This year’s schedule
Most of our sessions are breakouts, meaning participants can choose from several sessions each block to get the training that benefits them the most. You can also download the program as a PDF.
Below is the schedule for this year’s conference. Days, times and presenters are subject to change.
Thursday, April 12
8 a.m. – Registration begins, Rhythms foyer, second floor
9-10:30 a.m. – Opening general session, Rhythms Ballroom, second floor
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Breakout sessions
Tiny Acts of Elegance: Editing Like a Writer: Bill Walsh, The Washington Post
Afraid of Math? Take a Number: Rich Holden, Dow Jones News Fund Canceled
Copy Editors as Curators: Gerri Berendzen, Quincy Herald-Whig; Sue Bullard, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Carla Correa, Washington Post
A Keen Eye for Graphics: Bill Cloud, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
12:15-2:15 p.m.– Lunch on your own (theme lunches meet with leader in Sheraton lobby)
2:15-3:45 p.m. – Breakout sessions
The Power of Proofreading: Sherrie Voss Matthews, John Braun and Sherri Hildebrandt
Even Porn Needs Style: Eric Althoff, freelance editor, New Jersey
Writing for SEO, Writing for Social Media: Frank Russell, University of Missouri
Academic and Research Editing: Margaret Alford Cloud, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Maria Hench, DePaul University; Mallory Lindsly, Ochsner Foundation; Rhonda Smith, University of Chicago; Matthew Testa, International Center for Alcohol Policies
Reviving Singular “They”: Contemporary Usage of Gender-Neutral Pronouns: Sandra Schaefer, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
4-5:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions
Nuts and Bolts Punctuation: Lisa McLendon, The Wichita Eagle
Freelance Editors’ Forum: Mark Allen, Erin Brenner and Sherri Hildebrandt, moderators
Online News Editing: What Works: John Russial, University of Oregon; Paula Devlin, The Times-Picayune; Henry Fuhrmann, Los Angeles Times; Carla Correa, Washington Post; ; Ken Duhe, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.); Chris Frisella, The Register-Guard (Eugene. Ore.)
Small-Staffs Forum: Tim Yagle, Rick Dyer and Julie Ann Marra, moderators
6:30-9 p.m. – Reception, Lagniappe, second floor
Friday, April 13
8 a.m. – Registration begins, Rhythms foyer, second floor
9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Silent auction, Rhythms Ballroom III, second floor
9-10:30 a.m. – Breakout sessions
Fault Lines: Dori Maynard, Maynard Institute
Editing Study Update: Fred Vultee, Wayne State University
Surviving a Redesign: Sherrie Voss Matthews, David Brindley, Greg Matthews
Triage for Editors: Nick Jungman, Wichita Business Journal
Dealing with (Non)Writers: Karen Martwick, Travel Portland; Tess Ahern and Katie Schwing, HDR, Inc.; Shanxi Upsdell Omoniyi, Christian Foundation for Children and Aging
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – General session: Style Q&A with AP and Chicago, presenters: Carol Fisher Saller of CMOS; David Minthorn and Darrell Christian of the AP Stylebook
12:15-2:15 p.m.– Lunch on your own
2:15-3:45 p.m. – Breakout sessions
Business Editing in Depth: 10 Things You’d Better Know: Merrill Perlman, editing consultant (co-sponsored with the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism)
Editing at a Hub: Todd Kistler, Thom Wright, LANG; Pam Nelson, McClatchy
Alternative Story Forms and How to Get Them into Your Paper: Rob Schneider, Dallas Morning News, and Josh Crutchmer, Minneapolis Star Tribune (co-sponsored with SND)
Ethics of the Last Editor Standing: Rick Kenney, Florida Gulf Coast University
4-5:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions
B.S. Detection for Digital Content: Craig Silverman, Poynter Institute
Missourian Transition Follow-up: Maggie Walter and Frank Russell, University of Missouri
2011: The Year in Design: Josh Crutchmer, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Rob Schneider, Dallas Morning News (co-sponsored with SND)
Presenting Yourself: Resumes, Interviewing, Networking: Bill Connolly, retired from The New York Times; Bill Walsh, The Washington Post
5:30-7:30 p.m. – Silent auction moves to Armstrong foyer, eighth floor
7:30-10 p.m. – Banquet, Armstrong Ballroom, eighth floor
Keynote Speaker: Roy Peter Clark, Poynter Institute
Saturday, April 14
8 a.m. – Registration begins, Rhythms foyer, second floor
9-10:30 a.m. – Breakout sessions
Making sense of “study says”: Fred Vultee, Wayne State University
Financial Editing: The Words you Choose: Christine Steele, Capital Group
B-52’s and Boot Camp: Editing Military Coverage: Renee Petrina, Jared Marquis, Amy Gunnerson, Sarah Hood, all of Defense Information School
Women in Management Forum: Teresa Schmedding, Daily Herald; Judy Shapleigh, Politico; Maggie Walter, University of Missouri
Heads We Win: The Art of Headline Writing: Matthew Crowley, Las Vegas Review-Journal
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Breakout sessions
Inside Readers’ Heads: “Headlinese”: Alex Cruden, editing consultant
Editing Maps and Graphics: David Brindley, National Geographic
Speed Bumps in Editing: Merrill Perlman, editing consultant
Avoiding Burnout: Becca Dyer, Arizona Republic; Rick Dyer, Independent Newspapers
Book Editing: Katya Jenson, Peachtree Publishers; Katy Doll, Pelican Publishing
12:15-2:15 p.m. – Lunch on your own
2:15-3:45 p.m. – Breakout sessions
Jimmy’s World (limited to 20; sign up at registration): Bill Connolly, retired from The New York Times
Math is Everywhere! Neil Holdway, Daily Herald
How to Learn a Style Guide in 10 Days: Colleen Barry, IDG Enterprise
How Do I Get There? Copy Editing Beyond the Newsroom: Doug Ward, University of Kansas; Christine Steele, The Capital Group; Michelle Moriarity Witt, Red Ventures; Regina McDowell, Department of Defense
Copy Editors to Multiplatform Editors: Teresa Schmedding, Daily Herald; Michael Roehrman, The Wichita Eagle
4-5 p.m. – Closing general session, Rhythms Ballroom, second floor
6-8 p.m. – Social, Napoleon House
Beyond the conference
The sessions and other official events are a big part of the national conference, but there’s much more you can do on your trip. And ACES is planning some great “extracurricular” activities:
Wednesday, April 11: Tour the French Quarter
Take a walking tour of New Orleans’ extraordinary French Quarter the evening before the conference. This opportunity is limited to the first 50 people to sign up (25 going with each guide). The entire $30 price goes into the Education Fund to support students committed to copy editing. » LEARN MORE
Wednesday, April 11: Freelance Copy Editor Happy Hour
Freelance copy editors: Put down your red pens and join your fellow freelancers for a reception at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel at 7:30 p.m. on the eve of the conference (conference attendance is not required). Sponsored by Copyediting Newsletter and ACES, this event is a chance to mingle and compare notes with freelancers from around New Orleans and across the country. The happy hour will be at the Pelican Bar at the Sheraton New Orleans, 500 Canal Street. Please RSVP to acesfreelancers@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 14: Post-conference social
After the conference, unwind Saturday evening at the ACES social. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Napoleon House, a French Quarter landmark just a short walk from the hotel (500 Chartres Street, 504-524-9752). ACES has reserved the upstairs for our group. The social will include drinks and New Orleans-style hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $25; you can order one when you register or pay for one at the conference. Limited to the first 135 people to sign up.