BOSTON — Sports editors of newspapers with circulations under 40,000 shared some of their work and concerns with each other and the Associated Press during the small paper caucus Friday during the APSE Boston convention.
Sessions receiving the most favorable early reviews among the group of about 15 in attendance were the sessions on social media strategies, high school extras, chasing rumors, and the Poynter leadership event.
An eternal concern is making sure panels include presenters with either some small newspaper background or subjects of interest to small newspaper editors.
Some of the panels this week that particularly addressed this were:
— Danyelle White of the Salt Lake Tribune discussing the paper’s social media coverage as it relates to high schools.
— Hank Domin of the Albany Times-Union and Chris Beaven of the Canton Repository for their high school extra session. Domin discussed his preseason high school football magazine launched last year, and Beaven discussed www.fridaynightohio.com, his paper’s multimedia high school football website.
— Butch Ward and Jill Geisler of the Poynter Institute’s newsroom management session, which presented tips and strategies for staffs of all sizes.
One new way in which APSE is committed to continuing these experiences for small newspapers is the creation of the Grass Roots committee, which is intended to insure at least one session in each regional meeting and convention geared to smaller papers. This committee, led by APSE 3rd Vice President Ben Brigandi of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, and created by incoming president Michael Anastasi, also includes Robert Gagliardi of the Wyoming Eagle Tribune, Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News, and APSE 2nd Vice President Tim Stephens of the Orlando Sentinel.
This effort follows on the heels of a recent marketing survey answered by more than 100 sports editors of papers in the smallest two circulation categories, in which respondents favored convention sessions geared toward high school sports, social media, websites, management, and writing. All subjects were covered in this week’s convention.
The major news out of the meeting with Byrne was to repeat the announcement that the AP will expand its hometown leads on game stories for the NFL and major college football. This service, which already exists for Major League Baseball, has been used when available. One issue with the baseball service has been night game stories not arriving in time for deadline once the writer files the NewsNow, write-thrus, and optional stories.
Several editors questioned the inconsistency state to state with the collection and reporting of statewide scores and all-state teams. Byrne said a big reason for that is states with a perceived lower level of demand for that will have less of those services, if any, but she welcomes input from those dissatisfied.
Byrne also reminded everyone she’s available 24 hours a day, and does not mind taking calls very late at night. Byrne said she’s always been able to return to sleep when someone wakes her up with a question.
