Newsroom Leadership: New Directions for Executive and Managing Editors

September 11 - September 16, 2005

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Featured Discussion Leaders

Judy Pace Christie Consultant, Judy Christie Consulting Services LLC Session: “Have a Successful Career Without Losing Your Life” – Learn to thrive in the newsroom pressure-cooker.

Milton Coleman Deputy Managing Editor, The Washington Post Session: "Diversity Leadership": Lessons for readership, retention and understanding across racial, gender and ethnic lines.

Pierre Meyer, PH.D President and Principal, MDA Consulting Group, San Francisco Session: “Leading Change in the Newsroom” – A thorough review of the change process with specific ideas to apply with your staff.

John Robinson Editor, News & Record Session: “Thriving in the Digital Age” – Lessons learned about managing an ongoing initiative in citizen journalism.

Barry Sussman Editor, Nieman Watchdog, and consultant, INNOVATION Media Consulting Session: “Innovations in Newspapers” – Find out where the industry is heading and how you can get there.

Julia Wallace Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Session: “Leadership Lessons” – Insights and observations from E&P’s Editor of the Year 2005.

Warren Watson Director of J-Ideas, Ball State University Session: “Celebrity Journalism” – What role should newspapers play in a world of “all Michael all the time”?

An essential rung in the development ladder of news executives, this program focuses on all aspects of leading a newsroom: recruiting and retaining talented journalists, upholding reporting standards, reversing readership declines and tackling problems in newsroom culture. A computerbased management simulation allows participants to live life as the editor of a fictional newspaper, putting decision- making skills and management instincts to the test.

Who Should Attend and Why

Executive editors, managing editors, associate and assistant managing editors, senior editors, and news editors who play a role in developing strategies for the newsroom as a whole or preparing to assume greater responsibility should attend.

Attendees will gain:

• A greater understanding of what works and why in the best practices of forward-thinking, reader-oriented newsrooms.
• Insight into the needs and habits of readers—now and into the future.  
• A game plan for managing creativity and change.
• Renewed commitment and stamina for leading in these challenging times.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

Sunday evening, Sept. 11

• Opening night dinner at the Hyatt Dulles Hotel with guest Julia Wallace, Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Monday, Sept. 12

- “Media Next”: An overview of changes in the media landscape and what they mean for today’s news media.
Discussion Leader: API President Drew Davis

- “Innovations in Newspapers”: In order to capture an audience, American newspapers must re-invent content, re-organize the newsroom and re-shape formats.
Discussion Leader: Barry Sussman, Partner, INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group

-“Reaching Younger Readers”: The Star Tribune became the laboratory for the latest Readership Institute research on reaching young readers in the core newspaper. Find out what the staff learned and how they’re implementing the ideas as they prepare to launch a major redesign.
Discussion Leader: Monica Moses, Deputy Managing Editor, Star Tribune, Minneapolis

- “New Audience Development”: Find out how to develop a rigorous ongoing process for developing ideas and launching products that can capture new readers and revenue.
Discussion Leader: API President Drew Davis

Tuesday, Sept. 13

- “Leading Change in the Newsroom”: Change is a process that goes through distinct stages, and smart editors apply their knowledge at each step along the way.
Discussion Leader: Pierre (Pete) Meyer, President, MDA Consultants and consultant to the Learning Newsroom

- “Celebrity Journalism”: Join in a conversation about the role of newspapers in a world dominated by entertainment and celebrity coverage.
Discussion Leader: Warren Watson, Director, J-Ideas, Ball State University

- “Thriving in a Digital World”: Explore the possibilities and ramifications when hyper-local content meets interactive platforms. And discover how to establish priorities in a multi-platform newsroom.
Discussion Leader: John Robinson, Editor, News & Record, Greensboro, NC

- Seminar members break into clinic groups for a content audit of their newspapers.

Wednesday, Sept. 14

- “Leading Diversity”: Gain greater understanding of cultural differences and find practical solutions to everyday newsroom communication problems.
Discussion Leader: Milton Coleman, Deputy Managing Editor, The Washington Post

- “The First Amendment and Free Expression”: Insights into the underpinnings of our democracy and what the First Amendment means to America.
Discussion Leader: John Seigenthaler, The First Amendment Center

Thursday, Sept. 15

-“The Sherwood Courant Simulation”: API’s full-day computer-assisted management simulation takes you through a year in the life of a fictitious newspaper surprisingly like your own. You make the tough calls -- and take the consequences or reap the rewards of the decisions you make.

Friday, Sept. 16

- “Have a Successful Career Without Losing Your Life” – Real People: Find out how you can be one of them. Not only will you live longer and be happier, you’ll be more in touch with what readers want from the newspaper.
Discussion Leader: Judy Pace Christie, former editor and founder of Judy Christie Consulting

- “Taking API Home” – Create your personal action plan and discover ways to sustain the learning process once you return to work.
Discussion Leader: Seminar moderator and API Associate Director Mary Glick

The Malcolm F. Mallette Fellowship

This fellowship covers tuition for a news editor or managing editor from a newspaper of circulation 50,000 or less to attend this seminar. Applications must be received by Nov. 19, 2004. For more information please visit americanpressinstitute.org/fellowships

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

If newsroom culture is going to change, it has to start with leadership. Yet the quality of newsroom leadership is one of the biggest sources of dissatisfaction among journalists, according to “What Newsrooms Need from Their Leaders,” a study by the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

ROI: Constructive culture, more readers.

The Particulars

Please read:
:: API's Registration, Tuition and Hotel Policies
:: Special requirements for international members

Tuition: $2,100

Note: Payment deadline for all discounted tuition: July 15, 2005. All tuition is due prior to the start of the seminar.

Hotel/Meal Package: $935.
This charge is in addition to the tuition fee, and is paid directly to the hotel by the seminar member upon checkout.

Location: Reston

(This seminar has already occured)