2005 CSNE/APNEC Convention

San Francisco, Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf

Apr 28, 2005 - Apr 30, 2005

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Thursday, April 28
afternoon - CSNE Job Fair
evening - welcome reception at the Hyatt

Friday, April 29
Sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Reinventing the newspaper
Newspapers have grown beyond the traditional format.  How do editors maintain the core product and integrity of their papers in the midst of sweeping changes? From free dailies, sales and marketing to newsrooms and the business of newspapers, this session will look at the trends and issues that are shaping our profession. Moderator: Jerry Roberts, Santa Barbara News-Press. Panelists include:  Tim Gallagher, Ventura County Star; Vivienne Sosnowski, San Francisco Examiner; Mark Henschen, North County Times; and De Tran, Viet Mercury.

Innovations
California newspapers are coming up with all kinds of great new ideas to capture at-risk readers, diversify coverage and take advantage of the rapidly changing world of information. CSNE members are often on the cutting edge of all of this and have shared their ideas with us. This session will present some of the best innovations you've used to attract new readers, keep current readers happy, compete on the Internet and keep young readers interested.  Whether it is a redesigned section,  a reporter blog or rearranged newsroom beats, you'll see it here.  Session coordinated by: K.C. Meadows, Ukiah Daily Journal; Marina Hinestrosa, Nuevo Mundo and Buzz Eggleston, Calaveras Enterprise.

Open Source Journalism
Traffic on Web sites is up, circulation is down.  Blogs, chat rooms and do-it-yourself newspapers proliferate. A reader still has only 24 hours and there are so many more places to go for information.  Where are people going to spend that time? Who's a reporter? People are confused and so are news staffs.   The newspaper role of gate keeper is being challenged and it's all happening at cyber speed. How are journalists and editors grabbing hold of these changes as new information sources try their own thing and splinter readership? Session coordinators:  Mike Jenner, Bakersfield Californian and John Arthur, Los Angeles Times. Panelists include: Dan Gillmore, Howard Owens and Daniel Weintraub, The Sacramento Bee.

Ethics, Credibility and the Digital Age
This panel will highlight the challenges in maintaining and enhancing journalism credibility in an era of instantaneous, interactive communication -- a time in which the lines between journalists, personalities and people airing personal opinion can become blurred. What can editors do to bolster ethical practices in their newsrooms? How can they learn from the lessons of others? What should they watch out for?  Moderator:  Leslie Guevarra, San Francisco Chronicle. Panelists:  Dick Rogers, San Francisco Chronicle and president of the California First Amendment Coalition; Dori Maynard, Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education; Bruce Koon, Knight Ridder Digital; Marina Hinestrosa, Nuevo Mundo. 

Covering Gaming Part II
This session examines the complexities and unique issues that confront reporters and editors as they cover one of the fastest-growing industries in California  - Indian gaming. This session will look at trends in tribal gaming, legal issues, ballot initiatives and other important Indian gaming topics. Session coordinators:  Cristina Azocar, Center for Integration and Improvement in Journalism at San Francisco State University and Anthony Marquez, Associated Press, Los Angeles.  Moderator: Stephen Magagnini, who has covered ethnic affairs and race relations for The Sacramento Bee since 1994.  Panelists include: Barbara Risling, Hopa ValleyTribe; attorney Howard Dickstein and Anthony Miranda, California chair of the National Indian Gaming Association.

Training Opportunities
Brief presentations and handouts for newsrooms on training available to journalists in California. Representatives from USC, the Knight Foundation and others have been invited to share their program offerings.

Saturday, April 30
Associated Press News Executive Council Program

9 a.m.  Snagging Young Readers with a compelling entertainment report
Editors discuss their use of innovative content, different formats and voices that resonate with younger readers.

10:30 a.m. Terrorism and press coverage
An expert panel on anticipating the unthinkable -- a terrorism attack in California or on the West Coast. The panel will explore preparedness in California for a terrorist attack and whether the state is a more or less likely target than elsewhere. Other key questions: What are the likeliest types of attacks? How would a terrorist attack differ in immediate effect from a natural disaster? Are there likely social consequences of a major terrorist attack such as martial law or censorship? Invited participants include representatives of the FBI, Office of Homeland Security, a major police department and a research expert.

Luncheon 
Guest speaker Niko Price, Latin American Editor for the Associated Press discusses Mexico, Central America and border issues. AP Monterrey correspondent Olga Rodriguez joins the informal discussion, conducted in a question-and-answer format.

Saturday Evening  
2005 APNEC News Writing  and Photo Awards
The Associated Press invites you to join us as we honor the outstanding work in 2004 of California and Nevada writers, photographers, editors and graphic artists.
6:00 p.m. Cocktails
7:00 p.m. Dinner
8:00 p.m. Awards Presentations

HOTEL INFORMATION:
Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf
555 North Point Street, San Francisco
Reservation number: (415) 563-1234
Room rate - $149 per night. You must let the reservation agent know that you are with the CSNE convention. Reservation deadline: April 7

For more information and a registration form contact:

Becky Day, Executive Director
California Society of Newspaper Editors
10 Brainerd Road
Summit, NJ  07901
(908)-608-1596
FAX:  (908) 608-1597
beckyday@csne.org