Here’s the latest on the 2012 Texas APME convention March 30-April 1 in Dallas-Fort Worth…
A registration packet and complete program information will go out by regular mail next week. But you should begin making reservations now at the Omni Dallas Hotel to get the TAPME’s outstanding room rate.
Call the Omni at 1-800-THE-OMNI and ask for the Associated Press group rate of $129 single/double. The cut-off date is March 2, 2012.
Program topics include politics, digital innovation …
In a nod to the 2012 election, our convention program will feature a political panel that will look at prospects for Gov. Rick Perry after his unsuccessful presidential run — and we’ll hear from experts about what Perry’s experience might mean for Texas politics moving forward.
We also plan two sessions dealing with the increasingly urgent move toward digital platforms. One will discuss the effort to balance revenue between print and digital products: What’s working, what’s not, and what are some of the best ideas for growing digital revenue? The second will examine the pros and cons of using social media to gather news and to extend your brand.
On Sunday, we plan sessions with Freedom of Information experts and a follow-up on access issues surrounding sports coverage — a subject that’s becoming increasingly complicated.
A reminder about the auction …
Celeste Williams at the Star-Telegram is our auction chair and is looking for your contributions for both the live and silent auction. Popular silent auction items include iconic photos, gift baskets and books about Texas people and places.
Live auction winners include vacation homes or packages, tickets to sporting events and airline tickets. Think creatively about what you or your newspaper might donate and get in touch with Celeste at cxwilliams@star-telegram.com.
Remember, the Buster Haas auction funds scholarships for worthy Texas journalism students
Toot your own horn …
We’re looking for produced videos from three newspapers to highlight during the convention, demonstrating effective community outreach efforts. If your newspaper engaged during the past year in an especially worthwhile community effort, please share that with your fellow editors in the form of a three-minute video. To submit, contact Barton Cromeens at the Abilene Reporter-News (cromeensB@reporternews.com) or Brian Pearson at the Tyler Morning Telegraph (bpearson@tylerpaper.com). Don’t be modest!