Much of APME's work occurs throughout the year in the association's committees.

While individual goals change every year as new issues and opportunities arise, the priority remains the same: help APME assist busy editors to become better managers leading trained, professional staffs who put out interesting, relevant newspapers.

Activities of the Journalism Today committees are coordinated by the Journalism Today Chairman, Steve Sidlo, editor/publisher, Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun.

The committees are a great way to get involved with the association and to move into an important, visible role in the news industry. If you'd like to know more about the committees, contact the committee chairs listed below.

• Chair: Hollis Towns, Managing Editor, The Cincinnati Enquirer

This umbrella group has several responsibilities:

APME News: Our quarterly magazine

• Editor: Mark Bowden, editor, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

APME Update: Our weekly e-mail newsletter

• Editors: Jill Nevels-Haun, managing editor, The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, W.Va., and Carole Tarrant, managing editor, The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, Va.

APME.com: Our Web site

• Editors: Bobbie Jo Buel, executive editor, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Ariz., along with chief adviser Laura Sellers-Earl, online director, East Oregonian Publishing Co.

Marketing: Works to raise the profile of APME by keeping our name in front of state AP organizations. Helps create marketing material for the annual conference.

• Chair: Rosemary Goudreau, editorial page editor, The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Fla.

• Vice Chair: Joe Garcia, senior editor, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Ariz.

Multimedia: Helps newsrooms become multimedia centers. This includes great ideas, training and standards.

• Chair: Mike Davis, editor, Journal Interactive, Milwaukee, Wis.

• Vice Chair: Traci Bauer, deputy managing editor for multimedia/innovation, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester, N.Y.

Organizes the program for the 2007 conference in Washington, D.C. The working theme is FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE: 500 Ideas for Staying Ahead and Producing Great Journalism

• Chair: Andrew Oppmann, executive editor and general manager, The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis.

• Vice Chair: E.J. Mitchell, executive editor, The Post-Courier, Cherry Hill, N.J.

This umbrella group has two committees that work together.

Membership: Introduces new editors to APME and identifies opportunities for them to become active participants.

• Chair: Ken Tuck, managing editor, The Dothan Eagle, Dothan, Ala.

Nominations and elections: Builds a slate of board candidates and oversees the annual election.

• Chair: Tom Eblen, managing editor, Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, Ky.

Provides fast feedback to the A.P. on news content and service.

• Chair: Troy Turner, editor, The Daily Times, Farmington, N.M.

• Vice Chair: Kevin Whitmer, managing editor, enterprise, The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J.

Helps editors become better innovators to reach more news consumers more frequently.

• Chair: Scott W. Angus, vice president of news for Bliss Communications, Janesville, Wis., and editor of the company's Janesville Gazette.

Helps editors identify best practices involving ethics, accuracy, fairness, taste and similar issues.

• Chair: Jennifer Houtman, managing editor, The Marietta Times, Marietta, Ohio

Works to improve diversity and retention efforts in our industry. Recognizes outstanding diversity coverage.

• Chair: Calvin Stovall, executive editor, Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, N.Y.

• Vice Chair: Marisa Porto, assistant managing editor, Wilmington News Journal, Wilmington, Del.

Fights for freedom of information and aggressive watchdog journalism on multiple platforms. Ensures that APME is a leading voice on First Amendment issues. Work with APPM and APSE on First Amendment issues.

• Chair: Otis Sanford, editor/opinion and editorials, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

• Vice Chair: Teri Hayt, managing editor, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Ariz.