Posted May 27, 2009

Fellow Editors:

APME is very close to achieving its fundraising goal necessary to obtain matching funds from some of the best foundations in journalism – funds necessary for us to continue our important work during these extraordinarily difficult times.

I'm writing to seek your help.

If only 200 of us nationwide are willing to make a tax-deductible gift of $50, APME will hit its target to secure $50,000 from Ethics and Excellence in Journalism, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Ford Foundation and McCormick Foundation.

Of course, we'd be happy to receive a larger gift. But knowing how tight things are for your newspapers and your families, we ask now for only a small donation to help meet the Challenge Fund for Journalism.

APME has proven to be remarkably resilient during the economic downturn, partly because we've kept our costs low and our mission singularly focused on providing you and your newsroom with practical tools to do quality journalism. Our 75-year partnership with the Associated Press makes us stronger, and helps leverage the public service work we do.

NewsTrain, our national training program that has helped editors in every state, chugs along with meaningful new programming aimed at navigating the digital age. The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri remains a strong partner for our longstanding effort to keep editors engaged with online credibility. And last year we introduced the National Reporting Project in conjunction with the AP, the Sunlight Foundation and Taxpayers for Common Sense. The initial effort brought database training to more than 200 journalists in 12 cities nationwide, and resulted in 75 newspapers nationwide publishing deep reports on Congressional earmarks relevant to their markets. This year more than 500 journalists signed up for free Webinars to help them find the local angles on stimulus, earmarks and bank bailout spending.

President Bobbie Jo Buel has courageously cut the cost of conference registration in half, making it easier for more of you to join us in St. Louis this fall.

Yes, it's tough. But APME moves forward with purpose. And at this critical juncture, the Challenge Fund goal in sight, all of us in leadership hope you're able to dig a little deeper to help us keep this storied organization strong.

Best,

David F. Ledford
APME Foundation President
Editor, The News Journal, Wilmington, Del.