ASNE cancelled

By Jennifer J. Foster

Published: February 27, 2009

In yet another indication of the depth and breadth of the economic crisis that is swallowing entire newspapers and newspaper organizations whole, the American Society of Newspapers Editors has opted to cancel this year’s annual convention—marking only the second time in 87 years the convention won’t be held.

The only other occasion of a cancellation occurred in 1945, near the end of World War II. According to the Associated Press, the newspaper industry has weathered 10 U.S. recessions since that last cancellation.

“The industry is in crisis,“ said Charlotte Hall, president of the trade group and editor of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel. “This is a time when editors need to be in their own news rooms doing everything they can,“ to help their publications survive.

So much for misery loving company. I guess they’ll all have to come up with a grand scheme for web takeover on their own.