrating APME 2012. We need a Music City special keepsake.

We understand, and a Hatch print is on its way. It will be a redesign of our fantastic conference logo now featured on T-shirts. The logo was designed at The Tennessean.

The Hatch print will be available for sale at the conference, Sept. 19-21. We’ll post a photo when it’s ready.  You’ll probably want one for your office.

Be sure to join us in Nashville. The agenda is almost fully set and you’ll see a lot of takeaways for editors.

http://www.apme.com/?page=2012Conference

n  Bob Heisse

Celebrate your Great Ideas with APME: Deadline Tuesday!

The deadline for submitting content for APME’s 2012 "Great Ideas” book is Tuesday, July 31, which is just a few days away.

Be sure your organization is represented in the annual product, which is always a favorite at the annual APME conference. This is a chance for your media organization to show off your work in the U.S. and Canada and help fellow managers by providing ideas that might work in their markets.


A great idea can be a new concept for print, broadcast or digital, or a major improvement to something we do every day.


It’s easy to submit and takes only a few minutes.

You can submit your idea at this link: http://www.apme.com/?page=GreatIdeasform


If you have questions, contact David Arkin, GateHouse Media vice president of content & audience, at darkin@gatehousemedia.com.

Seeking broadcast newsroom leaders for APME board election

APME is an association of editors at AP-member newspapers and broadcast outlets, journalism educators and students.

We have two seats for broadcasters on the APME board of directors up for election in September at our Nashville conference.

If you are or know of a broadcast leader who would like the chance to lead this group, focused on training, First Amendment issues, innovation, public service and more, contact Carol Hanner at CHanner@wsjournal.com soon.

More information about the association and the board is at www.apme.com.

Submit your Great Idea now; APME's annual book closes July 31

The deadline for submitting content for APME's 2012 "Great Ideas" book is July 31.

Be sure your organization is represented in the annual product, which is always a favorite at the annual APME conference. This is a chance for your media organization to show off your work in the U.S. and Canada and help fellow managers by providing ideas that might work in their markets.

A great idea can be a new concept for print, broadcast or digital, or a major improvement to something we do every day.
It's easy to submit and takes only a few minutes.

At this link you can submit your idea.

http://www.apme.com/?page=GreatIdeasform

If you have questions, contact David Arkin, GateHouse Media vice president of content & audience, at darkin@gatehousemedia.com.

Register in July and get a free conference T-shirt!

Two weeks remain to scoop up a free T-shirt for registering for APME's annual conference in Nashville, Sept. 19-21. Sign up before July 31 and attend the conference in style.

http://www.apme.com/event/2012Conference

Rooms are going fast for Nashville; book now to get APME rate

Our hotel in Nashville will be the Embassy Suites Vanderbilt on Music Row, and it’s filling fast for conference rate rooms.

So fast that just a handful remain at the $139 rate for Tuesday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 21.

For the big days of the conference – Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 19 and 20 –about 20 rooms remain for each night at the conference rate.

Book now to stay with the group.

And be sure to register for the conference in July to receive a free T-shirt. APME member registration rate is only $250.

Hope to see you in Music City.

 Bob Heisse, APME president

Watchdog Reporting: Los Angeles Times: A biodefender that cries wolf

From AP's weekly update of Watchdog Reporting:

The Los Angeles Times reports that BioWatch had failed — again. President George W. Bush announced the system's deployment in his 2003 State of the Union address, saying it would "protect our people and our homeland." Since then, BioWatch air samplers have been installed inconspicuously at street level and atop buildings in cities across the country — ready, in theory, to detect pathogens that cause anthraz, tularemia, smallpox, plague and other deadly diseases.

But the system has not lived up to its billing. It has repeatedly cried wolf, producing dozens of false alarms in Los Angeles, Detroit, St. Louis, Phoenix, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere, a Los Angeles Times investigation found. Worse, BioWatch cannot be counted on to detect a real attack, according to confidential government test results and computer modeling.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-biowatch-20120708,0,5093512.story

Join APME for a reduced conference rate and 12 months of benefits

Are you an APME member? Join now and it will pay for itself by giving you the member rate for our Nashville conference.

But you'll get much more – a year of savings. APME membership now extends for a year after you sign up, not a calendar year. So there's value year round at the same time that you're helping us provide great APME programs.

A membership gets you a reduced rate for our conference, our contest and our webinars, among other benefits.

We look forward to having you aboard.

http://www.apme.com/?page=Join_Renew

APME announces contest winners, AP contest winners

In the annual APME and AP contests, the winners have been announced. These represent the highest ideals in journalism among multiple categories, mediums and levels of expertise.

Find out who won the APME Journalism Excellence Awards
Find out who won the Associated Press Media Editors awards for journalism excellence by AP staffers

Modesto Bee: Classic summer job elusive for Modesto area teens

From AP's weekly report on Watchdog Journalism


The Modesto (Calif.) Bee reports that fewer than 3 in 10 U.S. teenagers have jobs from June through August, the traditional summer season when students are off from school and available for work. The employment numbers have been declining since 2000 for youths ages 16 to 19, and are at their lowest levels since World War II, according to the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, more than 44 percent of teens who want summer jobs don't get them or work fewer hours than they would prefer, according to Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies. In Stanislaus County, the unemployment rate was 15.6 percent in May. Employers are flooded with applications from people of all ages. Teens often find themselves competing for entry-level jobs with older, more experienced workers.

http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/30/2265310/tough-to-findthe-classic-summer.html#storylink=cpy

SUBMIT FOR 'GREAT IDEAS' BOOK BY JULY 31!

Your media organization has until July 31 to submit its work for APME’s 2012 "Great Ideas” book.

Download the 2011 Great Ideas PDF

What's a great idea? It can be a new concept for print, broadcast or digital, or a major improvement to something we do every day. This is a chance for your media organization to show off your work in the U.S. and Canada and help fellow managers by providing ideas that might work in their markets.

APME is again focusing on watchdog stories -- big and small -- because of the difference they can make in the community, but other ideas will be accepted as well.

It’s easy to submit and takes only a few minutes for you to do it.

Our "Great Ideas" form allows you to submit entries and upload images that accompanies the "Great Idea.”

If you have questions, contact David Arkin, GateHouse Media vice president of content & audience, at darkin@gatehousemedia.com.

Work already submitted to the monthly "Great Ideas" and "Innovator" awards will be considered for the book.

We have some groovy T-shirts for editors registering in July!

Sign up for our "Compose, Create and Connect ... in Nashville" conference Sept. 19-21 in July and get a free APME 2012 conference T-shirt in your conference bag!

This year our agenda is packed with sessions that will send you home recharged. It all starts with a panel of Pulitzer Prize winners and a performance of Freedom Sings, and it will end with a day-long focus on social media.

There will be useful takeaways from every session at the beautiful John Seigenthaler Center on the campus of Vanderbilt University. The entire agenda to date is posted on our website along with the information you need to register.

Plus, there's that awesome T-shirt!

http://www.apme.com/?page=2012Conference

APME Nashville 2012 is affordable. Registration is only $250 for APME members, and our rooms at the host Embassy Suites on Music Row are $139.

A great conference awaits. Join us in Music City.

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