TECHNICAL TIPS FOR IMPLEMENTING MULTIMEDIA IN YOUR NEWSROOM
As more newsrooms dive head first into multimedia, it's important for top editors to be more involved in the technological strategy because decisions on equipment and software can have major impacts on workflow, workload, budget and training.

The (Rochester, N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle recently implemented an "aggressive and strategic plan" to develop multimedia in its newsroom. Traci Bauer, the paper's deputy manager editor, has advice to share for other editors and has shared with APME a list of five "points we'd consider if we were doing it over again."

CREDIBILITY ROUNDTABLE LESSONS COMPILED INTO NEW BOOK
APME has invested thousands of dollars, thousands of hours and countless sessions of hand-wringing – with good reason – to help American newspapers improve their credibility.

Thankfully, much of what we've learned has now been compiled into "Good Ideas" guidebook, written by Carol Nunnelley, APME's Credibility Roundtable director.

APME has provided the ideas. All you have to do is, well, do them.

That book, packed with great ideas from journalism's front lines, will be available the last week September. Here's a preview of what you'll find in the book:

• At The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash., reader bloggers, hosted by the newspaper's Web site, lead that day's news conversation.

• At The Spokesman-Review, editors post highlights from the daily news meetings, including conversation about reader complaints, news decisions, upcoming coverage.

• The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle Editor Sherry Chisenhall believes explaining newsroom decisions to the reader creates trust and spawns healthy public debate.

• Carol Young, deputy executive editor of The Providence (R.I.) Journal found explaining ourselves – even, in some cases to sources before publication – can be a powerful credibility tool.

• At The Orange County (Calif.) Register editor Ken Brusic wondered, if a reporter doesn't understand a newsroom decision, maybe a reader is also confused.

We'll include more highlights from the book in upcoming editions of APME Update.

2006-07 APME BOARD CANDIDATES
Biographies for candidates for the APME board are now online at APME.com.

Elections will be held at the APME conference in New Orleans for 10 open seats: six at-large spots, two representatives for papers under 35,000 circulation and two online spots.

REGISTER FOR APME CONFERENCE
The APME annual conference is Oct. 25-28 in New Orleans will focus on leadership, management and moving forward into a multimedia future. Pulitzer Prize-winning editors Jim Amoss and Stan Tiner will discuss how their newspapers performed a vital public role during a time of great crisis. APME will be joined again by the AP Photo Managers for sessions on presenting information in print and online, and on photo ethics. AP leaders will discuss the latest developments at the news cooperative, and the new Society of Metro Editors will participate in Friday's program. Bus tours Saturday of neighborhoods devastated by Katrina, narrated by reporters from the Times Picayune, will help editors better understand the ongoing national story about the emergency response and recovery.

Register online with a click here. For more information and the schedule, visit the conference page on the APME Web site.

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

Previous issues: Sept. 11, 2006 | Sept. 4, 2006 | Aug. 28, 2006 | Aug. 21, 2006 | Archive