2001 AASFE Conference: Chicago
The Drake Hotel, Chicago IL. CHICAGO -- Feature editors are faced with harsh budget realities and a country plunged into a war against terrorism. Yet the 125 men and women who attended the 55th Annual American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors' convention at The Drake Hotel in Chicago searched for ways to cope with both. Tim McGuire, president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, kicked off the convention with a little inspiration. And Roger Ebert, renowned film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, provided healthy does of humor and scolding in his remarks to the group in Friday's general session. The women behind Ann Landers and Dear Abby (Eppie Lederer and Pauline Phillips) were inducted into the Features Hall of Fame. Chicago's mayor was one of the first speakers to launch the convention. One of the sessions added after the Sept. 11 attacks addressed how feature staffs nationwide have covered the tragedy. The three days of seminars offered sessions on understanding the values of Generation Y, how to expand source lists and, for the first time, a day devoted to arts and entertainment coverage. The new Saturday sessions included: The Young and The Raceless, which addressed how to encourage more diverse entertainment coverage. As always, the Show & Tell sessions were a hit. Says San Antonio Express-News features editor Elaine Ayala: "I see practical ideas I can put a twist on or steal out right." The silent auction raised nearly $6,000 to help pay for diversity fellows at future conventions. One of this year's diversity fellows, Lydia Fernandez, says her time at the convention validated the work she's been doing as features editor of the Star-Gazette in Elmira, N.Y. "It's been good for my attitude," she says. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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