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MINUTES – BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING – NOVEMBER 9, 2001 Minneapolis

The meeting originally scheduled for Sept. 21, but postponed due to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, began with board members, legal counsel, and staff present. The committee chairs joined them later in the morning.

Board members attending: Tim J. McGuire, editor, Star Tribune, Minneapolis, President Diane H. McFarlin, publisher, Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune, Vice President Peter K. Bhatia, executive editor, The Oregonian, Portland, Secretary – Creating Newspapers’ Future in Tough Times Karla Garrett Harshaw, editor, Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun, Treasurer Susan C. Deans, assistant managing editor/Weekends, Rocky Mountain News, Denver Frank M. Denton, editor, Wisconsin State Journal, Madison Charlotte H. Hall, managing editor, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. – The American Editor, co-chair Pamela J. Johnson, Leadership & Management Faculty, The Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg, Fla. Edward W. Jones, editor, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va. Wanda S. Lloyd, executive director, The Institute for Newsroom Diversity, Nashville, Tenn. Robert G. McGruder, executive editor, Free Press Gregory L. Moore, managing editor, Rick Rodriguez, executive editor, The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee – Readership Issues Paul C. Tash, editor and president, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times – Leadership David A. Zeeck, executive editor, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. – Convention Program

Committee chairs attending: Susan Bischoff, deputy managing editor, Houston Chronicle – Education for Journalism Byron E. Calame, deputy managing editor, , New York – Craft Development Debra Flemming, editor, The Free Press, Mankato, Minn. – Small Newspapers Carolina Garcia, managing editor, San Antonio Express-News – Diversity Anders Gyllenhaal, executive editor, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. – Freedom of Information Deborah Howell, editor, Newhouse News Service, Washington – Nominations Pamela K. Luecke, professor, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va. – The American Editor, co-chair Gil Thelen, executive editor, The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune – Interactive Media

Others attending: J. Scott Bosley, ASNE executive director LaBarbara Bowman, ASNE diversity director Kevin M. Goldberg, Cohn and Marks, ASNE legal counsel Alison A. Hill, ASNE assistant to the executive director and meetings coordinator Diana Mitsu Klos, ASNE senior project director John M. Lavine, director, Media Management Center, Evanston, Ill. Sandy McCalvy, executive assistant, Star Tribune, Minneapolis Richard M. Schmidt Jr., Cohn and Marks, ASNE legal counsel Edward L. Seaton, editor-in-chief, The (Kan.) Mercury, ASNEF president

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Kevin Wilcox, ASNE communications director

Not attending: Richard Aregood, editorial page editor, The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J. Gilbert Bailon, executive editor, – Partnerships and Diversification Jennie Buckner, editor, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer Kenneth F. Bunting, executive editor, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Joann Byrd, editor, editorial page, Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Ethics and Values Hunter T. George, executive editor, The Birmingham (Ala.) News – Membership Richard A. Oppel, editor, Austin (Texas) American-Statesman, ex officio Tony W. Pederson, executive editor, Houston Chronicle – International N. Don Wycliff, public editor, – ASNE Awards Board

The minutes of the April meeting were approved.

The banking resolution was approved.

President McGuire expressed that there were two issues that he wished to discuss: the future of ASNE and a proposal regarding minority association involvement in ASNE. McGuire addressed the fact that since September 11 events, ASNE membership and involvement has declined, noting that this comes as no surprise considering the economic conditions.

The first discussion was focused on how ASNE can better serve the needs of editors and on problems that ASNE faces as an organization. Board members raised issues they felt were problem areas for ASNE. Among these were the ASNE-APME relationship, committee chairs being assigned to only one-year terms, the extent of disconnect between the ASNE board and ASNE members, getting small newspapers involved more with ASNE, and a lack of welcoming/mentoring for new members.

After some explanation on how APME operates by Ed Jones, there was a lengthy discussion about how to forge a better relationship between ASNE and APME. As a result, the following motion was put forth by Ed Jones and seconded by Frank Denton:

Be it resolved that ASNE and APME enter frank and open dialogue about the best way to serve the needs of American editors.

Approval was unanimous.

Tim McGuire invited further discussion by the board. A number of issues were raised, including mentoring new ASNE members, offering multiple memberships to newspapers, the relevance of ASNE conventions to members and possible improvements of the ASNE Web site.

Tim McGuire appointed a committee comprised of Charlotte Hall as chair, Karla Harshaw, Pam Johnson and Rick Rodriguez to address the issue of multiple memberships and asked that they bring a proposal to the spring meeting for consideration.

Charlotte Hall recommended that a program for mentoring new ASNE members be initiated. Tim McGuire asked Wanda Lloyd and Sue Deans to take a look at the mentoring issue and work with David Zeeck to fit new ideas into the convention program.

Tim McGuire informed the board about the previous day’s meeting of the Diversity Committee, with the presidents of the minority associations and Unity. The purpose of this meeting was to brainstorm on retention issues with the key players involved.

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A discussion regarding a proposal to include minority association presidents as ex-officio board members ensued. Peter Bhatia stated that he had strong reservations. However, he noted that he strongly supported the idea of holding diversity roundtables each year. A number of others said that they supported the proposal. Frank Denton moved that the motion be amended to include the minority representatives as guests during the committee portion of the meeting rather than as ex-officio members. Legal counsel Dick Schmidt and Kevin Goldberg, along with executive director Scott Bosley, examined the ASNE bylaws and determined that for minority representatives to become ex-officio members, it would require a bylaw change and a 2/3 majority vote by those present at the following convention.

At the conclusion of the board discussion on this subject the following motion was proposed by Diane McFarlin:

ASNE will invite the presidents of NABJ, AAJA, NAHJ, NAJA and Unity, or a print representative of their executive committees, to attend the portion of the ASNE board meetings devoted to committee reports for the purpose of strengthening the interaction between ASNE and the largest minority journalist organizations as they work together to enhance the diversity of American newsrooms.

These association representatives will be encouraged to participate in all other board functions, ASNE committee work and special projects. They will receive free convention registration.

A "Diversity Roundtable" will be hosted by ASNE in conjunction with the ASNE convention each year, probably Tuesday morning before the Small Newspapers luncheon. This roundtable will include the presidents and executive directors of Unity, NAMME, NABJ, AAJA, NAHJ, NAJA; the officers, executive director and diversity director of ASNE; and the chairs of certain ASNE committees, such as Diversity, Small Newspapers, Leadership, Membership and Education for Journalism. This roundtable will allow for a review of the latest ASNE diversity census and a focused discussion of issues and initiatives related to diversity in our newsrooms.

Approval was unanimous.

The committee chairs joined the board at 11:30 am, prior to lunch

Vice President McFarlin referred attendees to the list of her committee chairs for 2002-03. She said that her theme for the year will be “sharing the passion for journalism.” Diane noted that the Fall board meeting will be October 10-12 in Sarasota, Fla. at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. She also informed the board that there may be a fact-finding trip to Cuba at the conclusion of the board meeting.

Peter Bhatia, reporting as secretary and also for the Membership Committee in chairman Hunter George’s absence, said that the board would need to approve all membership applications. He noted that all the applications were routine, except for the two from Australia: Cratis Hippocrates (deferred from April) and Mark Scott. He recommended that the board approve both applicants, as well as all other applicants.

The following Secretary’s report was approved, and all the membership applications accepted:

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Since the board met in April, there have been three deaths and 53 resignations and ineligibilities, including 32 dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues. There are seven members to be transferred to the retired rolls. The board will consider 33 applications for membership, including one held from the April meeting, one reinstatement for a late dues payment, and two former members. Assuming all are elected and the transfers approved, membership will stand at 827 dues paying; 644 active/distinguished service and 183 retired. This compares to 848 at the same time last year.

Member applicants/reinstatements (33) Stephen Adler, deputy managing editor, The Wall Street Journal, New York Marty Bachman, managing editor, Siskiyou , Yreka, Calif. Mark Baldwin, executive editor, Wausau (Wis.) Daily Herald Catherine Barnett, executive editor, The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, Calif. (reinstatement; deleted in April and subsequently paid dues) Randell Beck, executive editor, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D. Ellen Belcher, editorial page editor, Dayton (Ohio) Daily News Benjamin Burns, retired executive editor, The Detroit News, now professor/director, Wayne State University Journalism Program, Detroit (former member, reinstate to retired) Gail Collins, editorial page editor, Raymond Eckenrode, managing editor, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror Thomas Fiedler, executive editor, The Serge Gosselin, editor in chief, The Winnipeg Sun, Manitoba, Canada Lloyd Gray, editor, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo Liza Gross, executive managing editor, El Nuevo Dia, San Juan, Puerto Rico Lynn Haddrall, editor, The Record, Kitchener, Ontario Cratis Hippocrates, group editorial learning and development manager, John Fairfax Holdings, Sydney, Australia (held from April meeting) Vickie Kilgore, executive editor, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash. Linda Killian, bureau chief and editor, Boston University News Service, Washington James Krumel, editor, The Lima (Ohio) News Don Lindley, executive editor, The News-Journal, Daytona Beach, Fla. Joanne Lipman, deputy managing editor, The Wall Street Journal, New York Barry Locher, editor, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill. Cheri Matthews, editor, Tracy (Calif.) Press John Moeur, managing editor, Sierra Vista (Ariz.) Herald/Bisbee Stanley Muschett, director, La Prensa, El Dorado, Panama David Newhouse, executive editor, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa. Andrew Rosenthal, assistant managing editor, The New York Times Patrick Sanders, editor, The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind. Susan Schmitt, editor, , Torrance, Calif. Mark Scott, director, organizational development, John Fairfax Holdings, Sydney, Australia Ritu Sehgal, assistant managing editor, The Miami Herald Paul Van Slambrouck, editor, The Christian Science Monitor, Boston Scott Ware, editor, , Bremerton Washington (former member) Don Wyatt, editor, Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune

Deaths (three) David Brace, vice president/news, Ottaway Newspapers, Campbell Hall, N.Y. Judith Brown, editor and publisher emerita, The Herald, New Britain, Conn. Robert McKinney, publisher, The Santa Fe New Mexican

Resignations and ineligibilities (53), including 32 dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues William Ahearn, left executive editor, Associated Press, New York; dropped, not in qualifying position, 2001 dues not paid

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Danilo Arbilla, editor-in-chief, Busqueda, Montivideo, Uruguay (DS member); dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Tad Bartimus, editor, The Women Syndicate, Puunene, Hawaii; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues David Brown, executive editor, Lake City (Fla.) Reporter; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Sue Byrne, left managing editor, React Magazine, New York, magazine closed; resigned, no longer eligible, is working for a niche magazine for Reader’s Digest, not old enough for retired Cole Campbell, former editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; dropped, not in qualifying position, 2001 dues not paid Robert Campbell, retired, Asheville, N.C.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Jeannette Chavez, managing editor, ; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Gary Clark, left managing editor, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland; dropped, not in qualifying position, 2001 dues not paid William Cody, retired, Lancaster, Pa.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Jonathan Cooper, executive editor, The Herald, New Britain, Conn.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Julie Copeland, city editor, The Californian, Salinas; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Thomas Dearmore, retired, Springfield, Mo.; resigned, says he is disabled and is dropping memberships in various organizations Suzanne Downing, editorial page editor, The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle; resigned, budget considerations Rob Elder, retired editor, San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues William Evans, retired, Dallas, Texas; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Ann Frantz, former managing editor, Sentinel & Enterprise, Fitchburg, Mass., now assistant editorial page editor, The Sun, Lowell, Mass., dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues James Gatti, retired, Linden, Mich.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Leah Gentry, editorial director, new media, ; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Barrie Hartman, editor of the editorial page, , Boulder, Colo.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues James Haught, editor, The Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Edward Johnson, retired, St. Augustine, Fla.; resigned, no reason given Michael Hirten, former executive editor, The Burlington (Vt.) Free Press, now executive editor, Lansing (Mich.) State Journal; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Fred Kardon, editor-in-chief, The Daily Record, Baltimore, Md.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Melinda Keirnan, sr. vice president and general manager, San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Timothy Kelly, president and publisher, The Herald-Leader, Lexington, Ky.; resigned, after five years as a publisher and not being able to participate, it’s time for him to move on Mark Land, former executive editor, Battle Creek (Mich.) Enquirer, now assistant managing editor, The Indianapolis Star; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Joseph Lelyveld, executive editor, The New York Times; resigned, retired and does not want to continue Jacalyn Levine, managing editor, The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Robert Lloyd, left executive editor, Erie (Pa.) Times-News; dropped, no longer eligible, now associate professor at Syracuse University, not old enough for retired membership William Lobdell, editor, Daily Pilot, Costa Mesa, Calif.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Diana Loevy, left editorial director, United Media, New York; resigned, not in qualifying position, 2001 dues not paid Donald Luzzatto, editor, Suffolk, (Va.) News-Herald; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues

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Frederick Mann, general manager, KnightRidder.com, ; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Elliott Maraniss, retired, Milwaukee, Wis.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Meta Minton, editor, Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram, dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Acel Moore, associate editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Richard Petersen, former new ventures director, The San Diego Union-Tribune; dropped, left paper, no forwarding address Charles Pukanecz, vice president of news, Journal Register Co., Trenton, N.J.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Dorothy Reinhold, left executive editor, San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group, West Covina, Calif.; dropped, not in qualifying position, 2001 dues not paid William Rood, left vice president for editorial, Fox Valley Press, Inc./Copley Newspapers, Aurora, Ill.; resigned, not in qualifying position, 2001 dues not paid Anabella de Rubinoff, editor general adjunct, La Prensa, El Dorado, Panama; dropped, mail being returned, no answer to email, believe no longer at paper Paul Schatt, associate editor, , Phoenix; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Ruby Scott, left director/diversity recruiting, Tribune Company, Chicago; dropped, not in qualifying position, 2001 dues not paid John Secor, executive editor, Troy (Ohio) Daily News; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Larry Smith, retired, South Norwalk, Conn.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues William Sorrels, retired, West Point, Miss.; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues Brian Stallcop, former editor, The Sun, Bremerton, Wash.; dropped, no longer eligible, now a stockbroker Karen Wada, former assistant managing editor, Los Angeles Times; dropped, left paper, no forwarding address Richard Wagner, former executive editor, The Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.; dropped, left paper, no forwarding address Kathy Warbelow, executive business editor, Austin (Texas) American-Statesman; dropped for nonpayment of 2001 dues William Ward, took buyout from managing editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer; dropped, not old enough for retired membership Peter Young, executive editor, Monterey County (Calif.) Herald; dropped, no longer eligible, now editor, The New York Times Upfront, a magazine for teens published every two weeks during the school year

Transfers to retired rolls (seven) James Box, editor, Daily Breeze, Torrance, Calif. Will Corbin, editor, Daily Press, Newport News, Va. William Ketter, vice president/community relations and asst. to the publisher, The Boston Globe Maryanne McNellis, president, national edition, Los Angeles Times David Owen, editor, The Parkersburg (W. Va.) Sentinel Susan Patterson, editor and publisher, The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Ga. Matthew Storin, editor, The Boston Globe

Transfers to other papers/title changes: Reid Ashe, president and publisher, Tampa (Fla.) Tribune, to president and chief operating officer, Media General, Richmond, Va. Martin Baron, executive editor, The Miami Herald, to editor, The Boston Globe Amanda Bennett, managing editor, The Oregonian, Portland, to editor, Lexington (Ky.) Herald- Leader Gerald Boyd, deputy managing editor to managing editor, The New York Times Alan Buncher, executive editor and associate publisher to publisher, Beaver County (Pa.)

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Times Edward Casey, executive editor to editorial page editor, The Capital, Annapolis, Md. James Cato, editor to editor and publisher, The Beaufort (S.C.) Gazette David Cook, editor, The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, to senior editor and bureau chief, The Christian Science Monitor, Washington George Cox, editor, The Brownsville (Texas) Herald, to editor, Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas Jim Crutchfield, general manager to president and publisher, The Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio Maria Henson, deputy editorial page editor to assistant managing editor/enterprise, Austin (Texas) American-Statesman David Holwerk, editor, Duluth (Minn.) News-Tribune, to editorial page editor, The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee Elaine Kramer, editor, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa., to managing editor, Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel David Ledford, executive editor, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D., to executive editor, Springfield (Ohio) News-Leader Kate Marymont, executive editor, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, to executive editor, News- Press, Fort Myers, Fla. David Mazzarella, retired member, to editorial director, Stars and Stripes, Washington Robert Mong, president and general manager to president and editor, The Dallas Morning News Eric Newton, news historian, The Newseum, Arlington, Va., to director of journalism initiatives, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Miami (DS member) Marnie Mead Oberle, managing editor, Sunday Times-News, Erie, Pa., to acting executive editor, Times-News, Erie, Pa. David Offer, editor, Stars and Stripes, Washington, to executive editor, The Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, Augusta, Maine (forgave 2001 dues) Dennis Ryerson, editor, Des Moines () Register, to editorial page editor, San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News John Schueler, president and publisher, Star Tribune, Minneapolis, to publisher, , Woodland Hills, Calif. Kathy Silverberg, executive editor, TimesDaily, Florence, Ala., to general manager, Times- News, Hendersonville, N.C. John Simpson, retired member, to executive editor, The Los Angeles Times Syndicate International Calvin Stovall, managing editor, The Indianapolis Star, to managing editor, The News Journal, Wilmington, Del. Jane Sutter, executive editor, Star-Gazette, Elmira, N.Y., to managing editor, Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, N.Y. Richard Weil, executive editor to assistant managing editor/project editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch John Temple, editor and president to editor, publisher and president, Rocky Mountain News, Denver Ken Winter, editor and general manager to editor and publisher, Petoskey (Mich.) News- Review Narda Zacchino, associate editor, Los Angeles Times, to senior editor, San Francisco Chronicle

Unemployed/status pending (2001 dues paid, except where noted) Stephanie Chang, editor, senior vice president/editorial, Access Internet Magazine, Needham, Mass., magazine closed Brian Cooper, executive editor, Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, on special assignment for year (forgave 2001 dues) Barbara Delp, left executive editor, , Lansdale, Pa. James Flansburg, left executive editor, Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle Terri Fleming, left editor, The Gazette, Colorado Springs

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Jay Harris, resigned as chairman and publisher, San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News James Jennings, left editorial director, Thomson Newspapers Peter Johnson, night managing editor, , now page 1 editor, The Detroit News, inquiring about eligibility Frank Keegan, left editor, The Express-Times, Easton, Pa. Cindy McCurry-Ross, left executive editor, The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Mary Jo Meisner, left editor and vice chairman, Community Newspaper Co., Needham, Mass. Jack Moseley, left editor, Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark. Michael Tonos, left executive editor, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.; will become retired member in 2002 if not in qualifying position (forgave 2001 dues) Matthew Wilson, left executive vice president/news and associate publisher, San Francisco Chronicle

In the treasurer’s report, Ms. Harshaw noted that even in a tough year ASNE came out with a profit of $94,274, compared to the $50,000 that was budgeted. She said that most of the extra money came from the Knight Foundation’s advance payment to the High School Project. Harshaw said that dues and membership were down this year, as was the expected income from the convention.

Scott Bosley noted that the audit of ASNE was almost completed and that there have been no questions raised by the auditing company.

The following treasurer’s report was approved:

ASNE 2000-01 COMPARISON TO BUDGET, 2001-02 BUDGET (Adjusted/Unaudited)

Budget Actual 2001-02 BUDGET 2000-01 2000-01 % of Budget Approved 4/01

1. Dues 360,500 354,805.00 98.4 346,500 2. Initiation fees 18,000 10,650.00 59.2 10,500 3. Interest/dividends 25,000 22,362.70 89.5 22,500 4. Reimbursements 288,500 336,000.00 116.5 307,500 5. Convention 497,000 434,580.61 87.4 484,500 6. American Editor 14,000 14,406.26 102.9 11,500 7. Publications 1,500 1,850.00 123.3 1,500 8. Miscellaneous 1,500 1,992.00 132.8 1,500

9. Total Income 1,206,000 1,176,646.57 97.6 1,186,000

10. Salaries 480,500 461,396.56 96.0 507,500 11. Payroll taxes 35,000 32,999.10 94.3 37,500 12. Group insurance 28,500 21,363.22 75.0 33,500 13. Retirement 30,500 30,606.00 100.3 39,000 14. Legal counsel 97,000 92,833.60 95.7 100,000 15. Audits/consulting 4,500 4,115.49 91.5 4,500 16. Convention 251,500 238,580.08 94.9 243,000 17. Board/comm. mtgs 12,500 11,222.84 89.8 10,000 18. American Editor 43,000 37,040.31 86.1 41,000 19. Proceedings 10,500 12,406.57 118.2 11,500 20. Dues/subscriptions 1,500 1,515.10 101.0 2,000 21. Rent 25,500 25,316.04 99.3 31,500 22. Office expenses 28,000 27,256.34 97.3 25,000

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23. Equipment/furniture 15,000 4,041.04 26.9 10,000 24. Postage 28,000 19,215.36 68.6 26,000 25. Telephone 23,500 20,695.01 88.1 21,500 26. Travel 19,500 18,082.88 92.7 20,000 27. Insurance 7,500 6,937.00 92.5 7,500 28. Miscellaneous 14,000 16,750.12 119.6 15,000

29. Total Expenses 1,156,000 1,082,372.66 93.6 1,186,000

30. Profit (loss) 50,000 94,273.91 188.5 --

Gil Thelen, reporting for the Interactive Media and Partnerships for Diversification Committees, said that the committees had held their mid-year meeting Nov. 2-4 in Tampa and they enjoyed very good attendance. Thelen said that proceedings from the meeting would be posted on ASNE’s Web site. The committee also plans to print a tabloid publication for distribution at the 2002 convention.

Edward Seaton noted that ASNE Foundation collected $130,000 in unrestricted contributions last year. He reported that the Foundation’s assets currently total $2.8 million. Of that $1.7 million is unrestricted; the rest is designated by other Foundations for specific projects. Seaton informed the board that The Freedom Forum has discontinued their International department, therefore, ASNE will not receive funding in the future for its IJE project. A search for a new funder has begun.

Tim McGuire noted that Tony Pederson, chair of the International Committee was not able to be at the meeting. McGuire noted that Pederson’s efforts on international press issues had been invaluable.

Pam Luecke gave the report for the American Editor Committee. She noted that the magazine has received strong contributions this year. She also thanked Charlotte Hall for picking up where Will Corbin left off when he retired. Luecke pointed out the special September 11 issue and noted how quickly everyone worked to get it out. Charlotte Hall commended both Luecke and Kevin Wilcox on their efforts putting together each issue of the magazine. Hall also reported that ASNE would not accept advertising in the magazine at this time, an issue that had been under study.

John Lavine was a guest at the board meeting, reporting on the Readership Initiative. He said that NAA has granted funding for the Initiative through 2002. Lavine told the board that the Readership Initiative staff has made 70 presentations to over 5,000 people in the industry since January. He also noted that they are very active with both the American Press Institute and The Poynter Institute, and that the Readership.org site is getting enormous and intense traffic.

Rick Rodriguez, reporting for the Readership Issues Committee, noted that they are working with the Readership Institute and are planning two regional conferences prior to the April convention.

Diversity Committee chair Carolina Garcia informed the board of the results of the previous day’s committee meeting including the presidents of the minority associations. The most important result was the agreement of the presidents to work together with ASNE on solutions to the retention problem. She said a major focus going forward would be on developing effective training and dialogue throughout the industry.

Debra Flemming reported that the Small Newspapers Committee is working with the Diversity Committee on the Latino seminar scheduled for March.

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Wanda Lloyd reported that there are currently 26 diversity fellows working in small newspapers as part of the Freedom Forum/ASNE/APME partnership. She noted that the goal is to have 50 fellows.

Anders Gyllenhaal, Freedom of Information chair, reported that the committee is completing the second year of a two-year project to develop ASNE’s strategy for expanding and strengthening freedom of information in the digital era. After a year of research, surveys and debate, the first half of 2001 was spent writing a set of principles of openness and compiling a set of recommendations for putting them into practice.

Among the key elements of the work have been: (1) Developing the draft of principles of freedom of information that address how we believe government ought to handle access and openness issues, (2) conducting a session on privacy law at Harvard Sept. 6-7, and (3) planning an FOI Summit Dec. 14-15 at the Freedom Forum (delayed from Sept. 28 because of Sept. 11) to engage in a broad discussion that will lead to recommendations for finalizing a set of FOI principles and ideas for carrying the project to our members and the industry.

Gyllenhaal also said that funding was being sought to assist in helping editors use the committee’s work in battling for openness in their states and communities.

He also noted ASNE’s communication urging Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to state his unequivocal support for the Statement of Principles on News Coverage of Combat endorsed by previous administrations and promote open coverage of the War on Terrorism. Also noted was ASNE’s letter to Attorney General Ashcroft expressing concerns about his seeming shift toward less openness in administration of FOIA. This letter has resulted in an invitation for ASNE to meet with Justice Department FOIA officials, which will occur soon.

Deborah Howell said the Nominations Committee would meet on January 20, 2002 at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla. to nominate candidates for election to the ASNE board in April.

Susan Bischoff, chair of the Education for Journalism Committee, said that the High School Project has received tremendous support from editors, journalism teachers and students. She noted that ASNE has $4.8 million in funding over a four-year period, provided by the Knight Foundation. Bischoff pointed out that there were six host universities participating in the program this year. Next year that number will drop to five, due to a change in funding by the Knight Foundation.

Tim McGuire noted that both the Ethics and Values and ASNE Awards Board chairs were not able to be at the meeting. However, he urged board members to read the reports submitted by both committee chairs.

Paul Tash spoke on behalf of the Leadership Committee. He reported that the initial ASNE Leadership Award will be made during the 2002 convention in April.

Tash also said the committee’s work on a book about outstanding leaders in the industry was on course and would be printed for distribution at the convention. Pam Johnson, with help from others at The Poynter Institute, are editing the book and ASNE Foundation is covering printing costs.

Peter Bhatia, reporting for the new committee Creating Newspapers’ Future in Tough Times, said that the committee has asked members to tell how their lives have been different since

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September 11. He said he has gotten about 25 responses, which will be shared with members on the ASNE Web site.

David Zeeck reported that the Convention Program Committee is making strides toward setting up a compelling convention for 2002. He noted that the convention is heavily focused on September 11 and the aftermath, as well as understanding and learning about Islam. There is also an emphasis on take home material, such as work presented and done by this year’s ASNE committees. He informed the board that Colin Powell has accepted an invitation to speak and the President has also been invited.

Barney Calame reported for the Craft Development Committee. He said the committee was planning a survey on training needs and was preparing to produce, based on the result, training materials aimed at helping editors in small and mid-sized newspapers.

The board went into executive session and Mr. Rodriguez was elected to the ladder as treasurer-designate.

The meeting was adjourned.

______Peter K. Bhatia, ASNE Secretary