Last Updated: January 05, 2005
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Q.
What is ASNE?
A. The American Society of Newspaper Editors.
Q. When
was it founded and why?
A. ASNE was founded in 1922 amid attacks on newspapers and their editors, but
it had been percolating in the minds of some even before that. The first president
was Casper Yost of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Read
more about the formation of ASNE here.
Q. Who can
belong to ASNE?
A. Directing editors of daily newspapers and people directly involved with developing
content for daily newspapers. This
link explains a lot more.
Q. Where
is it based?
A. ASNE is based in Reston, Va. It is a tenant in the American Press Institute
building; the street address is 11690B Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston VA 20191-1409.
Here
is a map of its location.
Q. How do
I reach the staff?
A. Contact information is at this link.
Q. How do
I reach ASNE's president
A. When it's related to ASNE business, generally it's best to contact the executive
director first. Learn about the leadership of
ASNE.
Q. What
are its main goals?
A. First and foremost, ASNE is an organization of members who come together
to share ideas. This is primarily done through our convention.
ASNE also has
several initiatives carried out by its committees.
And projects,
generally carried out by staff with advice from committees. Currently, our primary
projects are in the areas of diversity, credibility and readership. Additional
projects include the High School Journalism Project, the Institute for Journalism
Excellence and the International Journalism Exchange.
Q. Why is
the ASNE convention held in Washington so much?
A. Four reasons: First, because that was the tradition started by the founders
-- in more than 70 conventions, fewer than 20 have been held outside Washington.
Second, because more people attend when it is in Washington. Third, because
we generally get better speakers. Fourth, we save our members money by sticking
with one hotel in a long-term contract.
Look
at our long-term schedule for more information.
Q. Doesn't
ASNE do a survey of some kind?
A. Yes. The Newsroom Employment Census is conducted annually and shows the total
number of full-time newspaper newsroom employees in the United States, the diversity
of U.S. newsroom staffs and the percentage of women in the newsroom. Learn
more about it at this link.
Q. I am
a student and would like you to comment a question I've been assigned by my
teacher/professor.
A. ASNE has a very small staff and does not have the time or resources to answer
all of the questions we receive. Additionally, we are unable to offer opinions
on journalism topics, since our members are the people with the knowledge in
these areas. We suggest that you contact your local newspaper editor and ask
the questions to him or her in person or in a letter or e-mail. They'll give
a better answer anyway.
Q. I would
like to get the membership list so I can...
A. ASNE does not share its membership information with non-members.
Q. I would
like to get an e-mail address for a member. Why don't you list them?
A. ASNE does not share its membership information with non-members. This includes
e-mail addresses.
Q. OK,
then can you tell me where I could find a free list of journalist e-mail addresses?
A. Unfortunately, no. We do not know of any.
Q. How
can I send my press release to your members?
A. You can't. ASNE does not forward items from non-members to its member editors.
Q. How can
I advertise with you? How can I get a rate card?
A. You can't. ASNE does not accept advertising for its publications. During
its convention, there is a special exception made for its convention newspaper,
The ASNE Reporter. See convention
information for that; the ASNE convention is held annually in the spring
-- information on the convention page is updated starting in the fall.
Q. My newspaper's
a member, how can I ...?
A. Unlike the Newspaper Association of America -- and some other groups -- where
newspapers are members, ASNE membership is through the individual editor. The
member should contact us.
Q. My editor's
a member, how can I ...?
A. We do many things for and on behalf of our members. Special requests should
really come from the member.
Q. I think
I have a special case for membership.
A. Membership is considered on a case-by-case basis by the ASNE Board of Directors.
Generally, though, the Board needs to see evidence that your publication comes
out daily and that you are directly responsible for directing editorial content.
Weekly editors and online editors not associated with a daily newspaper are
ineligible.
