Published: April 06, 2001
Last Updated: April 06, 2001
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WASHINGTON – Tim J. McGuire, editor of the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, was elected president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors today and assumed the leadership of the nation’s largest and oldest organization of daily newspaper editors.

In the first speech of his presidency, McGuire called on editors to focus on the underlying truths of newspaper journalism: Being an editor is a privilege; journalism is a public service business; and creativity and resilience will serve newspapers as well in the future as they have in the past.

 “It is time for each one of us to answer the call of leadership and the call of change.  We must step up with courage, determination and innovation,” he said. “We cannot continue to let things be done TO us.”

McGuire announced the creation of a new award to recognize leadership and a special committee called Creating the Future in Tough Times.

“The committee will explore ways to help editors deal with the challenges of these tough times, and it will help editors create a viable future for our newspapers when we come out on the other side of this downturn,” McGuire said.

McGuire succeeds Richard A. Oppel, editor of the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman, who led ASNE during the past year. Oppel will continue as an ex officio member of the board.

Other officers elected were: Vice President Diane H. McFarlin, publisher, Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune; Secretary Peter K. Bhatia, executive editor of The Oregonian, Portland; and Treasurer Karla Garrett Harshaw, editor of the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun and senior editor for Cox Community Newspapers.

Six directors were elected to the ASNE board during the group’s convention week, April 3-6 in Washington. ASNE’s board is made up of the four officers, the past president and 15 other members. There were a total of 227 valid ballots cast, including 33 absentee ballots. There were eight invalid ballots.

Newly elected to the board for a two-year term was Charlotte H. Hall, managing editor, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

ASNE members re-elected five incumbent directors to three-year terms: Gilbert Bailon, executive editor, The Dallas Morning News; Jennie Buckner, editor, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer; Edward W. Jones, editor, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.; Robert G. McGruder, executive editor, Detroit Free Press; and Gregory L. Moore, managing editor, The Boston Globe.

Members continuing on the ASNE board are:  Richard Aregood, editorial page editor, The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J.; Kenneth F. Bunting, executive editor, Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Susan C. Deans, assistant managing editor/Sundays, Denver Rocky Mountain News; Frank M. Denton, editor, Wisconsin State Journal, Madison; Pamela Johnson, executive editor, The Arizona Republic; Wanda S. Lloyd, executive director, The Freedom Forum Institute for Newsroom Diversity; Rick Rodriguez, executive editor, The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee; Paul C. Tash, editor, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times; David A. Zeeck, executive editor, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.
 
McGuire became managing editor of the Minneapolis Star in 1979 and has served in a variety of editorial positions since then. He has been editor of the Star-Tribune since 1993. Before going to Minneapolis, McGuire was the managing editor of The Ledger in Lakeland, Fla., Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller, and the Ypsilanti (Mich.) Press. He was graduated from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1971 with a B.A. degree, and he has a J.D. degree (cum laude) from William Mitchell College of Law. He was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 1987.

• During the coming year, ASNE’s work will be organized through 17 committees, its board and the ASNE Foundation. The committees and their chairs are:
• American Editor: Will F. Corbin, Daily Press, Newport News, Va.; and Pamela Luecke, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, co-chairs
• ASNE Awards Board: N. Don Wycliff, Chicago Tribune
• Convention Program: David A. Zeeck, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.
• Craft Development: Byron E. Calame, The Wall Street Journal, New York
• Creating the Future in Tough Times: Peter K. Bhatia, The Oregonian, Portland
• Diversity: Carolina Garcia, San Antonio Express-News
• Education for Journalism: Susan Bischoff, Houston Chronicle
• Ethics and Values: Joann Byrd, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• Freedom of Information: Anders Gyllenhaal, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.
• Interactive Media: Gil Thelen, The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune
• International: Tony W. Pederson, Houston Chronicle
• Leadership: Paul C. Tash, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times
• Membership: Hunter T. George, The Birmingham (Ala.) News
• Nominations: Deborah Howell, Newhouse News Service, Washington
• Partnerships and Diversification: Gilbert Bailon, The Dallas Morning News
• Readership Issues: Rick Rodriguez, The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee
• Small Newspapers: Debra Flemming, The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.