CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR APME JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Outstanding journalism across the United States and Canada is honored each year by the Associated Press Managing Editors at its annual conference. The recognized newspapers and online sites epitomize the best in journalism in these categories: Public Service, First Amendment, International Perspective and Online Convergence.

The 2006 contest period is now under way and covers work published between July 1, 2005, and June 30. The deadline for entering is July 7.

The APME Public Service Awards www.apme.com/awards/2006/052006psa.shtml are given to Associated Press or Canadian Press member newspapers for meritorious service to the community, state or nation.

The 2006 APME First Amendment Awards www.apme.com/awards/2006/052006foi.shtml are given to journalists or newspapers for work that advances freedom of information, makes good use of FOI principles or statutes, or significantly widens the scope of information available to the public.

The 2006 APME International Perspective Awards www.apme.com/awards/2006/052006international.shtml go to Associated Press and Canadian Press member newspapers for outstanding coverage of international news for local readers.

The 2006 APMEOnline Convergence Awards www.apme.com/awards/2006/052006international.shtml recognize newspapers and their online partners for the effective interplay between a story in print and online.

There are three circulation categories for each award: newspapers with average daily under 40,000; newspapers with average daily circulation of 40,000 to 149,999; and newspapers of 150,000 average daily circulation or more.

The cost to enter is $75 per contest in the medium- and large-circulation categories and $50 for the small-circulation category. APME Supporting Members receive a $25 discount. For more on APME Supporting Membership, click here. New this year: entry fees can be paid easily and securely online by credit card.

Judging occurs in late July and award-winners will be contacted and presented with their awards at the APME Annual Conference in New Orleans, Oct. 25-28. Click here for full entry details and descriptions of each contest.

LEADERSHIP IN DIVERSITY HONORED WITH McGRUDER AWARD
The Freedom Forum, in partnership with The Associated Press Managing Editors Association and the American Society of Newspaper Editors, has opened nominations for the fifth Robert G. McGruder Awards for Diversity Leadership.

Each year two awards — one for papers under 75,000 circulation and one for those papers over 75,000 — are given to individuals, newsrooms or teams of journalists who embody the spirit of McGruder, a former executive editor of the Detroit Free Press and relentless diversity champion. McGruder died of cancer in April 2002.

The winners will be announced at the annual APME Annual Conference Oct. 25-28 in New Orleans. The recognized honorees each receive $2,500 and a leadership trophy.

Click here for details about the Robert G. McGruder Diversity Leadership Award and how to submit nominations.

QUESTIONS ONLY THE COPY DESK COULD LOVE
What's the correct way to write a swear word in a quote without being vulgar or offensive? Should an exclamation point go after the name of the Web entity Yahoo? Do punctuation marks always go inside of end quotes?

The AP Stylebook covers many grammatical, punctuation and usage issues that crop up daily in the typical newsroom. But not all.

For example, does "mentee" mean the same thing as "protégé"? Or is it "girls basketball game" or "girls' basketball game?"

For difficult usages or fine points not covered by the Stylebook, AP now has a Web site – "Ask the Editor" – allowing busy editors to look up answers to recent style questions or to ask ones of their own. Norm Goldstein, editor of the AP Stylebook, maintains the site and answers questions submitted from around the country.

Bookmark the site in your browser or look for it on the left navigation bar of the APME home page.

TIME-OUT FOR DIVERSITY AND ACCURACY
APME has begun its Time-Out for Diversity and Accuracy initiative to again encourage newspapers to consider issues of diversity in coverage and staffing. APME has identified immigration issues as a focal point for this year's program. APME President Suki Dardarian is encouraging newspapers to revisit their immigrant populations to give readers the context they need to understand the current immigration debate.

For more on this year's efforts, click here

COOPERATION KUDOS: MEMBERS CITED FOR AP NEWS, PHOTO CONTRIBUTIONS
Member newspapers, broadcast stations and online operations are AP's eyes and ears on the ground. When news breaks they give tips, quotes, color and other information that helps the cooperative deliver the fastest, most complete news and photo coverage for all members and their audiences.

The Associated Press Managing Editors Association recognizes the best cooperation through Instant Citations awarded to the member. For their recent help these organizations will be cited:

— The Connersville News-Examiner of Connersville, Ind., where Editor Rick Mullen quickly provided the photo of a local man killed in Afghanistan while working as a contractor to help train police.

— The Star Democrat of Easton, Md., where Executive Editor Denise Riley gave AP a heads-up May 15 when she learned a harness racing driver had been killed at a track in Harrington, Del. Her call allowed AP to quickly get details of the accident onto the wire for all members.

— The Daily American in Somerset, Pa., for tipping AP about a plane crash that killed two people May 11. Managing Editor Brian Whipkey followed with several more calls to fill in details.

— The Williamsport (Pa.) Sun-Gazette, for quickly sharing photos of a fire at a sawmill near Elimsport May 10.

— The Williston (N.D.) Herald where new managing editor Crysta Parkinson sent AP photos and a story after a car crashed into a hospital boiler room April 17, forcing the evacuation of several workers.

To receive e-mail notification of new APME Updates, write to APME@ap.org

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