Newly elected ASNE president Hall to lead editors in navigating industry changes

• By: ASNE staff
• On: 04/16/2008 12:37:00
• In: ASNE elections

Washington - Charlotte Hall, editor of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, was elected president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the largest organization of daily newspaper editors, at the group's annual meeting in Washington.

Hall told the group that her theme for the year would be “Editors Leading Change. Not because I think we are stuck in the mud, but rather to assert our leadership of change.”

While capitalizing on change by sharing innovative ideas and practical advice, as well as building “alliances with other journalism groups to promote common goals,” Hall said ASNE would nevertheless continue to “carry the flame of our core values: access to information, First Amendment rights, diversity, watchdog reporting, and high school journalism.”

“And,” she continued, “we will tackle a new area: news literacy for young people, helping them to become smart media consumers.”

Outgoing ASNE president Gilbert Bailon, editorial page editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who now becomes an ex officio member of the board, called on editors “to provide context and perspective” to industry changes, and emphasized that “it is time for urgency.”

“Key tenets of leadership are stepping out front and taking some chances,” he said. “We must ground ourselves about how modern news and information are used. That means understanding consumer habits and not just what we produce in our newsrooms.”

Bailon urged editors to be “proud of our roles and passionately distinguish ourselves from the media goulash that consumers wade through every day.” In the face of budget cuts, diminished resources and other challenges, he stressed that good journalism, service to readers and diversity must not only be upheld but also made stronger.

“Have faith in what you do,” he said. “Have faith that what we do still matters. Have faith in our communities - warts and all. Have faith that our democracy is better because of our work. Not a blind, naïve faith; a faith that quality journalism still serves the public good.”

In addition to Hall's ascension, other ASNE officers elected at the meeting were: W. Martin Kaiser, editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as vice president; Milton Coleman, deputy managing editor of The Washington Post, as secretary; and Caesar Andrews of the Detroit Free Press as treasurer.

The ASNE board is made up of the four officers, the immediate past president and 15 additional members.

Newly elected to the board at the meeting were Neil Brown, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times; and John Temple, Rocky Mountain News, Denver.

Board members re-elected were Jim Amoss, editor, The Times-Picayune, New Orleans; Ellen Foley, editor, Wisconsin State Journal, Madison; and Chris Peck, editor, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis

In addition, Diana Fuentes, editor, Laredo (Texas) Morning Times was appointed to fill the position being vacated by board member Pam Fine, who has become a Knight Chair at the University of Kansas.

Continuing board members are Andrew N. Alexander, Washington Bureau Chief, Cox Newspapers, Washington; David Boardman, Executive Editor, The Seattle Times; Janet S. Coats, Executive Editor, The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune; Carolina Garcia, Executive Editor, Monterey (Calif.) County Herald; Susan Goldberg, Editor, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland; Mike Jacobs, Editor and Publisher, Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald; Ken Paulson, Editor, USA TODAY, McLean, Va.; Sharon Rosenhause, Managing Editor, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Stanley R. Tiner, Executive Editor, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Working with the board to advance the goals and projects of ASNE are its committees and the ASNE Foundation.

2008-09 COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND CO-CHAIRS

American Editor
Michael K. Connelly, executive editor, Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune
Diana Smith, executive editor, Reed Brennan Media Associates, Orlando, Fla.

Audience Development
Caesar Andrews, executive editor, Detroit Free Press

Awards Board
Andrew N. Alexander, Washington bureau chief, Cox Newspapers

Convention Program
Ann Marie Lipinski, editor, Chicago Tribune

Diversity
Pamela B. Fine, Knight Chair, The University of Kansas, Lawrence

Education for Journalism
Rex Smith, editor, Times Union, Albany, N.Y.

Ethics and Values
Neil Brown, executive editor, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times

First Amendment
Ken Paulson, editor, USA TODAY, McLean, Va.

Freedom of Information
Andrew N. Alexander, Washington bureau chief, Cox Newspapers
Timothy A. Franklin, editor, The Sun, Baltimore

Innovation
Jennifer Carroll, vice president of digital content, Gannett Co. Inc., McLean, Va.
Milton Coleman, deputy managing editor, The Washington Post

Small Newspapers
Mike Jacobs, Editor and Publisher, Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald

Watchdog
Julia D. Wallace, editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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ASNE was founded in 1922. It is the largest organization of the main editors of daily newspapers in the Americas.