NewsTrain climbing into the mountains!

APME’s nationally renowned NewsTrain will be coming to Colorado Springs in September to feature workshops on data reporting, video, social media and other topics.

The two-day workshop will be Sept. 27-28 at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, which is only a few miles away from the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. Speakers will include Brant Houston, Val Hoepnner and Michael Roberts.

The cost is only $75 per person and includes food service. Scholarships are available.

This NewsTrain is being hosted by the Colorado Press Association and The Gazette in Colorado Springs. Several other news organizations and universities are helping to coordinate the event.

For more information and to register, go to http://www.apme.com/?page=ColoradoSprings

Nominations open for APME’s quarterly ‘Great Idea’ contest

Earn national recognition by nominating your Great Idea for the Associated Press Media Editors’ quarterly contest.

Whether it’s an idea that’s succeeding at your media company or a recently unveiled innovation, you should enter it as a quarterly nominee for the national contest. It also will be automatically submitted for the 2013 “Great Ideas” book.

Submit your nominations from 2013, preferably April through June, now to be considered for the contest. It’s easy to do, and you might even receive national recognition from APME for your achievement.

Your deadline is July 15. There is no cost to enter the quarterly contest.

Let APME know about what your news organization, small or large, is doing. You can submit your “Great Idea of the Quarter” nomination at http://www.apme.com/?page=GreatIdeasform.

THE NEXT INDUSTRY SENSATION? APME’s 2013 ‘Great Ideas’ book seeks your best work

    Let the world see your new organization’s best stuff by submitting it for the Associated Press Media Editor’s 2013 “Great Ideas” book.

   What's a Great Idea? It can be a new concept for print or online, 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 journalists by providing ideas that might work in their markets.

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

    The "Great Ideas” website at http://www.apme.com/?page=GreatIdeasform allows you to submit entries and upload images that accompanies your idea.

     Last year, more than 100 ideas were featured in the book and presented throughout the APME conference in Nashville.

     “Let’s top that this year,” said David Arkin, co-chairman of the APME Awards/Innovator Committee. “But we need your help.”

    While all of the ideas submitted are published in the book, several are highlighted at the annual conference, which will be this year in Indianapolis.

      Joe Hight, co-chair of the committee, said it takes only a few minutes to input the ideas into the form. Hight, editor of The Gazette in Colorado Springs, added it’s important that news organizations help each other with ideas which could generate more readers and audience.

     “News organizations are becoming increasingly innovative during these times. It’s great to see such resiliency,” he said. “You never know when your idea will become an industry sensation.”

      Anyone wanting to submit an idea can do so by Aug. 15. There is no cost to submit ideas.                              

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

APME is accepting nominations for 12th Annual Robert G. McGruder Awards for Diversity Leadership

APME is accepting nominations for 12th Annual Robert G. McGruder Awards for Diversity Leadership

Two awards are given annually: one for newspapers with a circulation up to 75,000; one for newspapers with more than 75,000 circulation.

The awards go to individuals, news organizations or related journalistic organizations or teams of journalists who embody the spirit of McGruder, a former executive editor of the Detroit Free Press, former managing editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, graduate of Kent State University and relentless diversity champion. McGruder died of cancer in April 2002.

This year, the awards are being sponsored by the Free Press, The Plain Dealer, Kent State University and the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute.

Jurors will be looking for nominees who have made a significant contribution during a given year or over a number of years toward furthering diversity in news content and in recruiting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce. Announcement of the winners will be made at the annual APME conference Oct. 28-30 in Indianapolis. The recognized honorees each receive $2,500 and a leadership trophy.

Who is eligible? Individuals, newsrooms or teams of journalists from U.S. news organizations or related journalism organizations are eligible.The awards recognize achievement for the past 12 months or contributions over a number of years.

What are the criteria? The Diversity Leadership Awards honor an individual, a news organization or related journalism organization or a team of journalists for significant leadership in diversity through:

• Recruitment: by providing opportunities for diverse journalists to learn about news careers and to enter the news industry in internships and full-time jobs.

• Development: by offering opportunities for diverse journalists to grow in their current roles and to receive mentoring and training to advance to positions of greater authority, responsibility or expertise.

• Retention: by ensuring that journalists want to remain in the news industry by providing an inclusive work environment that offers opportunities to contribute and advance.

• Content: by reflecting a diverse community accurately and in a way that demonstrates community and industry leadership. The definition of diversity in content includes ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious background, political bent and physical ability.

 

• Leadership: by inspiring a commitment to diversity and providing tools, knowledge and information that further the efforts in recruitment, development, retention and content.

Nominations can be made by individuals, newspapers, professional organizations, schools of journalism and others.

Rules for entries: Send a nomination outlining specific information about the achievements and how the nominee benefited the community, the industry and diverse journalists. The recommendation should include the name of the person making the nomination and contact information. You may supplement an entry with electronic clips.

 

Deadline: Material must be received by close of business Monday, Aug. 5, 2013.

 

Send material to:

Sally Jacobsen, email: SJacobsen@ap.org

The Associated Press

450 West 33rd Street

New York, N.Y. 10001

NewsTrain Ambassador campaign seeks alumni and supporters

Ten years ago, APME introduced NewsTrain to provide top-level, on-site training at a low cost for journalists. So much has changed in our business over the last decade, but NewsTrain has maintained its mission and has become even stronger. Directed by industry-leading trainer Michael Roberts, who previously served as deputy managing editor for staff development at The Arizona Republic, the pro- gram attracts top trainers and each year reaches hundreds of print, online and broadcast journalists, as well as college students and educators.

Last year, the three NewsTrain sites - Phoenix, Miami and Toronto – exceeded 100 participants each. This year, workshops are planned for Springfield, Ill.; New York City; Colorado Springs; and Seattle. NewsTrain remains affordable at only $75 for up to two days of training, but it's driven by donations from the Associated Press, other media companies, foundations and individuals.

For NewsTrain's 10th year, the Associated Press Media Editors is reaching out to journalists in the United States and Canada who have attended a NewsTrain workshop, or who have sent staffers who have benefited.

This is the year to give back to NewsTrain, and we hope that you'll help in the 2013 NewsTrain Ambassador Campaign.

Make a donation of $100 or more and become a NewsTrain Ambassador. You'll be recognized online and in the APME News magazine, as well as the national conference Oct. 28-30 in Indianapolis. If you can't give that level, consider a gift of $10 or more in this 10th anniversary year. All donations are appreciated. APME is a nonprofit, so gifts are tax-deductible.

Please make your check out to the Associated Press Media Editors and mark it for NewsTrain. Send it to APME/NewsTrain, c/o Sally Jacobsen, Associated Press, 450 W. 33rd St. New York, NY 10001.

You can also donate online at http://www.apme.com/donations/fund.asp?id=7259.

We need NewsTrain to continue making stops in the U.S. and Canada for years to come. Please help us do that.