American newspapers showed a very slim increase in newsroom employees last year, finally halting a three-year exodus of journalists.

The percentage of minorities in newsrooms totaled 12.79 percent, a decline of .47 percentage points from a year ago, according to the American Society of News Editors, which has conducted a census of professional full-time journalists since 1978.

Defying long odds, The Seattle Times' publisher and CEO saved his news organization while maintaining its independence and preserving the courageous, public-service journalism for which it has become known under his leadership. Blethen is the first noneditor to receive the News Leadership award, which will be presented at ASNE's annual convention in San Diego, April 6-9.

Nine candidates will stand for election this year to the ASNE board, including two incumbents. They will vie for five three-year terms. Winners will be announced April 8, at the ASNE convention in San Diego.

As part of its national effort to help teens develop and embrace 21st century literacy skills, my.hsj.org and hsj.org seek high school teachers for an expenses-paid, two-week summer institute.

The ASNE Awards Board met late last week to select the winners, which include writers and reporters from news organizations like ProPublica, The Record of Bergen County, N.J., and the Hartford Courant. The number of entries in this year's contest increased by 30 percent. "Much of the best work demonstrated that technology is giving journalists new tools to improve their reporting and storytelling," said Awards Board Chair Marty Kaiser, editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "The winners and finalists show that the journalistic missions of accountability and great storytelling remain strong at many news organizations."