Pulitzer changes

Changes for the good are coming to the Pulitzers. Here's the detail, so you're ready for contest season. 

 

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/154546/pulitzers-shift-to-all-digital-entry-format/

Black Friday bargain on membershp

We have a Black Friday special on APME membership. That's what it looks like, as our first holiday online auction is coming down the home stretch.

 

A few items already have sold, and most other items are carrying bids. One annual membership is included in the latter category, and it sports a bid of $90 right now.

 

That's a Black Friday deal if we've seen one. The going rate for membership is $150, and it pays for itself over and above when you count up the benefits.

 

Are you looking for a membership bargain? Bid now. And check out the other items. 

 

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

 

Hope you're enjoying the holiday weekend. Safe travels. 

Budget now for you $150 annual membership to the Associated Press Media Editors organization. With more than 1,600 participants and 200 supporting members, APME continues to be the practical voice for news leaders. With your membership, the benefits well outweigh the cost of membership: 

In addition to substantial discounts for the annual conference, APME journalism contests and APME webinars: 

• APME brings together news leaders from all sizes of publications and broadcast stations.

• The APME board of directors has dedicated seats for small newspapers, online and broadcast.

• Myriad programs, such as Sounding Board, help keep the lines of communication open with AP.

• Tap into AP resources on national projects, such as Broken Budgets and Aging America

• Training that comes to you through NewsTrain and state APME organizations.

• Credibility Roundtables offer research and insight to online issues nationwide.

• Advice from the trenches

• Discounts on the annual conference and APME awards which more than make up the $150 membership cost.

• Great Ideas program and the Innovator of the Month contest help to keep the ideas rolling all year long.

• For educators: Access to the newsroom and broadcast leaders who do the hiring.

• Weekly APME Update with news from around the industry and the Associated Press.

• APME News quarterly magazine.

• Conference is jointly held with Associated Press Photo Editors.

• Include other newsroom leaders from your organization, all are welcome.

• APME is leading the First Amendment charge through its active committee work and with the help and resources of the Associated Press.

• APME and APPM are at the forefront of the sports credentialing question.

• Trade ideas and ask for advice from your peers at facebook.com/apmenews.

As an added incentive, during the holiday season you can choose to pay $75 now and the other $75 during the first quarter next year. This offer will only be available now though December 2011.

Sign up now for 2012 at: http://www.apme.com/?page=Join_Renew

Innovation, Great Idea of the month.

Innovation and Great Ideas -- we'll now have monthly winners, thanks to the work of Joe Hight and David Arkin, co-chairs, and their committee.

 

Congratulations to the first winners: Andy Hyland of the Lawrence Journal-World for the October Great Idea, and the Atlantic City Press for the October Innovation.

 

Read about them: 

 

http://www.apme.com/news/77569/Octobers-Great-Idea-of-the-Month-Lawrence-Journal-World-reporter-pays-for-his-mistakes.htm

 

http://www.apme.com/news/77568/Octobers-Innovator-of-the-Month-Press-of-Atlantic-City-wins-for-Jersey-Shore-Nightlife.htm

 

Are you proud of innovative work taking place or a great idea in your newsroom? Be sure to enter. Find information on how with these stories.  

APME has a new logo!

We're retooling many things for the coming year. One of which is a new logo to reflect slight name change – from MANAGING editors to MEDIA editors – and to bring in our broadcast partners and journalism educators and students. Thanks to APME VP Brad Dennison and the folks at Gatehouse Media for the design. Stay tuned for more great ideas, training and journalism as we kick off our best year yet. Visit us at www.apme.com or www.facebook.com/APMEnews.

Holiday auction might have the perfect gift

Bids have been coming in for our first APME holiday auction, but there's still time for you to find that perfect gift.

 

March Madness anyone? You'd enjoy it in Phoenix in March. A Final Four team will emerge from play that weekend.

 

We have two tickets, just for you. 

 

That's just one of the items. Take a look, and know that all proceeds go to APME programs.

 

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

First NewsTrain webinar popular

Our first NewsTrain webinar drew 69 participants, a great start for
the new webinar series.

Thanks to Mandy Jenkins, our leader on mobile reporting, and all attendees.

We'll post the session online next week. And we'll let you know about
the next one.

-- Bob Heisse

Sent from my iPhone

New story in Aging America series for Sunday

The next installment of the Aging America project focuses on how some older people are joining “villages” in which volunteers help them with everyday tasks, such as doctor visits and minor home repairs.

The approach is seen as an alternative to moving into nursing homes. The story slugged “Aging America-Villages” and photos moved Tuesday in advance for use this Sunday, Nov. 13.

Aging America is a joint project by the AP and APME to examine the effects on society – positive and negative – as Baby Boomers age. While the AP staff has produced most of the stories to date, the goal is to involve reporters from member news organizations across the country.

As with the Broken Budgets series, another joint national reporting project by AP and APME, the Aging America series will be on-going. Please look for stories from the series on the wire, but also look for ways that you can plug in. You can write local sidebars to wire stories. You could offer a reporter to contribute to a national story. Or propose a story or project.

Find background on the project here: http://www.apme.com/?page=AgingAmerica

For more information, contact your local AP bureau chief or Terry Spencer, AP news editor in Miami, tspencer@ap.org; or Alan Miller, managing editor / news for The Columbus Dispatch and an APME board member, amiller@dispatch.com.

 

Justice Department pulls back on FOIA changes

The Justice Department has dropped its proposed changes to the Freedom of Information Act, which is good news.

 

APME had sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday, asking him to drop these proposals that essentially would allow federal agencies to deny even the existence of federal documents.

 

Other groups opposed the changes, and the Justice Department shared its decision in a letter to key senators.

 

Here's coverage of the development by Pete Yost of The Associated Press.

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1pE0ouOXEexN-Q9nTrTPZmuEOPw?docId=38e565bef7e045f1a77dc2cdbc746a30

Our first NewsTrain webinar comes next week

On the heels of our very successful NewsTrain, which drew 100 participants for high energy sessions in Salt Lake City, we present our first NewsTrain webinar.

 

Here's a reminder that Mandy Jenkins, social news editor of The Huffington Post, will lead a session Thursday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. eastern on mobile reporting and free desktop publishing tools.

You can register for the webinar here: http://www.apme.com/events/event_details.asp?id=188822.  Call-in information and a link to the webinar will be sent a few days before the event.

Jenkins previously was the social media editor for Washington, D.C., local news startup TBD and the Cincinnati Enquirer. She has also worked in online news at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and as a newsroom producer for WKSU, an NPR affiliate in Northeast Ohio.

The webinar costs $9.99 for APME members and $19.99 for non-APME members.

Consider becoming an APME member now to save on these webinars, contest fees and conference registration. Here's the link: http://www.apme.com/?page=Join_Renew

Thursday night out in Nashville

Just another look-ahead to APME Nashville 2012. Mark your calendar for
Sept. 19-21.

Our Thursday night social will be held downtown at Margaritaville, one
of the new venues in Nashville.

The program will be determined, but it promises to be special.

Our first holiday auction might include that perfect present

Our first-ever APME holiday auction is now open for bidding.

 

Will you find that perfect present in there? You won't know until you take a look.

 

Among the items are sports tickets, books, tours, prints and more. You also can find a reduced rate -- possibly -- for APME membership.

 

We'll highlight some of the special items in coming posts. For now, take a look and bid, if you see something great.

 

Thanks to board member Laura Sellers Earl for putting this together and overseeing the bidding.

 

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

APME sends letter to AG protesting proposed FOI changes

The Associated Press Media Editors has sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder registering its concerns over proposed changes to the Freedom of Information Act.

 

The letter, signed by APME president Bob Heisse, calls on Holder to drop revisions to the FOIA that would essentially allow federal agencies to deny even the existence of certain federal documents.

 

There is no need for any change, the letter notes, and APME said it views this action as a step toward making government unaccountable.

Here is the letter in its entirety:

"The Associated Press Media Editors is strongly opposed to the Justice Department's proposed change to Freedom Of Information Act regulations (OAG Docket No. 140). A modification to the FOIA that would allow federal agencies to essentially deny even the existence of certain federal documents would make a travesty of the United States' claim to have an open and fair government.
"If implemented, the rule change would gut the intent of the FOIA and make any claims of transparency by any government agency or official a complete sham.
You work for and should answer to citizens.
"The FOIA was conceived as a way for average citizens — as well as media — to gain information from and about their government. When you propose a change that would allow any government agency to deny the existence of official documents, you are intentionally misleading those citizens.
"There is no need for this revision. The courts already assess whether documents qualify for FOIA exclusions.
"APME views this action as a step toward making government unaccountable. It is  bad policy, and we urge you in the strongest possible terms to drop this change to the Freedom of Information Act."

 

NewsTrain begins in Utah; follow it on Facebook and Twitter

Turnout is fantastic for our NewsTrain event in Salt Lake City, which kicks off today and runs through Thursday.

 

In all 100 journalists, educators and students are in place for two great days of sessions led by Michael Roberts.

 

You can follow these by joining NewsTrain on Facebook and Twitter. We want you aboard. 

 

http://www.facebook.com/centredaily#!/NewsTrain

 

Thanks to Roberts and all who've helped plan this NewsTrain in Utah. 

 

-- Bob Heisse

APME board member honored with Mimi Award

APME board member Carole Tarrant, editor of the Roanoke Times, has been named winner of the 5th annual Mimi Award.

 

The honor, presented by the Dart Society, recognizes editors who support and encourage excellence in the coverage of tragedy and trauma.

 

Tarrant led the Roanoke Times in its coverage of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings.

 

Here are the details of the award. Congratulations to Tarrant.

 

http://dartsociety.com/2011/10/carole-tarrant-wins-2011-mimi-award/