ASNE Elects Rick Rodriguez President, Four New Board Members

By: E&P Staff Rick Rodriguez, executive editor of The Sacramento Bee, was elected president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors at the group's convention today.

In his first speech as president, Rodriguez said he will focus on watchdog journalism during his year leading ASNE.

"Few things are as exciting and rewarding to an editor as investigative or public service journalism done fairly, accurately and ethically. It's the thing that attracted many of us to this profession," Rodriguez said. "It's needed now more than ever as open record laws at the federal and local levels come under attack and spin machines continue to roll in high gear."

"Great watchdog journalism not only fulfills our unique role in this democracy, but it provides the kind of unique content that will set us apart. We have a great history of public service journalism from newspapers big and small. We must continue to build on it."

Rodriguez succeeds Karla Garrett Harshaw, editor of the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun and senior editor for Cox Community Newspapers, who led ASNE during the past year. Harshaw will continue as an ex officio member of the board.

Other officers elected were Vice President David A. Zeeck, executive editor of The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash.; Secretary Gilbert Bailon, editor of Al D?a in Dallas; and Treasurer Charlotte H. Hall, editor of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel.

Seven directors were elected to the ASNE board.

Newly elected to the board were: Jim Amoss of The Times-Picayune in New Orleans; Caesar Andrews of Gannett News Service; Christopher Peck of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn.; and Ellen Foley of the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison.

Incumbent members reelected were: Susan Bischoff of the Houston Chronicle; Sharon Rosenhause of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale; and Julia D. Wallace of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Members continuing on the ASNE board are Milton Coleman of The Washington Post; Mike Jacobs of the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald; W. Martin Kaiser of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Robert Rivard of the San Antonio Express-News; Stanley R. Tiner of The Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss.; Janet S. Weaver of The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune; and N. Don Wycliff of the Chicago Tribune.