Crafting a future for NCEW.

THE FORCES buffeting the news industry have also left their mark on NCEW. President David Holwerk has resigned. The Executive Committee is contemplating a new name for our organization that pitches a bigger tent. Convention chair Duane Cardall is revamping the convention program to offer members new thinking on how to respond to a rapidly changing media landscape. Plans to put The Masthead on the Web are moving ahead.

And amid all of this disturbing turbulence, there was also happy, happy news: One of our own, Mark C. Mahoney, was honored with the Pulitzer Prize, the highest award in our trade.

These topics all commanded front-of-the-book treatment in this issue, so I'll use this space to talk about the next issue of The Masthead, instead of the more traditional summary of what's inside the current issue.

NCEW is facing the biggest challenge of its existence. In the face of declining membership and revenues, the Executive Committee has organized to focus on four areas: revenues, conventions, leadership, and membership. It has revamped the dues structure and asked every member to make an extra effort to recruit new members.

And it needs ideas.

The Masthead typically focuses on our craft. The next issue will focus on the future of the organization that helps us practice our craft.