How the convention cancellation affects you

• By: ASNE staff
• On: 02/27/2009 00:00:00
• In: ASNE business

ASNE announced today that it is canceling the 2009 convention in Chicago, scheduled for April 26-29. Here are some answers to your questions:

Why was this decision made?

This decision by ASNE officers was reached because of the economic climate that is affecting everyone and, in particular, has negatively impacted the newspaper business. It became increasingly clear in recent weeks that our attendance would be low and that editors need to be in their own newsroom during this difficult time.

What will happen with the planned programming?

We plan to have our new Web site up this spring and we will produce more Webinars and ramp up our recently developed newsletter, Editors' Exchange.

How will the membership meeting scheduled for the convention be handled?

As you know, we had planned votes at the Chicago convention on bylaws changes to drop “paper” from our name and expand membership to include editors of online-only news Web sites and leading journalism educators. That, and the annual election of new board members, will now occur electronically. We will be touch with you soon on the details.

I already registered. What do I need to do to get a refund?

Beginning March 2, ASNE will issue a full refund to your credit card or send you a check, depending on your method of payment. A note of confirmation also will be sent to you.

I've booked a room at the Fairmont. What should I do to cancel?

ASNE has notified the hotel of the cancellation. All rooms will be cancelled and confirmations sent to the registrants.

How will speakers be notified?

Members of the Convention Program Committee will notify speakers and thank them for their efforts. ASNE staff will follow up with a written note.

What about ASNE Award winners? Will they be recognized?

ASNE will work with editors of Award winning newspapers to appropriately honor the recipients.

Have convention sponsors and advertisers been notified?

Each sponsor and advertiser are being contacted individually. We also will offer them other opportunities to promote with ASNE.

Does this decision impact future ASNE conventions?

No. This decision only applies to the 2009 convention. We will move ahead with plans for our scheduled 2010 convention in Washington.

What does this decision mean for ASNE?

The board of directors will meet soon to deal with the financial implications of canceling the convention and map strategy for the coming year.

Has ASNE canceled its convention before?

This is only the second time since ASNE was founded that it has foregone holding a convention. ASNE also canceled its convention during the last critical days of World War II in 1945.

Where does ASNE go from here?

We intend to press on with our transformation of ASNE to ensure its relevance in the digital age. As we broaden our membership, we will aggressively advocate for innovation in journalism, access to public information, First Amendment rights, diversity and ethical standards.