National News (Shapers) in One Place

President Obama speaks to the editors
at lunch.

Last week, April 2-4, in Washington D.C., members of the media gathered for the annual conference of the American Society of News Editors (ASNE). The good news about the reporters of news? Integrity still matters. Between discussing innovative leadership, diversity in recruitment (which now includes thinking as well as ethnic differences), and smart phone apps that cover breaking news across platforms, these editors and journalists still seem to care about getting it right. About public service. About coverage that reflects a community, and sources that are verified before publishing. Despite real concerns about economic constraints around the business of news, enterprise reporting and watchdog journalism remain valued priorities for these members of the press. In fact, the general theme of the gathering was this: the industry will be saved by high impact journalism. Meaning, news organizations and readers alike require coverage of, and investment in, the kind of stories that matter everyday, for the everyday people served because of a free press.

Watergate reporters Bob Woodward, 2nd from 
left, and Carl Bernstein, 3rd  from left.

Arianna Huffington, center, and
Jill Abramson, editor of NYTimes, left

PBS Anchor Gwen Iffil and 
yours truly