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.

On the final day of the ASNE Convention, members heard recommendations from a special committee that had worked for months to chart a future for the 89-year-old organization. The headline: Dramatic changes are coming. The committee's strategy is to broaden membership while tightening ASNE's focus. It also urges exploring an array of initiatives and abandoning programs that are no longer critical to ASNE's core mission. "The result is a detailed and powerful roadmap for the future," said committee chair David Boardman. "The leadership of ASNE is committed to following it, and we are confident it will lead us not only to greater financial stability, but to becoming an even more helpful and relevant organization for our members, for journalism and for our society."

There has been a great deal of activity at ASNE since the 2011 convention ended. From a bylaws change and training webinars to survey results, amicus briefs and a diversity summit, ASNE President Ken Paulson provides the details in his quarterly report to the membership.

Six schools were selected to receive $5,000 grants to conduct programs in the next academic year as part of the national 1 for All campaign to raise awareness of the First Amendment: Dominican University of California, North Georgia College and State University, University of Memphis, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri and Wilbur Wright College of Chicago.

The McCormick Foundation grants — administered in partnership with ASNE and the First Amendment Center — are designed to bring thought-provoking First Amendment programs and speakers to university and college campuses nationwide. “As the 1 For All campaign celebrates its first anniversary, we’re pleased to extend the Liberty Tree Initiative, a remarkable partnership that taps into the energy of the First Amendment and the insights of experts, academic leaders, artists, musicians and journalists across this country,” said ASNE President Ken Paulson, president and CEO of the First Amendment Center and a founder of 1 for All.

1 for All and its campus initiative were founded in partnership with ASNE, and with help and support from the Knight Foundation, the McCormick Foundation, the First Amendment Center and the Newseum.

What keeps you up at night?

And, how can you best lead and manage your often bruised and disoriented staff when you also share those feelings?

ASNE and the American Press Institute would like to know your answers to those questions and more in an industrywide survey that will reach hundreds of editors, journalists, academics and retired professionals in digital and print companies.

By a vote of 121 to 10, ASNE members agreed to open the organization's membership to a larger pool of editors, educators and leaders of nonprofit groups dedicated to journalism. The amendment that was approved also creates a new nonvoting "Friends of ASNE" category. The changes are aimed at boosting ASNE's membership and making the organization more inclusive by better defining who is a leader in producing news content in the digital age.

ASNE members will begin voting next week on broadening the organization's bylaws to include more of those leading change in American journalism. The bylaws changes would expand the pool of potential members to include a wider range of editors, educators and nonprofit leaders dedicated to journalism, and create a nonvoting "Friends of ASNE" category for others whose participation will benefit the Society.

RESTON, Va. -- The American Society of Newspaper Editors is planning to remove "paper" from its name and expand its membership to include editors of online-only news Web sites and journalism educators, President Charlotte Hall told members in an e-mail today.