We plan a panel of sports figures and journalists. With backing from the Freedom Forum, the FOI Committee will also produce a report on the survey of public and press views on open public records in the face of privacy questions raised by the Internet environment. The Diversity Committee headed by Newsday s Charlotte Hall plans to bring you information on retention of minorities. Joe Distelheim of the Huntsville, Ala., Times will make sure that issues confronting small newspapers are squarely addressed. Groundbreaking new research connecting readership with news content and newsroom cultures will be unveiled at the ASNE convention, promises the Northwestern University Media Management Center s John Lavine.
Leadership is our convention theme.
Jennie Buckner, Charlotte Observer, has scheduled a symposium for December that will yield lessons we think can be studied at the convention. And the ASNE Foundation has funded in-depth research on newsroom leadership with results targeted for release at the convention. A focus on editors leading change, instead of reacting to it, should give an upbeat feel to a convention of editors who are experts in our ability to flog ourselves. As for taking time out to hear from the nation s leadership, invitations are out to both George Bush and Al Gore. We re also not accepting an initial no from Mexico s president-elect, Vicente Fox.