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APME accepts 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.

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APME condemns Justice Department actions

The Associated Press Media Editors Association condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of the Justice Department in seizing phone records of The Associated Press.

In condemning this action, APME joins the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio Television Digital News Association and many other journalists across the country.

"In a continuing witch hunt for leaks and whistleblowers, the Obama administration has chosen to trample the First Amendment,” said APME President Brad Dennison. "Freely tossing around the word ‘transparency,’ as this administration is prone to do, does not make it so. This action clearly demonstrates that President Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. have absolutely no interest in an open and transparent government.”

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