2002 AASFE Conference: Las Vegas
Here are a few of the highlights from the Oct. 15-18 Las Vegas convention:
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Is it possible to change your paper's comics without making readers --
and editors -- miserable? A panel of editors discussed the careful
chemistry needed to attract younger niche readers with specialty strips
while keeping older readers content.
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Panelists discussed guidelines that can be implemented at your paper or used as a launching pad for discussion.
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Steven S. Duke, project manager of the Readership Institute at
Northwestern University's Media Management Center, provided an overview
of an extensive reader study designed to identify topics that have the
greatest potential to grow readership. His slide presentation is
available online.
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Panelists at the AASFE convention said not quite yet, but it's not
sacrosanct, and papers should continue to come up with new approaches.
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Los Angeles Times reporter Michael Quintanilla's life is set to a
soundtrack, including Vicki Sue Robinson's "The the Beat Around"- an
ode to his love of '70s pop culture. Quintanilla shared his writing
philosophy, along with his taste in music, with AASFE in what was,
perhaps, the world's only journalism session to begin under the sparkly
gyrations of a disco ball.
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Restaurant critics urge fairness and accuracy in a time of shrinking
newspaper budgets and tighter deadlines, which threaten the quality of
their work.
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Panelists gave their advice on the best way to attract the desirable
18- to 34-year-old market, including recognizing their intelligence and
savvy.
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Moderator Mary C. Curtis, executive features editor/columnist, The
Charlotte Observer, lead a post-lunch discussion with writing contest
winners about good writing, interviewing and storytelling.
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Vivian Vahlberg, director of journalism programs for the Robert R.
McCormick Tribune Foundation, discussed the state of women in newsrooms
around the country, as well as the latest research about the "glass
ceiling" still encountered by many women editors.
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Keith Woods, a member of The Poynter Institute faculty, talked about a
side of diversity that can transform journalism into intrigue,
entertainment, tantalizing truth and meaty revelation. Woods talked
about a deeper definition of diversity that strives for the highest
goals of journalism.
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Elvis makes a guest appearance, but the stars of the show are the
auction bidders, who helped AASFE raise nearly $7,600 for fellowships
for next year's convention.
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