ASNE Proposes Expansion to Web-Only Membership

By: Joe Strupp The American Society of Newspaper Editors is proposing a major shift that will allow it to include non-print news outlets and journalism educators among its members, while removing "paper" from its name, according to a release Tuesday.

The release, which announced the news that President Charlotte Hall told members in an e-mail today, added that: "The Society?s board of directors unanimously recommended these and other changes that will be considered by ASNE members at a meeting during the group?s convention in Chicago next April."

The association's new name would be the American Society of News Editors. The logo would remain the same: ASNE, Leading America?s Newsrooms.

"It is time for ASNE to recognize in its name and its membership that we are way beyond print-only newspapers," Hall, editor of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, said in the release. "All journalists are now digital news producers, and while print remains an important delivery mode, more and more news is being produced only for the Web."

Under the proposal, editors from news Web sites, with or without newspaper affiliations, would be eligible to join ASNE, which was founded in 1922. In the past, it has limited membership to "directing editors of newspapers, including top editors of newspaper Web sites."

"The proposal would also extend full membership to deans, directors and endowed chairs from college journalism programs, as well as professional staff of journalism training programs and foundations focusing on journalism," the release stated.

The change is being proposed just a week after the Pulitzer Prizes announced plans to allow Web-only news outlets to submit entries for the coveted awards.

"These leaders are partners with editors in improving the state of journalism," said Hall. "They are heavily invested in our mutual future."

Another change recommended by the board would make it possible for the board to appoint members for limited terms to ASNE?s board: "This would enable appointment, for instance, of members from online news operations to represent that constituency as ASNE works to lead change."

The board also is asking members to approve a measure that would allow special meetings to be conducted electronically, the release said.