SAVE THE DATES

March 31, 2019: Mobile microlearning survey closes
April 11-12, 2019: Denver NewsTrain, hosted by Colorado State University and the Colorado Press Association
April 30, 2019: Apply to host a NewsTrain workshop in 2020.
Sept. 9-10, 2019: News Leaders Association Conference at New Orleans Marriott
Sept. 27, 2019: Milwaukee NewsTrain, hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Oct. 18-19: Austin NewsTrain, hosted by GateHouse Media and the Austin American-Statesman
October 2019: Albuquerque NewsTrain, hosted by the University of New Mexico in conjunction with the New Mexico Press Association

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Mobile microlearning works! Sample the first course in digital journalism delivered to your phone

For almost two years, APME’s NewsTrain Project Director Linda Austin has been researching how to expand NewsTrain’s reach via bite-size lessons delivered by smartphone.

The idea is to overcome the biggest obstacle to training for journalists — lack of time — by providing learning in five-minute chunks that can be consumed while on public transit or waiting in line. In the past decade, mobile microlearning has taken off in other industries but not yet in journalism. Think Babbel for language learning.

Funded by a Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellowship from the University of Missouri, she developed the first of these mobile-microlearning courses for digital journalism: The 5 C’s of Writing News for Mobile Audiences.

To study its effectiveness, 35 journalists completed the course under the auspices of the Information Experience Lab at the University of Missouri. All of them said they would recommend the course to other journalists interested in the subject. They described the course as “fun,” “interesting,” “short and helpful,” “convenient” and “easy to use.”

And now you can try that course!

All you have to do is sample a five-minute lesson and take a 10-minute survey on how we should price the courses: bit.ly/pricesurvey19. Then, we’ll provide a preview of the full course that you can take on any mobile browser. Please answer the survey by March 31.

The Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri will analyze the pricing-survey responses. That information will go into developing a budget with which to approach potential funders about building a library of mobile-microlearning courses in digital journalism

Accomplished trainers teaching social, data, mobile, video and verification at APME’s Denver NewsTrain April 11-12

APME’s Denver NewsTrain has a stellar lineup of trainers ready to help you polish your skills in social, data, mobile, video and verification April 11-12.

For just $85, you can benefit from the expertise of these journalists on the digital edge – who are also accomplished trainers – teaching:

Because of NewsTrain’s emphasis on immediately usable skills, attendees often rate its interactive training as 4.5, with 5 as highly effective and useful. 

“Ya’ll ARE AWESOME. I didn’t want to leave the lectures to use the bathroom because they were so good,” wrote Phoenix NewsTrain attendee Chase Budnieski, a journalism student at Arizona State University.

In addition, be among the first 20 to register and receive a free AP Stylebook. 

The agenda (PDF) was customized for Denver by a host committee of local journalists led by Colorado State University’s Department of Journalism and Media Communication.

The workshop will beheld in conjunction with the Colorado Press Association Convention at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center in suburban Denver. 

#DenverNewsTrain will be the 93rd such workshop organized by the Associated Press Media Editors. APME, a nonprofit group of newsroom leaders, has sponsored NewsTrain since 2003, training more than 7,500 journalists and visiting every U.S. state and three Canadian provinces. 

Questions? Email Linda Austin, NewsTrain project director.

Denver NewsTrain trainers are: (top left) Burt Hubbard, Kelly Jones and Anthony Quintano;
(bottom left) Christy Robinson, AAron Ontiveroz and Doug Bell.

Apply by April 30 to bring APME’s NewsTrain digital training to your town in 2020

If you’re looking to bring affordable training in digital journalism to your region in 2020, consider hosting one of APME’s NewsTrain workshops.

Apply by April 30 for a chance to experience the learning, morale boost and fun of a NewsTrain workshop in your town next year.

The first step is to put together a tentative host committee of representatives from local journalism organizations and apply. Successful host committees work hand-in-glove with the NewsTrain staff over six months to plan and promote their workshops.

The skills taught are customized to the needs of journalists in your region and designed to be used immediately. Registration is just $75 to $85 for NewsTrain.

The host committee’s financial obligation includes supplying food for a one-day, 1.5-day or two-day workshop attracting 100. It should seek local sponsors to cover that cost, which can run $1,500 to $3,000. The host committee also markets the workshop regionally and secures a venue, usually a university site.

The payback is smarter, more engaged and enthusiastic journalists, journalism students and journalism educators in your region.

“Hosting a NewsTrain gives you the opportunity to tailor high-quality training that will be accessible and affordable for your staff,” said Angie Muhs, executive editor of the State Journal-Register in Springfield, Illinois, and president of APME. “It’s worth the investment of your time and effort.”

Since 2003, Associated Press Media Editors (APME) has produced 92 NewsTrains in the United States and Canada, training more than 7,500 journalists. APME will merge with the American Society of News Editors in 2019 to form the News Leaders Association.

Questions? Visit bit.ly/HostNewsTrain or email NewsTrain Project Director Linda Austin.

Attendees at NewsTrain in Denton, Texas, in 2018 compare notes. Photo by Hatch Visuals.

David Joles of the Star Tribune wins January National Member Photo of the Month

The Associated Press Media Editors has honored the photograph below as National Member Photo of the Month for January 2019. 

Thanks to Sean Elliot, director of photography at The Dayin New London, Connecticut, for judging. 

Here is what the judge had to say about the winning image:

“There were many good photos, especially those showing powerful emotions, but Joles’ image captures an iconic moment in the big news story of the month, the polar vortex cold snap that affected so much of the country. One just feels cold looking at the photo.”

Below is the link to all images entered for January and the winner is slide #20.

http://apphotocontests.ap.org/APME_POM/APME_POM_January_2019/index.html

Frost covers part of the face of University of Minnesota student Daniel Dylla during a morning jog along Mississippi River Parkway Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. Extreme cold and record-breaking temperatures are crawling into parts of the Midwest after a powerful snowstorm pounded the region, and forecasters warn that the frigid weather could be life-threatening.  (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)

Autumn Payne of The Sacramento Bee wins December National Photo of the Month

The Associated Press  Media Editors has honored the photograph below as National Member Photo of the Month for December 2018. 

Thanks to James Gregg at the Austin American-Statesman for judging. 

Here is what the judge had to say about the winning image:

“This in my opinion, is the strongest of the group. Each expression gives a different layer of urgency to the scene, ultimately landing with the grief and contemplation of the father who has lost his son. The reporting is strong, connecting to an urgent, larger story that has been humanized to the level of everyday people in a poignant way. Giving a face to the impact of governmental policy and giving the viewer intimate access to these scene makes the news real to me in a way I otherwise would not feel as significantly.”

Below is the link to all images entered for December and the winner is slide #21.

http://apphotocontests.ap.org/APME_POM/APME_POM_December_2018/index.html

Ali Hassan, second from right, views the wrapped body of his two-year-old son, Abdullah Hassan, at his funeral at the Sacramento Islamic Center on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. The toddler died days after a reunion with his mother from Yemen, after a long fight with a degenerative brain disease. He was separated from his mother due to travel restrictions instituted by the Trump Administration. (Autumn Payne/The Sacramento Bee via AP)

Marc Lester of the Anchorage Daily News wins November National Photo of the Month

The Associated Press has honored the photograph below as National Member Photo of the Month for November 2018. 

Thanks to Jake May at The Flint Journal/MLive.com for judging. 

Here is what the judge had to say about the winning image:

“This is how you show impact of an earthquake immediately. This is how you make readers/viewers stop in their tracks to gain a further understanding of the news. This is not something you see every day. Bravo to the photographer for taking this vantage point, making a striking image that shows the sheer devastating force of mother nature’s wrath. From the people interacting with the scene, to the changed landscape and the jagged lines it creates, this photographer nailed the image in one photo. Truly, this was incredibly well seen.”

Below is the link to all images entered for November and the winner is slide #23.

http://apphotocontests.ap.org/APME_POM/APME_POM_november_2018/index.html

This aerial photo shows damage on Vine Road, south of Wasilla, Alaska, after earthquakes Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Back-to-back earthquakes measuring 7.0 and 5.7 shattered highways and rocked buildings Friday in Anchorage and the surrounding area, sending people running into the streets and briefly triggering a tsunami warning for islands and coastal areas south of the city. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Registration is open for 2019 News Leaders Association Conference in New Orleans

Join the Associated Press Media Editors and American Society of News Editors on Sept. 9-10, 2019, at the New Orleans Marriott. The two organizations are on track to merge and become the stronger News Leaders Association in 2019.

You can reserve your spot now at what will be a unique, invaluable experience. More details as they unfold.

REGISTRATION

The registration fee is $275 for members of APME and ASNE and $375 for nonmembers. 

Special rates are also available for retired members, spouses, students and APME's Regents.

Lunch tickets are not included in the price of registration. Don't forget to purchase Monday and Tuesday lunch tickets during registration. If you do not purchase lunch tickets at the time of registration, then you can do so later through the online store.

And don't forget to register your spouse/companion! 

HOTEL INFORMATION

A terrific group rate is available at the New Orleans Marriott for $179 per night. To book a room, click here or call 504-581-1000 and mention the ASNE-APME event. 

QUESTIONS?

Stay tuned for more details at asne.org and apme.com or email us for more information.

Editors on call

Would you like some advice from an experienced newsroom leader?

APME has put together a list of on-call editors willing to offer you strategic and practical advice on nearly two dozen different topics, from ethics to legal issues, to digital best practices, to upfront story coaching and newsroom budgeting.

We don’t want to replace the conversations you have in your own newsrooms, but we can be a resource when no one else is around to ask, when you need a second opinion, when you wonder if there’s another way or if you just need help framing the right questions.

The members of APME bring decades of journalism experience to the table.

We’ve spent years helping each other cope with a fast-changing industry, learning to produce and showcase our best journalism on multiple platforms. We’ve become adept at adapting while remaining committed to our watchdog role, to reflecting our diverse communities in our newsrooms and to ethical truth telling.

Now we want to broaden the circle and help develop newsroom leaders from coast to coast to strengthen journalism for all. You don’t need to be a member of APME; we’re here to help everyone.

Give our list of editors a look and connect.

ASNE, APME approve merger plan to become News Leaders Association Austin, Texas (Sept. 11, 2018) — At this pivotal moment for journalism and freedom of the press, two of the most significant organizations in journalism have voted to merge and become one voice for the industry. The formation of the News Leaders Association, combining the American Society of News Editors and Associated Press Media Editors, was approved by the two groups' members during their joint News Leadership Conference in Austin. ASNE and APME will continue to work jointly on major projects during the coming year as legal steps toward the merger are completed. NLA is expected to be in place by the 2019 News Leadership Conference Sept. 9-10 in New Orleans. In this extraordinary time of upheaval across the news industry, as well as forces outside it, leaders and members of ASNE and APME believe that now is the time for journalism leaders to come together to make great impact. "These are challenging times for our business and our country," said Nancy Barnes, incoming president of ASNE for 2018-19. "We believe joining our two organizations will only strengthen our ability, as journalism leaders, to stand up for the principles we hold dear." APME President Angie Muhs said, "Editors' jobs have never been more challenging, and we believe that our groups are stronger together as we work to be a valuable resource for leaders at news organizations of all sizes." The mission statement of NLA reads: "The News Leaders Association is committed to leading, nurturing and serving journalism and democracy." "There's never been a more important time to create an organization vigorously committed to defending and explaining the values of an independent press in a democratic society," said outgoing APME President Jim Simon. "NLA is also committed to reimagining our work, so that it's relevant to a broader range of leaders from a variety of backgrounds and to the needs of a rapidly changing journalism landscape." After years of working closely together to further the cause of journalism, both organizations are excited to become one, while also honoring the long histories of both ASNE and APME.   Read Q&As here