AP Photo Editors Hold First Meeting

By: (AP) Alongside the Associated Press Managing Editors' 69th annual meeting, the new Associated Press Photo Managers group held its inaugural get-together.

The new group is modeled on the APME and gives photo managers an opportunity to discuss common problems among themselves as well as bring their concerns to The Associated Press.

The photo managers held workshops on such topics as hiring new talent, dealing with legal issues for the photo department, and coping with cutbacks.

"Every part of the newsroom has cutbacks," said APPM President Jim Dooley, director of photography for Newsday of Melville, N.Y. "The photo department deals with every department. Reductions of any kind have more implications for the photo department."

The photo managers also hope to develop strategies for working closely with other departments.

"If we can improve that relationship, if we can educate them, newsrooms are going to be better places to work and readers are going to be happier," said Larry Nyland, deputy managing editor for presentation at The Journal News of White Plains, N.Y.

The photo managers plan to meet annually. Their next gathering is scheduled for October 2003 in Phoenix, again alongside the APME.