American Society of News Editors
The American Society of News Editors was a United States membership organization representing leaders of newspapers, digital newsrooms, journalism schools, and related media institutions.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The American Society of News Editors, originally established as the American Society of Newspaper Editors, was a professional membership organization for senior figures in American journalism. Its membership included editors, producers, and directors responsible for news organizations or editorial departments, as well as deans and faculty members at journalism schools and leaders of media-related foundations and training organizations. The association served as a forum for professional standards, newsroom leadership, editorial independence, diversity, public accountability, and the adaptation of journalism to changing technologies. The organization emerged in 1922 amid criticism of American newspaper practices. Articles published in The Atlantic Monthly by Frederick Lewis Allen and Moorfield Storey argued that newspapers needed to improve their standards and public service. Casper Yost, a respected editor of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, responded by contacting other editors about creating a body that could address such criticism and promote the news and editorial functions of newspapers. A preliminary gathering took place in Chicago in February 1922, followed by a larger organizing meeting in New York in April. By October, nearly 100 charter members had joined. The founders developed a constitution, a code of ethics, committees, and plans for an annual convention. At first, membership was restricted largely to editors of newspapers in cities with populations of at least 100,000. Those restrictions were gradually relaxed as the American newspaper industry changed and the organization broadened its understanding of newsroom leadership. In April 2009, the group changed its name from the American Society of Newspaper Editors to the American Society of News Editors, reflecting the growing importance of digital journalism and the broader range of editorial organizations represented by its membership. ASNE’s work was carried out through committees, awards, surveys, conferences, and public-interest programs. Its Diversity Committee oversaw the Newsroom Employment Census, which collected information about the gender and racial composition of staff at U.S. daily newspapers and online news sites. The organization also promoted credibility, readership, editorial leadership, and open government. Its Sunshine Week initiative became an annual campaign advocating access to public records, government transparency, and the public’s right to know. ASNE’s awards recognized achievements in editorial leadership, online storytelling, commentary, diversity reporting, accountability reporting, photography, breaking-news writing, and other forms of journalism. The association’s annual convention was generally held in Washington, D.C., except in 1945 and 2009. It became an important venue for political and journalism figures, and every serving U.S. president appeared at one of its conventions over the organization’s history. Notable presidential addresses included Calvin Coolidge’s speech on the press under a free government and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s address known as “Chance for Peace.” ASNE also experimented with services for emerging journalists and school publications. Its my.hsj.org project provided web hosting and educational resources for high-school newspapers, reaching more than 5,000 student publications by 2013. The service was discontinued in September 2013 as the organization concluded that schools had access to other suitable platforms. In 2012, ASNE partnered with the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism and moved its headquarters from Reston, Virginia, to Columbia, Missouri. The Association of Opinion Journalists merged with ASNE in 2016. In 2018, ASNE and Associated Press Media Editors announced plans to combine their organizations. The merger was completed in 2019, creating the News Leaders Association and ending ASNE as a separate organization.
History
The American Society of News Editors began in 1922 as the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Its formation followed criticism of the quality and public responsibilities of American newspapers published in The Atlantic Monthly. Casper Yost, editor of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, contacted fellow editors after reading articles by Frederick Lewis Allen and Moorfield Storey and argued that editors should organize to improve journalism and respond collectively to criticism. A preliminary meeting was held in Chicago in February 1922, with editors from several major cities participating. A further organizing meeting took place in New York in April, alongside the annual gathering of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. By October, nearly 100 charter members had enrolled. The organization adopted a constitution, developed a code of ethics, created committees, and prepared for its first convention, held the following year in Washington, D.C. Its original membership model focused on editors of newspapers in cities with populations of at least 100,000, but eligibility broadened over time as the profession and the news business evolved. For much of its existence, ASNE functioned as a national forum for newsroom leadership. Its annual convention brought together editors, public officials, and journalism figures. Meetings were generally held in Washington, D.C., and became a prominent setting for discussions of press freedom, editorial standards, government accountability, and the relationship between the press and public institutions. U.S. presidents regularly addressed the convention; the organization’s history records appearances by every sitting American president at one of its annual meetings. Among the notable speeches were Calvin Coolidge’s remarks on the press under a free government and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “Chance for Peace” address. The organization expanded its activities beyond meetings and professional networking. Committees worked on newsroom diversity, credibility, readership, and standards. The Newsroom Employment Census measured the racial and gender composition of staff at daily newspapers and online news sites. ASNE awards honored work in editorial leadership, online storytelling, commentary, diversity, accountability reporting, photography, and breaking news. The organization also developed public-interest initiatives, most notably Sunshine Week, an annual effort supporting government openness and access to public information. The association responded to the transformation of journalism by changing its name in April 2009 from the American Society of Newspaper Editors to the American Society of News Editors. The new name recognized that important editorial work was increasingly taking place outside the traditional newspaper format. In 2012, ASNE partnered with the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism and relocated its headquarters from Reston, Virginia, to Columbia, Missouri. ASNE also operated projects for journalism education and digital publishing. Its my.hsj.org platform hosted high-school newspapers and offered lessons related to reporting, publishing, and advertising. By 2013, the platform served more than 5,000 student newspapers, but ASNE shut it down that September, citing the availability of other services for schools. In 2016, the Association of Opinion Journalists merged with ASNE, adding another professional constituency. The organization’s final structural change came through its combination with Associated Press Media Editors. Merger plans were announced in 2018, and the two organizations joined in 2019 to create the News Leaders Association. ASNE therefore ceased to exist as a separate membership organization, while several of its programs, including the newsroom diversity census and Sunshine Week-related work, continued through successor structures.
- 2019
Merged into News Leaders Association
[1]ASNE merged with Associated Press Media Editors to form the News Leaders Association.
- 2016
Association of Opinion Journalists merger
[1]The Association of Opinion Journalists merged into ASNE.
- 2013
my.hsj.org discontinued
[1]The association ended its high-school newspaper hosting project after determining that schools had access to more alternatives.
- 2012
Headquarters relocated to Columbia
[1]ASNE moved its headquarters from Reston, Virginia, to Columbia, Missouri, in connection with a partnership with the Reynolds Journalism Institute.
- 2009
Name changed to American Society of News Editors
[1]The association changed its name to reflect a broader editorial and digital news membership beyond traditional newspaper organizations.
- 1923
First annual convention
[1]The organization prepared for and held its first convention in Washington, D.C., establishing an enduring annual meeting tradition.
- 1922
Organization founded
[1]Editors organized the American Society of Newspaper Editors after a series of public criticisms of American newspaper practices. The group developed a constitution, ethics code, committees, and a recruitment program.
Products and positioning
A professional leadership and standards organization for senior editors and other leaders in American news and journalism education, with a strong emphasis on editorial quality, diversity, transparency, and public accountability.
Public-interest journalism initiative
Sunshine Week
An annual initiative promoting open government, access to public records, and transparency in public institutions. Sunshine Week encouraged news organizations, journalists, and civic groups to explain and exercise public-information rights.
Industry research
Newsroom Employment Census
A recurring survey measuring the racial and gender composition of staff at U.S. daily newspapers and online news sites. The census supported discussion of newsroom diversity and was later continued through the News Leaders Association.
Journalism awards
ASNE Awards
A group of awards recognizing achievements in areas including editorial leadership, online storytelling, commentary, diversity reporting, local accountability reporting, community-service photojournalism, and breaking-news writing.
Educational digital platform
my.hsj.org
A web-hosting and educational platform for high-school newspapers. It provided publishing support and instructional material covering journalism, advertising, and production, and hosted more than 5,000 student publications by 2013.
Marketing campaigns
- Sunshine Week
United States
ASNE led an annual campaign supporting open government, transparent administration, public-records access, and informed civic participation.
Outcome. The initiative became a continuing public-interest journalism program associated with the successor News Leaders Association.
Brand decisions
2019
Merged with Associated Press Media EditorsM&ABackground
Both organizations represented leaders in the news industry and announced that consolidation could create a broader association for contemporary newsroom management.
Action taken
ASNE combined with Associated Press Media Editors to form the News Leaders Association.
Aftermath
ASNE ceased operating as a separate organization, while selected activities and programs continued under the successor association.
2016
Merged with the Association of Opinion JournalistsM&ABackground
ASNE sought to broaden its professional representation within editorial and opinion journalism.
Action taken
The Association of Opinion Journalists was merged into ASNE.
Aftermath
ASNE incorporated another journalism-focused professional constituency before its later combination with Associated Press Media Editors.
2013
Closed my.hsj.orgOtherBackground
The high-school newspaper platform operated in a digital environment with an increasing number of publishing alternatives for schools.
Action taken
ASNE shut down my.hsj.org in September 2013.
Aftermath
The association stated that schools could use other available platforms and services.
2012
Relocated headquarters to Columbia, MissouriStrategyBackground
ASNE entered into a partnership with the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism.
Action taken
The association moved its headquarters from Reston, Virginia, to Columbia, Missouri.
Aftermath
The relocation connected the association more closely with a major journalism education and research institution.
2009
Adopted a broader organizational nameStrategyBackground
News production was increasingly taking place through digital and non-newspaper organizations, making the original newspaper-focused name less representative of the membership.
Action taken
The American Society of Newspaper Editors changed its name to the American Society of News Editors.
Aftermath
The new name emphasized the organization’s wider role in representing news editors and other newsroom leaders.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/american-society-of-news-editors · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled