After hosting weekly Twitter chats since August 2011, ASNE yesterday added a new wrinkle to the program by alternating the Twitter discussions with weekly live web chats using the CoverItLive chat platform. The first live #ASNEchat was a conversation on the changing role of ombudsmen in the digital era, moderated by Steve Buttry, director of community engagement and social media for the Journal Register Co. Joining Buttry on the lively chat were Arthur Brisbane, public editor, New York Times; Geneva Overholser, professor and director, USC Annenberg School of Journalism; Patrick Pexton, ombudsman, The Washington Post; and Craig Silverman, editor, RegretTheError.com and adjunct faculty, Poynter institute.

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) had bipartisan support and its eventual passage appeared inevitable on Dec. 14, when ASNE became the first journalism organization to oppose the bill. By this past weekend, the bill’s progress had stalled, leaving almost no chance that it would pass in its original form.

Membership dues will decline dramatically for most American Society of News Editors members and prospective members under a new dues structure unveiled today. Under the new plan, ASNE returns to graduated dues rates based on the size of a member’s organization and his or her position within the company.