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Martin Kaiser, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, to lead ASNE in 2009-10, new board announced

Martin Kaiser, editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is the new president of the American Society of News Editors, the nation's largest organization of newsroom leaders.

Martin Kaiser, editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is the new president of the American Society of News Editors, the nation's largest organization of newsroom leaders.

Kaiser, who was formally appointed at a meeting of the Society's board of directors, assumes leadership at time of change in the news industry and for ASNE, an organization founded in 1922. He succeeds Charlotte H. Hall, editor of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, who will remain on the on board this year ex officio.

ASNE, formerly the American Society of Newspaper Editors, dropped “paper” from its name and made other significant bylaw changes to reflect the increasing reliance of news organizations and consumers on online distribution. Other key bylaw changes opened ASNE membership to editors of online news providers and to deans and other leaders of collegiate journalism programs.

Kaiser said the bylaw changes will assist the organization in “capturing the best thinking and shaping the best approaches to assure that our democracy can continue to count on vigorous, probing journalism.”

ASNE's changes, Kaiser said, “will allow all stakeholders to collaborate on solutions to benefit their own organizations and, importantly, to the benefit of the communities we serve.”

He also stressed the necessity for ASNE to speak out strongly “against the forces of negativity” about the role of news organizations. “We need to stand up and push back,” he said.

Named as Kaiser's partners in ASNE leadership for this year are Milton Coleman, deputy managing editor of The Washington Post, vice president; Ken Paulson, president of The Freedom Forum, secretary; and Susan Goldberg, editor of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, treasurer.

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

Re-elected to three-year terms on the board are Andrew N Alexander, ombudsman, The Washington Post; and Diana Fuentes, editor, Laredo (Texas) Morning Times. Newly elected to three-year terms are Margaret Sullivan, editor, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News; Mizell Stewart III, editor, Evansville (Ill.) Courier & Press; and Ken Tingley, editor, The Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y.

Also elected to the board are Amanda Bennett, executive editor, Bloomberg News, New York for a two-year term and Tim Franklin, Louis A. Weil Endowed Chair, Indiana University, and Kathy Spurlock, executive editor, The News-Star, Monroe, La., for one-year terms.

Continuing board members are Jim Amoss, editor, The Times-Picayune, New Orleans; David Boardman, executive editor, The Seattle Times; Neil Brown, executive editor, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times; Carolina Garcia, executive editor, Daily News, Los Angeles; Chris Peck, editor, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis; John Temple, former editor, Rocky Mountain News, Denver; and Stanley R. Tiner, executive editor, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

ASNE is an organization that includes directing editors of daily newspapers throughout the Americas. Founded in 1922, as the American Society of Newspaper Editors, ASNE is active in a number of areas of interest to top editors with priorities on improving freedom of information, diversity, readership and credibility of newspapers. ASNE changed its name this month to the American Society of News Editors and approved broadening its membership to editors of online news providers and academic leaders.

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